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.

An unregistered vehicle permit does not allow an unregistered vehicle to park on a roadway.

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 found to be unregistered, a Council sticker may be placed on the vehicle instructing the owner or driver to remove it immediately.

If the vehicle is found to be registered, Council will continue to monitor the vehicle for a period of 2 months from the date of first inspection by an Officer. If the vehicle is found to have not moved within this 2 month period, Council may place a sticker on the vehicle instructing the owner or driver to remove it immediately.

If the owner or driver does not remove the vehicle immediately once instructed, Council may arrange to impound the vehicle.

Please note that a sticker may not be placed on the vehicle in every instance as this is not a legal requirement.

Report abandoned, unregistered or derelict vehicle

What to do if Council considers your vehicle abandoned

If your vehicle has been issued with a Notice to Remove Vehicle sticker or you have been instructed to do so by an Authorised Officer

A Notice to Remove Vehicle sticker placed on your vehicle means that Council legally deems your vehicle to be unregistered, derelict, or abandoned.

You must immediately:

• Move the vehicle to private property where it is not visible from the roadway – A vehicle stored on private property where it is not visible from the roadway is not required to be registered. A VicRoads Unregistered Vehicle Permit allows an unregistered vehicle to move between private properties during daylight hours however it does not allow a vehicle to be parked on a roadway.
• Register the vehicle with the relevant road authority if it is unregistered – A vehicle with cancelled or expired registration cannot park on a road or public car park.

Where one of the 2 above actions have not been undertaken, Council will arrange to impound the vehicle.

If your vehicle has been impounded by Council

If your vehicle has been impounded by Council, you can make contact via email (info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au) or phone (9217 2170) to arrange payment and delivery of the vehicle back to a private property.

You may wish to surrender the vehicle to Council. In this instance, the towing and impound fees will be waived. To do this, you will need to send an email to Council via info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au advising you wish to surrender the vehicle.

Where the reclaim fees have not been paid within 14 days of a vehicle being impounded, Council will dispose of the vehicle as is its legal right to do so.