Can You Flat Tow a Mini Cooper?
It’s possible to flat tow a front-wheel-drive Mini Cooper with a manual transmission, but we wouldn’t recommend it. Here are the details.
Written by Julian de Sevilla
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
According to the owner’s manuals, Mini Coopers should absolutely not be flat towed. Gas-powered ones should only be towed with a truck that has a lift bar or mounted on a flatbed and electric ones should only be mounted on a flatbed.
Flat towing a
Mini Cooper
is actually possible, though it’s not exactly advisable. Doing so could void your car’s warranty and, if done incorrectly, damage its transmission. Here‘s what you need to know about flat towing a Mini Cooper from Jerry
, the super app
for car insurance
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Can you flat tow a Mini Cooper?
Here’s what the Mini’s owner’s manuals say about towing:
- Hardtop two-door and four-door models: “The vehicle must not be towed if the front wheels are touching the ground.”
- Electric models: “The vehicle is not permitted to be towed.”
The manuals are pretty clear: no flat towing. Of course, flat towing also happens to be much simpler and cheaper than getting a tow truck, especially one with a flatbed. Flat towing a Cooper is possible for front-wheel drive models with manual transmissions, but it’s risky for a variety of reasons.
You could seriously damage the car
Towing the car improperly could cause serious damage to its transmission, axles, brakes, and suspension. Because the damage would technically be caused by negligence, your insurance would likely not cover any of the repairs.
It’ll void the warranty
Since Mini states explicitly that these models shouldn’t be flat towed, doing so anyway could void their warranty, forfeiting any potential coverage for expensive repairs for the remainder of the warranty period. Those towing savings upfront could end up costing you much more in the long run.
Personal liability
If you’re involved in an accident while improperly towing your car, that detail could be used against you in the event of a lawsuit. It’s fairly unlikely, but you never know—the risk makes flat towing a Mini not worth it.
How to save on insurance for your Mini Cooper
Even the best insurance policy might not help you if you damage your car by improperly towing it, but it’s important to stay protected nonetheless. Shopping around for the best prices is a time-consuming chore, though, and that’s exactly what the
Jerry
app is for.Signing up is free and takes about 45 seconds—then, Jerry compares plans from over 55 insurance companies nationwide to find users the best price for the coverage they need. Jerry can even help cancel an old plan and sign you up for the new one. Users save an average of over $800 a year.
“I moved states recently and my old provider didn’t cover me anymore, so I tried usingJerry. They handled everything from fetching the quotes to purchasing the new policy. Now I save $30 a month with Progressive!” —Kay J.
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