A flatbed tow truck loads the entire vehicle onto a flat platform, so all four wheels are off the ground during transport. This is the safest method for all-wheel drive vehicles, low-clearance cars, and vehicles with significant damage.
A wheel-lift tow uses a hydraulic arm to lift and cradle either the front or rear wheels while the other set rolls on the road. Wheel-lift towing works well in tight spaces for standard vehicles, but without the use of dollies, wheel-lift towing is not appropriate for AWD or 4WD vehicles.