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Towed, unregistered and abandoned vehicles

The Department of Transport is the authority that tows vehicles parked in a clearway towaway zones.

Clearway towed vehicles

 

Vehicles that have been towed from a clearway towaway zone are taken to Nationwide Towing & Transport.

Address: 

Nationwide Towing & Transport

34 Cromwell St, Collingwood

Opening hours: 

  • Monday-Friday: 7am - 9pm
  • Saturday: 8am - 1pm
  • Sunday: Closed
  • Public holidays: Closed

Website: https://www.nationwide-group.com.au/towing-services/melbourne-towing-services

Phone: 134 869

There are a few reasons why vehicles may be towed.

  • The vehicle was parked in a clearway zone. Clearway zones are not managed by Council; these are managed by the Department of Transport
  • The vehicle was unregistered parked on Council land and was not removed or registered.
  • The vehicle was deemed abandoned parked on Council land and no contact was made with Council.
  • The vehicle was an immediate safety risk or obstructing the road.

You will find more information below that relates to both vehicles being towed from a clearway and/or if the vehicle was unregistered or abandoned.

Council cannot tow vehicles that are:

Vehicles towed from a clearway

The Department of Transport have the authority to tow vehicles that are parked in clearway towaway zones. This is done by Nationwide Towing on their behalf.

Council may tow a vehicle:

  • if it is creating an immediate safety issue or obstructing access on a Council managed road.
  • if is it currently being investigated as an unregistered or abandoned vehicle, however Council will make every attempt to contact the owner of the vehicle through this process. More information can be found below.

If you believe your vehicle has been towed, you can check records on the Nationwide Towing and Transport website.

Your vehicle should be collected within 7 days. 

Your vehicle will be returned to you if you have proof of identification (such as your driver licence) and once payment of the towing fee has been made.

If you have not collected your vehicle after 7 days, your vehicle will be treated as an abandoned or unregistered vehicle.

The impounding fee is $478.40 and is payable to Nationwide Towing if you collect your vehicle within 24 hours. There will be additional storage fees if you do not collect your vehicle within 24 hours. A 2.5% surcharge applies to credit card payments.

The Department of Transport is also responsible for issuing of infringements for offences on clearways. We do not have jurisdiction to assist with this matter.

Abandoned vehicles

If a vehicle on the street has not moved for 60 days, it may be considered abandoned. We may impound an abandoned vehicle, even if it is registered.

We will investigate by:

  • checking if the vehicle is stolen
  • attempting to contact the owner and/or driver to move the vehicle
  • placing a sticker on the window of the vehicle and;
  • monitoring the vehicle while we wait to hear from the owner.

If the vehicle remains unmoved for 60 days during our investigation and we are unable to contact the owner or driver, Council may remove and impound the vehicle.

Reporting an abandoned vehicle?

You need the following details to report an abandoned vehicle:

  • Vehicle registration (if known)
  • Location of vehicle (street and street number)
  • Description of vehicle (colour, make and model)
  • Photographs
Report an abandoned vehicle

Unregistered vehicles

Unregistered vehicles must be parked on private property and cannot be parked on a public road. Council is authorised under the Local Government Act 1989 (schedule 11, clause 3) to impound any unregistered vehicles parked on the road. 

Council puts a notice on vehicles that are unregistered. The notice tells the owner of the vehicle they must either register the vehicle or move it from Council land by a certain date.

If the vehicle does not move or if the owner does not contact us, it will be impounded.

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-registering your vehicle 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.

 

Reporting an unregistered vehicle?

You need the following details to report an abandoned vehicle:

  • Vehicle registration (if known)
  • Location of vehicle (street and street number)
  • Description of vehicle (colour, make and model)
  • Photographs
Report an unregistered vehicle

Unregistered and abandoned vehicles

If you are unsure your vehicle has been towed for being unregistered or abandoned, please contact Nationwide Towing & Transport or Council.

Nationwide Towing & Transport
1/221 Browns Rd
Noble Park VIC 3174

Yarra City Council
Visit our contact us page for all our contact details.

To arrange a collection time and pick location for any unregistered or abandoned vehicle, please contact Nationwide Towing & Transport.

Nationwide Towing & Transport
1/221 Browns Rd
Noble Park VIC 3174

Website: https://www.nationwide-group.com.au/towing-services/melbourne-towing-services

Phone: 134 869

Opening Hours: 8am - 4pm (Monday-Friday)

If you do not claim your vehicle within 14 days of it being impounded, we have the authority to sell, destroy or donate the vehicle. This includes anything in, on or attached to the vehicle.

If your vehicle has been impounded and taken to Nationwide Towing and Transport, you must pay a fee of $500 (including GST).

You will need to provide proof of ownership of the vehicle to be able to reclaim it.

If you do not claim your vehicle within 14 days of it being impounded, we have the authority to sell, destroy or donate the vehicle. This includes anything in, on or attached to the vehicle.

Please contact us immediately if you have found a notice on your vehicle.

We issue a notice to the vehicle if it is unregistered or if we believe it is abandoned. This advises the owner that they must move the vehicle by the due date on the notice. If the owner fails to contact us or move the vehicle, it may be towed.