R&B....all good points, and Bob's idea of backing on makes sense too..whiile i do not have a ERA, i have had experience with flatbeds and u-hauls :
I have both towed with a U-Haul and been flatbedded twice when i had an engine malfunction. My SPF has only 3.5 inches of clearance at the bellhousing bottom and a prominent low
oil cooler / scoop as well.
U-Haul...tow vehicle is critical to match the specs required by U-Haul re capacity.Their trailers are good , but they are heavy too, galvanized steel on the ones i rented. Load angle was ok with adequate clearance on front and at bellhouing provided i raised the front of the trailer slightly (Navigator tow vehicle) and removed the license plate on the trailer (otherwise plate would hit the car...looked like others had the same problem as the plate had been bent over several times it appeared ). with proper tow vehicle car towed fine at highway speeds for several hundred miles. Trailer i recall weighed about 2,000 pounds.
Flatbed ...fortunately for me the flatbed operator had experience with low slung cars and had straps as well as some 2x10's for ease of entry angle. The tow cable however was troublesome and we tied some towels around the tow cable in front and under the
oil cooler area to ensure the cable would not hit it. MOST IMPORTANTLY as the car was being eased on (and off) the flatbed one person STOOD on the cable to keep it low to the flatbed decking and not allow it to drift up into the
oil cooler or oil cooler scoop. This was quite easy to do and worked great as the cable never touched the car. However, without standing on the cable, it would have hit the car . It did not take alot of weight to keep the cable DOWN to the decking and the cable moved slowly so the person standing on the cable could stay in position in front of the car as it was being moved on / off. Keep in mind that the SPF's come with welded on TOW RINGS front and rear (used in shipping from So Africa). These rings are centerline under the car and provide easy attaching of a two cable hook. Not sure what you have on your car, but makes it easy for a SPF hook up.
goodluck....sounds like a couple hundred bucks now for a flatbed tow is pennies as a % of what ya got into the car now, and is necessary in your quest for plates. enjoy the tow, pass the inspection and then get out slithering...bill