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How do I put a Tesla in neutral without power?

I wasn’t paying attention to my Tesla’s battery. When I came back from the store, it was dead in the parking lot. I already called a tow truck, but I’m not sure how to put the car in neutral. How can I put my Tesla in neutral if the battery is drained?

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Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You technically can’t put EVs like Teslas in neutral without power. Electric cars don’t work like traditional vehicles in the sense that they just have a single gear rather than a gearbox. If you want to put a Tesla in neutral without power, you’ll have to jump-start the 12-volt battery. On some models, you can simply disengage the parking brake. Just make sure that the rear wheels roll when the tow truck is pulling the car up onto the flatbed.
This should give you enough power to get into the car. From there, hold down on the gear lever for one or two seconds and the car will go into neutral.
Because electric charging stations are limited in some areas of the country, adding
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to your car insurance policy is a must. This acts just like roadside assistance, providing jump-starts, towing, and other features when you need it most.
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