Abandoned vehicles

What is an abandoned / derelict vehicle?

A vehicle may be considered abandoned if:

• the registration is listed as expired or cancelled on the VicRoads website
• the vehicle has no number plates, or
• the vehicle is registered but has not moved for at least 2 months
• the vehicle is damaged and cannot move under its own power

Abandoned vehicles are unsightly and can be unsafe.

Vehicles can include cars, motorcycles, trucks, trailers and caravans.

How to check a vehicle's registration status

You can check if a vehicle’s registration has expired or been cancelled via the VicRoads website.

You will need the vehicles registration from the number plates.

Note that an expired registration label no longer means that the vehicle is unregistered. Since 1 January 2014, VicRoads does not issue or require registration labels to be placed on the windscreen of vehicles registered in Victoria.

How to report an abandoned vehicle

Report an abandoned vehicle to Council

Only report a vehicle to us if:

• registration is listed as expired or cancelled on the VicRoads website
• the vehicle has no number plates,
• the vehicle is registered but has not moved for at least 2 months
• the vehicle is damaged and appears unable to move under its own power

You can report a vehicle through the Council website or contact Council on 9217 2170.

Report a stolen vehicle to Victoria Police

If the vehicle is reported as stolen on the VicRoads website, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

You will need to tell them the exact location of the vehicle, its make, model, colour and registration number.

What happens after you make a report?

A Council officer will inspect the vehicle.

If the vehicle is unregistered, a yellow sticker is placed on the front windscreen of the vehicle. This sticker means we consider the vehicle to be abandoned or derelict.

If the vehicle is registered, we will leave the vehicle for 2 months from the date of inspection. If the vehicle remains after 2 months, a yellow sticker is then placed on the front windscreen of the vehicle.

If the owner does not take action within 48 hours of a yellow sticker being placed on the vehicle, the abandoned vehicle may be towed away and impounded by us.

What to do if Council considers your vehicle abandoned

If your vehicle has been issued with a yellow sticker

A yellow sticker on the front windscreen of a vehicle means that we consider the vehicle abandoned or derelict.

You have 48 hours to:

• Register the vehicle if it is unregistered: A vehicle which has expired registration cannot be on a public road or carpark.
• Move the vehicle to private property: A vehicle stored on private property does not need to be registered. A temporary registration permit from VicRoads allows the vehicle to be moved to private property during daylight hours however does not allow the vehicle to remain in the street with the permit.
• Do nothing: A Council officer will reinspect the vehicle after 48 hours and if the vehicle has not moved from the road or public space the vehicle will be impounded.

Contact us as soon as possible to discuss your options and to advise us of the action you intend to take. We may grant an extension depending on the circumstances.

If your vehicle has been impounded by Council

If your vehicle has been impounded, contact us to arrange to retrieve the car or to discuss other options.

A vehicle may be impounded if no action is taken within 48 hours of a yellow sticker being placed on the vehicle.

A fee will need to be paid prior to retrieving the car. The cost will be determined by the length of time the vehicle has been in storage.

If the vehicle is not claimed after 28 days, we will dispose of it.