A parked vehicle can look secure simply because the engine is off, the doors are locked and the transmission is in Park. Yet one small habit can remove a useful layer of resistance: leaving the front wheels perfectly straight. Police agencies have long advised drivers to turn the wheels toward the curb and use the parking brake because those steps can make a vehicle more awkward to tow away without permission. They are not magic protection, especially against modern wheel-lift trucks, dollies or flatbeds, but they can add time and difficulty.
These 12 points explain why wheel position matters, when it does not, how the parking brake and drivetrain affect towing, and why legal parking rules and stronger anti-theft measures still matter more than any single parking trick.
Wheels Straight Can Be the Small Mistake
The simplest version of the mistake is parking with the front wheels pointed straight ahead and then relying entirely on the transmission’s Park position. Several police departments specifically recommend turning the wheels toward the curb when a vehicle is left unattended because a sharply angled front axle can make an unauthorized tow less convenient. Houston Police goes a step further, advising drivers to turn the wheels toward the curb, use the emergency brake and make the vehicle tougher to tow away. Seattle Police gives nearly identical guidance as part of its vehicle-theft prevention advice.
That does not mean straight wheels cause theft, or that turned wheels can stop a professional tow operator. The value is friction. A person trying to move a vehicle quickly may prefer a target that can be rolled, lifted or aligned with less adjustment. For an owner, turning the wheels takes only a few seconds. It is best understood as one small deterrent that can make an easy-looking target slightly less easy.
Turned Wheels Add Resistance, Not Immunity
Turning the steering wheel changes the direction of the front tires and can complicate the way a vehicle tracks if someone attempts to move it with wheels still on the ground. That is the logic behind police advice to angle the wheels toward the curb in ordinary level parking. The move can also reduce the clean, straight path that makes a quick pull-away or simple tow more convenient. Theft-prevention guidance from authorities in several jurisdictions has specifically recommended this technique as a way of making unauthorized towing more difficult.
The important word is “deterrence.” A modern towing professional has equipment designed to move disabled, locked or badly positioned vehicles. Wheel-lift trucks can raise one axle, while dollies can support wheels that should not roll. A flatbed can carry the entire vehicle. Turned wheels therefore add inconvenience rather than creating a physical lock. The habit makes most sense when combined with the parking brake, locked doors and other security measures instead of being treated as a stand-alone solution.
Hill Parking Rules Come First
On a hill, wheel direction is not merely a theft-prevention choice. It is a safety procedure designed to keep a vehicle from rolling into traffic if its primary restraints fail. Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation says that a vehicle facing downhill should have its front wheels turned toward the curb or right shoulder. When facing uphill with a curb, the wheels should be turned toward the road so a backward-moving tire can catch the curb. Uphill without a curb, the wheels should be turned sharply to the right so a rolling vehicle moves away from traffic.
That means a driver should not blindly apply the “always turn toward the curb” security tip on every slope. The safe hill-parking direction takes priority. Ontario also advises setting the parking brake and placing an automatic transmission in Park, or selecting an appropriate gear in a manual vehicle. The theft-deterrence benefit is secondary in this situation; the first goal is preventing an unattended vehicle from becoming a rolling hazard.
The Parking Brake Is More Than a Hill Tool
Many drivers use the parking brake only on steep grades, but official driving guidance treats it as part of normal parking procedure. Ontario’s driver handbook instructs motorists to set the parking brake after properly positioning a vehicle, including during ordinary roadside parking. Police theft-prevention advice has also paired wheel turning with use of the emergency or parking brake. Mechanically, that means the parked vehicle is being restrained by more than the transmission’s parking mechanism alone.
For unauthorized towing, an engaged parking brake can add another problem to solve, especially if the braked wheels are expected to remain on the pavement. Vehicle manufacturers make the same point from the opposite direction: towing instructions often require the parking brake to be released when certain wheels will roll during transport. Mazda, for example, warns that if an electronic parking brake cannot be released, the vehicle may need all wheels raised off the ground. The brake is not tow-proofing, but forgetting it removes one easy layer of resistance and parking safety.
Park Does Not Mean Tow-Proof
Automatic transmissions use a parking mechanism to keep the drivetrain from rotating freely when the selector is in Park, but that does not make the entire vehicle immovable. Professional towing equipment is specifically built to transport cars that cannot be driven normally. A wheel-lift truck can raise one end of a vehicle so the locked or driven wheels no longer have to roll. Dollies can support the remaining wheels when required, allowing a vehicle to be moved without depending on the drivetrain rolling normally.
