Let’s get abandoned and unregistered cars off the streets

Wyndham City Council is reminding residents to remove unregistered and abandoned vehicles from public land and property to create a cleaner, visual appealing and safer environment.

Council is very keen to see the number of abandoned vehicles reduce this year and with residents help we can achieve this.

Wyndham City’s Mayor Cr Susan McIntyre and Community Safety portfolio holder said: “We want our municipality to look welcoming and well maintained. Abandoned or unregistered vehicles are often unattractive and can be a safety risk to the community.”

“Sometimes residents leave vehicles that need repairing on the side of the road or parked outside their houses and this affects the overall look and feel of the neighbourhood and also creates unwanted opportunities for theft and vandalism,” Cr McIntyre said.

“There are also safety concerns for the community when cars are left on the side of the road as they can create traffic disruption and visual disturbances. Vehicles being propped up by bricks is not a safe way to leave a vehicle.”

“Abandoned cars also take up parking spaces that are intended for residents and creates a shortage of parking spaces and congestion on our streets.”

“The amenity of our neighbourhood is important, and we encourage everyone to play a part in maintaining our municipality.”

“Council officers undertake regular checks of all unregistered and abandoned cars that are on Council land and if they find an unregistered, car it will be towed away.”

“If a car has expired, suspended or cancelled registration and is not in a state of disrepair, an Abandoned vehicle sticker and information card will be placed on the vehicle, warning the owner that it may be towed away if not removed from the road.”

“Owners will have up to 21 days to collect their car from Council’s Contractor and pay all costs associated with the car being impounded or risk the vehicle being sold at Auction or destroyed.”

“If a car is registered and left on a road, nature strip or any Council land for two months Council will observe that it has remained stationary for that time and it will be considered abandoned and towed away, with notice.”

“So, the best thing to do is ensure any unregistered cars are on private property and that registered cars parked on the street are not left there for two months and are displaying current plates to avoid being mistaken as abandoned.”

Residents can help by doing their own checks if a vehicle is registered on the VicRoads website prior to contacting Council to follow up: https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/registration/buy-sell-or-transfer-a-vehicle/check-vehicle-registration/vehicle-registration-enquiry

To report an abandoned or unregistered vehicle, call 1300 023 411 or email [email protected]