Am I wrong but I have asked to rrecover a broken down car for someone, it is automatic,can I tow it.

What car is it? Alot of them can only be towed at 30 mph for 30 miles. Some can't be towed at all or they will be damaged.

If it has a Jatco box or is a CVT definitely don't tow even for a few yards.

Some if not all modern auto boxes use environmentally friendly friction materials and as a result they can't take overheating and abuse they way the old Borg Warner slush boxes could.