Owner manuals illustrate why relying on Park alone is a weak assumption. Toyota, Ford, Hyundai and Mazda describe wheel-lift, dolly and flatbed towing procedures for vehicles that cannot simply be rolled away. Some manufacturers specifically require driven wheels to be raised to prevent transmission damage. In other words, the transmission’s Park position protects against ordinary vehicle movement; it is not designed as a barrier against specialized towing equipment. That is why wheel position and additional security measures should be regarded as delays, not guarantees.
Flatbeds Change the Equation Completely
A flatbed tow truck reduces the importance of wheel direction because the vehicle is loaded onto a platform rather than travelling down the road on its own tires. Manufacturers regularly identify flatbed transport as a preferred or required towing method for certain vehicles. Toyota’s towing guidance describes securing a vehicle on a flatbed using tire straps, while Mazda and Ford direct owners toward flatbed transport in situations where drivetrain design or vehicle condition makes conventional ground towing unsuitable.
This is why no parking trick can honestly be described as preventing towing. A vehicle with turned wheels, the parking brake engaged and the transmission in Park can still be transported using equipment designed for immobile vehicles. The security value of parking technique is mainly about adding inconvenience to opportunistic or unauthorized removal. Against a properly equipped operator with legal authority and sufficient time, specialized equipment can overcome those obstacles. For owners worried about theft, that makes layered security far more credible than depending on steering angle alone.
Drivetrain Layout Can Change How a Car Must Be Moved
Front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles do not all tolerate the same towing methods. On a front-wheel-drive vehicle, the front tires are connected to the powered drivetrain, while rear-wheel-drive models put that role at the back. All-wheel-drive systems may connect all four wheels through components that can be damaged if the vehicle is dragged incorrectly. Manufacturers therefore publish model-specific towing rules rather than assuming every vehicle can simply be lifted from either end.
Mazda’s current guidance, for example, says its AWD vehicles should be towed with all four wheels off the ground and warns that towing with either the front or rear wheels on the pavement can damage the drivetrain. Ford similarly specifies that all-wheel- and four-wheel-drive vehicles may require every wheel off the ground through dollies or flatbed equipment. This matters because the easiest way to move a parked vehicle depends heavily on what is underneath it. Wheel angle may add inconvenience, but drivetrain design determines the equipment a competent operator actually needs.
Electronic Parking Brakes Can Complicate Towing
Electronic parking brakes have changed what happens when a tow operator encounters a locked, powered-down vehicle. Unlike a traditional hand lever or foot pedal, an electronic system may require electrical power, a service procedure or manufacturer-specific steps to release it. If the brake cannot be released normally, towing the vehicle with affected wheels remaining on the pavement can risk damage. Mazda’s current owner guidance specifically says that when its parking brake cannot be released, the vehicle should be transported with the wheels raised appropriately.
For an owner, that creates an important distinction. Engaging the parking brake is still good parking practice and can add another obstacle to unauthorized movement. But it should never be used with the assumption that a tow truck cannot cope with it. Dollies and flatbeds exist for exactly these situations. The useful habit is straightforward: apply the parking brake whenever the vehicle is left unattended and consult the owner’s manual if legitimate towing becomes necessary. Correct procedures can differ considerably among models, especially as electronic braking and electrified drivetrains become more common.
Parking Location Matters More Than Steering Angle
A sharply turned wheel is a low-cost deterrent, but where the vehicle is parked can have a much larger effect on its exposure to theft. Canadian police agencies repeatedly recommend garages, good lighting and visible locations. Peel Regional Police advises parking inside a locked garage when possible, keeping the property well lit and even positioning a second vehicle directly behind a targeted vehicle in a driveway. York Regional Police similarly recommends a closed and locked garage as one of its core vehicle-theft prevention measures.
That advice reflects a broader security principle: make access slower, more visible and more complicated. A car sitting alone at the end of an exposed driveway has fewer environmental barriers than one behind a locked garage door, another vehicle or active surveillance. Turning the wheels can be part of that strategy, but it cannot compensate for an unnecessarily vulnerable parking location. A stronger routine is to choose the most protected legal space available first, then add the parking brake, wheel positioning, locks and other security devices.
