Report or reclaim an unregistered or abandoned vehicle

Find out how to report an unregistered vehicle, a possible abandoned vehicle and how to reclaim your vehicle if Council has towed it as unregistered or abandoned.

Noticed a vehicle that hasn’t moved for a long time? Report it to us and we will investigate. We will need to know the vehicle registration and location.

We can only remove unregistered vehicles parked:

  • on local streets
  • in council car parks
  • on public land.

If a vehicle is registered and has not moved for more than 2 months, we may investigate the vehicle as abandoned.

Please be aware some resident vehicles may be parked for longer periods of time than other vehicles (for example, if residents are using sustainable transport options as their primary form of transport and not often using their vehicle, or if they go on holidays) and we take this into account when undertaking our investigations. If a vehicle is currently registered and we confirm the owner is living in the area, we do not typically consider these vehicles to be abandoned.

Step 1: check if the vehicle is registered

You need to tell us if the vehicle is registered. Note the vehicle registration number and check on the relevant state website: 

Step 2: report an unregistered vehicle

You can report an abandoned car by:

Registered vehicles

If a vehicle on the street has not moved for two months, it may be considered abandoned. We may impound an abandoned vehicle, even if it is registered.

When you report a suspected abandoned vehicle, we investigate by:

  • checking if the vehicle is stolen
  • attempting to contact the owner and/or driver to move the vehicle
  • monitoring the vehicle while we wait to hear from the owner.

If the vehicle remains unmoved for 2 months during our investigation and we are unable to contact the owner or driver, Council may remove and impound the vehicle.

Our unregistered and abandoned vehicle investigations can take anywhere from 21 to 90 days, depending on the registration status.

Found a notice on your vehicle

We put a notice on vehicles that are unregistered or we think are abandoned. The notice tells the owner they must register the vehicle or move it from Council land by a certain date. If you don’t contact us or move the vehicle, we will tow it away. 

If you find a notice on your vehicle, please phone us on 03 9209 6777 or email parkenf@portphillip.vic.gov.au as soon as possible to talk about your vehicle. 

Please note: displaying an Unregistered Vehicle Permit (UVP) does not enable an unregistered vehicle to be parked on a public road.  These permits are to enable vehicles to be driven from point A to point B for the purposes of re-registration only. They are not to be used as a replacement for full registration and do not enable the vehicle to be parked on the street. If you have left your unregistered vehicle on a public road with or without a UVP, Council will place a note advising the date we intend to tow.  Please ensure you move your vehicle immediately to private property to avoid action being taken.

What action Council can take if a car is unregistered

It is a breach of the Local Law 2023 (clause 32.4) to leave an unregistered vehicle parked in a public place.  The offence may result in an infringement being issued to the value of $395.00.

Furthermore, Council is authorised under the Local Government Act 1989 (schedule 11, clause 3) to impound any unregistered vehicles parked on the road. 

Reclaim your impounded vehicle 

If you believe Council has impounded your vehicle, please contact us to discuss how you can reclaim the vehicle. Vehicles will not be released to the owner unless authorised by Council.

Vehicles will be towed and stored in accordance with Council Contract 000996, awarded to Nationwide Towing Pty Ltd.  The fee to have your vehicle released from impound is $635.00.  There will be additional storage fees charged of $28 per day.

The storage facility is located at 1/221 Browns Road, Noble Park (roller door 3).

To reclaim your vehicle please contact Nationwide Noble park to make an appointment via phone (03) 8872 9674 or email Noblepark.Impound@134tow.com.au

Please ensure you have the following items in order to collect: 

Vehicles that have not been claimed

Vehicles that have not been claimed within 14 days will be sold at public auction.