Abandoned car on your street?

Posted 15 August, 2024 Jeremy Rochow

For the past few days you’ve noticed an unfamiliar vehicle parked on your street. Is it abandoned? It might not be as obvious as the car above, so what should you do?

Here are three questions to ask before you call the authorities to report an abandoned or stolen vehicle.

1. Is the vehicle really abandoned?

You look out your front window and notice a random car sitting on the street. You’re confident it isn’t a neighbour’s vehicle or a visitor’s car. So, it abandoned?

There are some obvious signs that can help you determine if the car’s been dumped. If it doesn’t look roadworthy – maybe the windows are broken, the tyres are partially deflated, or the side mirrors are broken off – then it could be abandoned.

Without touching the car, have a look through the window to see what’s in the car and the overall condition of the interior.

Next, check to see if the vehicle has number plates. If they’re gone, it may be a stolen car that’s been dumped.  

Each year, about 500,000 cars are abandoned across Australia

If it does have number plates, you can check if it’s registered on the EzyReg website. You can call SA Police to report the abandoned car if it doesn’t have any number plates, or if it isn’t registered.

If the car is registered and has number plates, you might not be able to report the car abandoned straight away. It really depends on your local council.

For example, the Norwood Payneham and St Peters Council states the vehicle must remain in the same place for at least 14 days to be classified as abandoned. The City of Playford on the other hand, says residents can report a potentially dumped vehicle if it’s been in the street for just a few days.

2. Who do I contact?

So, you’ve investigated and found the car isn’t registered and it appears to be abandoned and/or it’s parked in a dangerous or illegal spot. In this case, you can call SA Police on 131 444 to report the car abandoned.

If the vehicle is registered, in roadworthy condition and parked legally, then you may have to wait an allotted time to report it abandoned to your local council.

3. What information do I need?

You’re ready to report an abandoned vehicle, but you’re unsure what details you need before you make the call or complete an online form. Here’s a short list of the information you should have on hand:

• The location of the vehicle
• The vehicle type (sedan, coupe, trailer)
• Vehicle make and model, if known
• Vehicle registration number, if known
• Colour of the vehicle
• VIN (vehicle identification number) if available and easy to find
• Approximate length of time the vehicle has been abandoned.