Modern Theft Prevention Needs More Than One Trick
Vehicle theft methods have evolved well beyond simply breaking a window and forcing an ignition. Canadian police now routinely recommend multiple layers of protection, including steering-wheel locks, tracking devices, kill switches, cameras and secure key-fob storage. York Regional Police’s 2026 recommendations include a GPS-tracking device or kill switch, outdoor security cameras, a steering-wheel lock, Faraday storage for key fobs and a locked garage. Peel Regional Police recommends many of the same measures, including remote shut-off systems and on-board diagnostic port protection.
This is where the wheel-turning habit fits realistically. It is free and takes seconds, so there is little reason to ignore it when conditions make it appropriate. But it should sit within a security stack, not replace one. A visible steering-wheel lock can discourage entry, a tracker may help locate a stolen vehicle, and a kill switch can interfere with starting. Parking technique adds another physical inconvenience. Layering matters because defeating one measure does not automatically defeat every other obstacle protecting the vehicle.
Legal Towing Is a Completely Different Issue
A driver can make unauthorized towing more inconvenient, but no parking technique cancels lawful enforcement. Municipal rules can authorize vehicles to be ticketed, towed or impounded when they are parked illegally, obstructing operations or left on property without permission. Toronto, for example, has an unsigned three-hour parking limit on public roads unless signage indicates otherwise. The city also uses tow-away restrictions in certain areas and prohibits leaving a vehicle on private property without the owner or occupant’s consent.
Ontario’s towing law further distinguishes ordinary consumer-requested towing from an authority-directed impound. The provincial Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act generally contains consent requirements for towing services, while providing exceptions when a vehicle is being impounded or stored at the direction of police or another person with legal authority. Turning the wheels, setting the parking brake or using a steering lock should therefore never be viewed as a way around legitimate enforcement. The most reliable protection against an official tow remains parking legally and reading every applicable sign.
Canada’s Theft Numbers Show Why Small Habits Still Matter
Canada’s motor-vehicle theft problem has improved from its recent highs, but it remains large enough that simple preventive habits deserve attention. Statistics Canada reported 83,652 motor-vehicle theft incidents in 2025, equal to a rate of 201 incidents per 100,000 population. That rate was down 16 per cent from 2024 and represented a second consecutive annual decrease. Équité Association subsequently reported that national auto theft declined another 10.1 per cent during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.
The financial impact remains substantial as well. Équité estimated that auto-theft insurance claims cost Canadians about $900 million in 2025 even as theft levels declined. Those numbers put the wheel-position habit into perspective. Turning the wheels and setting the parking brake will not solve organized vehicle theft, nor will those measures stop a properly equipped flatbed truck. They are simply low-effort ways of removing some convenience from a potential theft attempt. When the cost is only a few seconds, adding that extra friction remains a sensible part of a larger security routine.
A Better Parking Routine Takes Only Seconds
The most useful takeaway is not that every driver needs a complicated anti-tow ritual. It is that several good parking habits can be combined almost automatically. Choose a legal, well-lit and visible space. On level ground, turning the front wheels toward the curb can add a modest towing deterrent where doing so is safe and appropriate. On a hill, follow the correct safety direction for the slope. Put an automatic transmission in Park, select an appropriate gear in a manual vehicle, set the parking brake, shut the vehicle off, take the keys and lock the doors.
Then add stronger measures according to the vehicle’s risk and parking environment. Canadian police agencies recommend steering-wheel locks, secure key-fob storage, security cameras, trackers, kill switches and garages where available. None is perfect alone. Together, they create delay, visibility and uncertainty—the conditions that make a vehicle a less convenient target. The original mistake is easy to correct: leaving the wheels straight and skipping the parking brake can remove two simple obstacles. Better security means avoiding unnecessary convenience for anyone trying to take the vehicle.
19 Used Cars Canadians Should Avoid in 2026 (Based on Owner Complaints)
Buying a used car in Canada can feel safe until repair bills start stacking up. Owner complaints tell a different story than glossy listings. Transmission failures, electrical problems, and weak winter reliability show up again and again in consumer reports. Many of these issues appear after warranties expire, when owners least expect them. Some vehicles look affordable upfront, but become expensive to keep on the road. Others struggle in cold weather, urban driving, or long highway commutes. Here are 19 used cars Canadians should avoid in 2026 (based on owner complaints).
19 Used Cars Canadians Should Avoid in 2026 (Based on Owner Complaints)
