Abandoned car in Victoria: who can tow it away?

Who can remove an abandoned car depends mostly on where it's sitting and whose car it is. Don't book a tow for someone else's car without the owner's permission, because moving it can cause you real problems. Here's who to contact, what councils can do, and when a tow truck is the right answer.

The quick guide

What councils can do

In Victoria, councils get these powers from the Local Government Act 1989. The City of Greater Bendigo, for example, says Schedule 11 of the Act authorises it to investigate, move, tow and impound unregistered or abandoned vehicles on land and roads it manages.

What counts as abandoned can vary from council to council, so check your own council's page. The City of Melton treats a vehicle as abandoned if it hasn't been moved for two months, and as unregistered if it doesn't have valid registration.

How the process usually works

Melton's process is a good example of what you can expect:

1. Someone reports the vehicle, or the council finds it.
2. A notice is put on the vehicle, giving the owner a chance to move it and park it lawfully.
3. An officer inspects it again when the notice period ends.
4. If it hasn't been moved, the council can move or impound it.
5. The council takes reasonable steps to tell the last registered owner how to get it back.
6. The owner has to pay the fee within 14 days, or the vehicle may be sold, destroyed or given away.

Bendigo also gives owners 14 days to arrange release. Fees and details differ, so ask your council.

How to report an abandoned car

Have these details ready:

• The exact location
• The make, model and colour
• The registration number, if it has one
• How long it's been there

Most councils take reports by phone or online. Frankston, Melton and Bendigo all have information on their sites. For vehicles on highways or major arterial roads, Bendigo points people to VicRoads on 13 11 70. If you think the car is stolen, tell Victoria Police.

If it's on your private land

This is the awkward one. The powers above are described as covering roads and council land, so don't assume your council can step in on private land. Ask them, and get legal advice before you do anything to a vehicle that isn't yours. That also goes for shared driveways, apartment car parks and business premises, where the owners corporation or the landlord may need to be involved.

Whatever you do, try not to take matters into your own hands. Moving, damaging or disposing of someone else's car could land you in a dispute with its owner. If you know who owns it, a polite message is often the quickest fix.

If it's your own car

This is where a tow truck makes sense. An unregistered vehicle can't legally be driven on the road without a permit, so you'll usually need a tow to move it. Bendigo makes the same point about impounded vehicles: an unregistered one can't be driven from the impound location unless towing is arranged or a VicRoads permit is obtained.

A tow might be useful if you need to:

• Move a car you've stopped using before the council issues a notice
• Collect a vehicle from a council impound after paying the release fee
• Get an old car to a workshop, a wrecker or someone's home

Be ready to show that it's yours. Have your ID and any paperwork handy, and be upfront if the car has flat tyres, missing wheels or no keys. Those details change which truck is needed. Our guide to which tow truck you need can help.

How to arrange a tow for your own car

Non-accident towing has no set price in Victoria, so it's worth comparing. On RoadM8 you can enter your pick-up and drop-off, type UNREG in place of a rego if the vehicle isn't registered, and add a photo. Independent tow operators can then quote, and your card isn't charged until you've accepted one. You can also start from your area, such as towing in Dandenong or towing in Melbourne. Quotes depend on who's available near your pick-up at the time. For a sense of what moves the price, see how much a tow truck costs.

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees vary between councils, so check with yours before you act.