How to Use Car Dollies? | Safe Setup, Loading, and Moving

For the full breakdown, see our best Wheel Lift Dollies guide.

Car dollies work differently depending on what you’re doing — moving a car around a garage or towing it behind another vehicle. A wheel dolly supports a tire while you push a car by hand; a tow dolly carries the front wheels of a front-wheel-drive car while the rear wheels roll on the road. Getting either one wrong leads to slipped straps, bent cradles, or a car that rolls away. The safe method for using car dollies is straightforward, and this guide walks through it.

Car Dolly vs. Tow Dolly: Knowing Which One You Have

The two main types demand different methods, so identifying yours comes first. A wheel dolly (like the Norco Industries model 78090) supports one wheel at a time on a small rolling platform, letting one person push a car sideways or into a tight spot. A tow dolly (like the ones U-Haul rents) is a small trailer that carries a car’s front wheels while the rear wheels stay on the road.

Each type has a clear purpose:

• Wheel dollies move a car a few feet at a time in a shop or garage.
• Tow dollies move a car behind another vehicle on the road.
• Four-dolly sets support the whole vehicle, though Norco’s manual stresses using dollies in pairs — never one dolly under a single side.

How to Use Wheel Dollies to Move a Car

Wheel dollies move a vehicle short distances by hand.

Start on a flat, stable, level surface. Gravel, grass, and slopes are out — dollies need solid ground to roll true and stay put. Chock the wheels that stay on the ground before you lift anything.

Then follow this sequence:

1. Position the dolly next to the tire you’re lifting.
2. Jack up one wheel at a time, slide the dolly underneath, and lower the tire into the cradle.
3. Center the tire fully in the cradle so it rides flat — a tire perched on the edge will slip.
4. Engage built-in locks or latches where the design has them, and tighten any wheel straps.
5. Push slowly and check stability before moving any real distance.

When all four wheels sit on dollies, use two pairs — one for the front, one for the rear.

How to Use a Tow Dolly for Road Towing

Tow dollies serve one job: carrying the front wheels of a front-wheel-drive car while it’s towed.

Connect the dolly to your tow vehicle first. Attach the coupler to the hitch ball, secure the hitch pin and locking clip, then connect the safety chains in a crisscross pattern. Plug in the electrical wiring so the dolly’s lights work — other drivers need to see you.

With the dolly hitched and level, drive the car up onto the ramps or winch it into place:

1. Center the front tires in the cradles and set the car in Neutral with the steering unlocked.
2. Lower and lock any ramps back into their travel position.
3. Tighten the wheel straps over both front tires and check that nothing is twisted.
4. Confirm the car is secure with a firm push before you drive off.

Common Dolly Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Loading on a slope or soft ground tops the list, along with these others:

• Failing to chock wheels before lifting — the car can roll while you’re under it.
• Centering tires poorly, letting them ride the cradle’s outer edge.
• Skipping latches or caster locks where the dolly design requires them.
• Using a dolly on one side only, which Norco’s manual explicitly warns against.
• Ignoring drivetrain rules — a tow dolly isn’t safe for every car.