How do I get rid of a parked car?

Got an old vehicle sitting idle in the driveway, on the street, or dumped near your property? You’re not the only one asking, “How do I get rid of a parked car?” Whether it’s your own clunker, a neighbour’s abandoned bomb, or something left behind by a tenant, parked cars can be a real pain — especially if they’re unregistered or attracting council warnings.

Illegal Parking Happens Everywhere

At Old Cars Removed, we deal with this sort of thing every week across Melbourne. From common property disputes in apartment complexes to business owners dealing with people misusing their commercial car park, illegal parking’s a headache. We’ve seen it all: drivers ignoring road markings, parking violations in signed bays, and heavy vehicles left on private land for extended periods.

Melbourne’s a hotspot for unregulated parking — especially in suburbs with limited parking spaces. But just because someone’s abandoned their car doesn’t mean you can tow it without jumping through a few legal hoops.

When Can You Tow a Car from Private Land?

Let’s clear this up first: if a car’s dumped on your private property, you’re not powerless — but you also can’t just call a tow truck and wave it off. Here’s what matters:

Location of Vehicle	Can You Remove It?	Action Required
Your private property (driveway, yard)	✅ Yes	You can arrange private property towing
Common property (e.g., strata garage)	🚩 Maybe	Needs special resolution via the body corporate
Public road or council land	❌ No	Report via Location Services or the council app
Commercial car park (with signage)	✅ Yes	Must meet signage and park enforcement rules

You’ll need to check if there’s an official sign, licence plate visibility, and that you’ve followed legislation requirements — especially if you’re in a managed property with exclusive time restrictions or regulated parking agreements.

Time to Deal With It

So there’s a car on your land — maybe unclaimed, possibly unregistered, and definitely not yours. Here’s what to do:

1. Identify the registration status
   Use a VIC registration check to verify if the vehicle is active. If it’s an unregistered vehicle or has expired rego, take note.
2. Record key details
   Document the licence plate (or VIN if the plate’s missing), the exact location, condition, and time of day it was first spotted.
3. Display a notice
   Place a polite but firm notice on the windscreen giving a time limit for removal — usually 24–72 hours. Include your contact details and reason.
4. Take photos
   Snapshots of the car in place, nearby parking signs, and any hazardous location issues (e.g., blocking fire exits or access).
5. Report to authorities (if needed)
   If you suspect it’s stolen or unsafe parking (e.g., it’s leaking fluids near a business car park), call non-emergency police or submit an anonymous report to council.
6. Contact a towing provider
   If it’s on private property and still not moved, call an accredited tow truck operator. Park enforcement solutions often require truck operator accreditation holders.
7. Organise legal car disposal
   If it’s unclaimed, some vehicles may end up in a public auction after holding periods are met. Ask about articles for auction and your rights.

Strata Parking Woes

Here’s where things get trickier. If it’s common property — like in an apartment block’s residential car park or shared driveway — you usually need:

• A special resolution from the owner’s corporation
• Confirmation that parking signage and parking conditions were clearly displayed
• Proof that the parking bay isn’t assigned to the offending vehicle’s owner

Cars on Council Land or Public Roads

You can’t remove a vehicle from public land — including council car parks, hospital car parks, or hotel car park areas — unless the council or police signs off.

• In these cases, you should:
• Use the Beaudesert Council road or road-related area reporting page (or your local equivalent)
• Provide location description, time of confiscation, and licence plate
• Mention any issues like unsafe parking, illegal pavement parking, or flow of traffic
• Council will usually tag the car and monitor it for the maximum period allowed before removing it.

Illegal Parking in Business or Shopping Car Parks

Retail property owners and business owners face a unique kind of parking drama. We’ve helped enforce parking conditions in everything from shopping centre zones to business parks where outsiders take up spaces all day.

To protect your parking area, make sure you:

• Install parking signage with the right legal warnings
• Use license plate recognition cameras to monitor usage
• Hire expert car park enforcement providers
• Make terms clear about disabled parking, business hours use, and lawful parking only

Common Mistakes People Make

Let’s have a cheeky go at the classic stuff-ups we’ve seen over the years:

No signage = no authority
If you haven’t posted the right parking sign with removal terms, you can’t enforce a ticket.

• Towing without notice
  Even on private land, you need to make parking rules known before calling a tow truck.
• Ignoring registration status
  Always check if the car’s legally owned and registered before touching it — even if it looks abandoned.
• Blocking off the car
  Tempted to park behind it in rage? Don’t. You could be pinged for creating a hazardous location yourself.

What Happens After the Tow?

Once it’s removed — legally and above board — what happens next depends on the vehicle registration, owner claims, and local towing laws.

Here’s what typically goes down:

• If registered and claimed within time limits, the owner pays fees to recover the car
• If unclaimed or unregistered, it may be sold via public auction after the notice periods expire
• If it’s a cactus, it gets scrapped or recycled — especially if heavy vehicle towing is involved

At Old Cars Removed in Melbourne, we’re across the legal requirements, feedback about towing practices, and future auction rules — so you don’t get stuck with a car you don’t want.

Tips for Business and Property Owners

Whether you manage a centre car park, own a hotel car park, or deal with public users on private land, you can reduce dodgy parking with:

• High-visibility road markings
• Clear parking terms are posted at entrances
• Active monitoring (manual or via tech)
• Heavy vehicle parking permits were relevant
• Appointing a parking services provider or management firm

And yes — Location Services apps can help log the current location, location in relation to entries, and even mark illegal parking incidents with GPS time stamps.

FAQ

Can I tow a car off my private land if it’s unregistered?

Yes, but only if you’ve followed the legal process: displayed signage, given notice, and used a certified tow truck operator. Always check the registration status first.

What if a car is blocking access to my driveway?

Call the police non-emergency line. If it’s an illegal parking incident and obstructing lawful access, they can authorise car removal.

Do I need a special permit to enforce parking rules in a strata property?

Not exactly — but the owners corporation needs a special resolution, and signage must comply with parking management laws. Don’t act without strata approval.

Can I report illegal parking anonymously?

Yes. Many councils and apps now accept anonymous reports from the community. Just include location of vehicle, photos, and any hazard notes.

What happens if no one claims the car?

After the maximum period, the vehicle may be processed for public auction or dismantled, depending on its condition. You won’t have to store it forever.