Abandoned Car on Your Property or Strata in Perth: What You Can Legally Do
An abandoned car on your driveway, rental property or strata car park soon becomes more than an eyesore. It takes up parking space, blocks access and can leak oil on the paving. It can also attract vandalism, fly-tipping or burglary.
Most property owners just want it off. However, the removal of abandoned cars in Perth has to follow the right procedure because the car still has an owner. This is what you can do, legally.
Know Your Legal Position
A car dumped on your land doesn’t become yours. In WA under abandoned vehicle laws the registered owner retains their rights to it. If you move, crush, sell or scrap it without authority you could be liable to a claim by the owner.
Local councils usually deal with abandoned vehicles on roads and public land, not private property. So when you find an abandoned car on private property, you typically need to handle the process yourself. Landlords need to review the lease and any correspondence from the outgoing tenant.
Steps to Take
- Capture the car. Take pictures and record the date you first saw it. Note down the number plate, make, model, colour and VIN if visible.
- Word of mouth. Check with neighbours, tenants, residents. The owner is often a past tenant or visitor.
- Get in touch with WA Police. Ring Police Assistance 131 444 and officers will investigate whether the car is stolen or linked to a crime. Avoid touching a car that looks like it’s been burned out or broken into.
- Inform the owner in writing. If you can discover who owns it, ask that person to pick it up by a reasonable date. Save copies of all messages.
- Follow the standard procedures . If the owner doesn’t respond and the police won’t get involved, you may have to invoke the Disposal of Uncollected Goods Act 1970. It takes formal notices and a court order to take vehicles over $3,500. Consult Consumer Protection or a lawyer before you take action.
Handling a Strata Abandoned Car in Perth
Shared car parks add another dimension. Individual owners should not act on their own. Report the car to your strata manager or the council of the strata company.
Look at the scheme's by-laws which typically address parking on common ground. If the car is owned by the owner or occupier the council can issue a warning or a breach notice. If no one in the complex knows about the car and the police aren't interested, the strata company may have to go through the uncollected goods process.
Wheel clamping on private property has been banned in WA since 14 December 2020. You can’t clamp the car.
When Professional Car Removal Can Help
It's easy to remove when you have the right authorisation. This means the written consent of the owner, a court order or a completed legal disposal.
That’s when WA Car Removals can come in. We collect unwanted cars all over Perth including old, damaged and unregistered cars. Any car we tow, we ask for proof of ownership or legal authority. That check protects you, the car's owner, and our team.
Get the Car Gone the Right Way
Abandoned cars take patience to deal with, but the steps are clear. Photograph the vehicle, spread the word and call WA Police. Then tell the owner and follow the proper process. If you live in a strata complex, deal with your strata manager.
When you have the authority to act, call WA Car Removals. We’ll take you through your unwanted car removal Perth options and see if your vehicle qualifies for free car removal Perth wide. Contact our team today for a quick, no-fuss pick-up.