Abandoned Vehicles

An abandoned vehicle is any unregistered motorised vehicle, car, truck, trailer, caravan, horse float or similar, which is found on any road or in any park or on other land under the control of Townsville City Council, and which appears to be abandoned or discarded.

Reporting an Abandoned Vehicle

A vehicle may be abandoned if:

  • the vehicle has been in the same location for an unusual length of time.
  • the vehicle has a derelict appearance and appears inoperable (for example, if it has no tires).
  • the owner cannot be located.
  • the vehicle does not have current registration plates.

You can report an abandoned vehicle using Snap Send Solve, under the Abandoned Vehicle category.

You will be asked for details of the vehicle’s location, along with a description of the vehicle such as the colour, registration number, make/model, condition, and how long the vehicle has been at its current location.

To report an abandoned vehicle:

Retrieving Your Vehicle

Any vehicle parked in a public place without valid license plates can be towed.

If your vehicle has been removed under the Transport Operations (Road Use and Management) Act 1995 and relevant Local Law, it can be reclaimed if proof of ownership or authority to act on the owner’s behalf is provided, and any outstanding fees are paid.

To find out if we have removed your vehicle:

Reporting a Stolen Vehicle

If your vehicle is otherwise missing and may have been stolen, immediately contact Queensland Police Service (QPS) to report the vehicle as stolen and to find out if your vehicle has been found. We liaise with QPS to determine whether an abandoned vehicle has been reported as stolen. If the vehicle has been reported as stolen, QPS will notify the owner. If your car was stolen and we have moved it, provided you notified the QPS and your insurance company, our enquiries will reveal this.

To report a stolen vehicle:

More Information

For more information read the Transport Operations (Road Use and Management) Act 1995.