Abandoned vehicles are unsightly and can be unsafe. Vehicles can include cars, motorcycles, trucks, trailers and caravans.
A vehicle may be considered abandoned if:
Abandoned vehicles are unsightly and can be unsafe.
Vehicles can include cars, motorcycles, trucks, trailers and caravans.
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.
Report an abandoned vehicle to Council
Only report a vehicle to us if:
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.
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:
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.