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Dead EV that won’t power on? We’ll flatbed it away and pay you
Black screen, no Ready light, won't shift, won't take a charge. We pick up non-running electric cars from driveways, parkades, shop lots and the side of the road, and load them the way EVs need to be loaded.
- Flatbed only, all four wheels off the road
- Cars with a flat 12-volt battery are no problem
- Paid at pickup, no towing charge
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Get a price for your EV
Five quick details and we call you back with a number.
Why an EV stops working
An EV that looks completely dead usually has one of a handful of problems. Some are cheap, some aren't:
- A flat 12-volt battery. Most EVs still have a small 12-volt battery that wakes the computers and closes the switches to the main pack. When it dies, the car looks dead even with a full main battery. This is the most common cause, and the cheapest.
- A main pack drained too low. An EV left near zero for weeks can drop so low it won't accept a normal charge.
- Charging hardware. The onboard charger, the charge port, or on newer Hyundai and Kia models the ICCU, which also keeps the 12-volt battery topped up.
- High-voltage faults. Isolation faults and failed contactors stop the car from going into Ready.
- A tripped crash disconnect. Many EVs cut high-voltage power for good after a serious crash or airbag deployment.
- Water. Flooding can short electronics and, in the worst cases, the pack itself.
If you haven't tried it yet, have someone check or charge the 12-volt battery before you decide anything. If that brings the car back, you've saved yourself a sale you didn't need to make.
How we move a car that can't move itself
EVs shouldn't be towed with their wheels on the ground. Turning the drive wheels spins the motor, which can damage it. So every car we buy goes on a flatbed.
Getting it onto the deck is the tricky part. Transport or tow mode lets the wheels roll freely, but the car needs 12-volt power and a key nearby to enter it. Our driver carries a jump pack for the 12-volt system, which wakes most cars long enough to set the mode. When a car won't wake at all, it goes on with wheel skates or dollies and a slow, careful winch.
If a damaged car shows any sign of battery trouble, like smoke, hissing or a chemical smell, it isn't powered on at all. Read why in our damaged EV safety guide.
Tell us these when you call
- Where it's parked: driveway, street, shop lot or parkade level
- The clearance height posted at a parkade entrance
- Whether the wheels turn and the steering moves
- Gate codes, fobs or who to call on site
- Where the keys, key cards or phone key are
Fix it or sell it?
If the problem is the 12-volt battery, a charge port or a software fault, fix it. If a shop has confirmed the main pack or the drive unit has failed and the car is out of warranty, compare the quote with what the car is worth repaired. When the repair eats most of that value, selling as is usually makes more sense. Our page on battery trouble covers the options in more detail.
We pick up dead EVs all over Metro Vancouver, from downtown Vancouver parkades to Burnaby tower garages and driveways out in the Valley.
Questions about dead EV pickup
Can you get a dead EV out of an underground parkade?
Usually. Tell us the clearance height posted at the entrance, which level the car is on and how tight the ramp is, so we plan the right equipment before we come.
The car is completely dead and won't wake up. Can you still tow it?
Yes. If a jump to the 12-volt system doesn't wake it, the car goes on the flatbed with wheel skates or dollies and a winch.
Do I need to be there for pickup?
Someone has to hand over the keys and sign the transfer form, so plan to be there or tell us who will be.
Should I keep trying to charge it?
If it hasn't charged after a couple of tries, stop. Repeated attempts on a faulty car don't help, and after a crash or flood you shouldn't plug it in at all.
Keep reading
Want it gone this week?
Call with the year, model and what happened. We'll ask a few questions about the battery and where it's parked, then give you a number.