If a parked car is in a position that is over the driveway (including the fantail) and preventing access to your driveway, this is deemed illegal parking. Phone Council on 07 3403 8888 to report it.
Illegally parked and unmanaged vehicles
Learn about illegal parking and the penalties for ignoring parking rules. Report an illegally parked or unmanaged vehicle.
If you are concerned about a vehicle that has been parked or left in a way that you think might be against the rules, it is important to read the following information before you report the issue to Council.
Understanding the criteria for illegally parked vehicles and unmanaged vehicles means the matter can be reported and investigated appropriately.
Type of vehicle issue or concern
What is an illegally parked vehicle?
An illegally parked vehicle is any vehicle parked outside of the street parking rules.
Illegal parking includes:
If your issue doesn't meet the criteria for illegal parking, you can check if it is an unmanaged vehicle.
What is an unmanaged vehicle?
An unmanaged vehicle is any vehicle left on a road or road-related area, such as a footpath, dividing strip or bike path, or in a park.
A vehicle is considered unmanaged if it’s any of the following:
A vehicle is considered hazardous if it is causing, or likely to cause, a danger, hindrance or obstruction to traffic or is preventing the use of a road or footway.
Examples of a hazardous vehicle include (but are not limited to) a:
- parked vehicle fully obstructing a footway forcing pedestrians to walk on the road to get past
- vehicle that has been in an accident and appears undriveable
- vehicle with sharp pieces of metal or glass sticking out.
To report a vehicle posing a safety hazard, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.
An unregistered vehicle is a car, bike, or any other vehicle that isn't officially listed with the government for use on public roads.
If the vehicle has registration plates or a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) you can check registration status.
Queensland plates
If the vehicle has Queensland registration plates, use the Queensland Government's free vehicle registration search.
Interstate plates
If the vehicle has interstate registration plates, use the free vehicle registration search for the relevant state:
- Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
- New South Wales (NSW)
- Northern Territory (NT)
- South Australia (SA)
- Tasmania (TAS)
- Victoria (VIC)
- Western Australia (WA)
If the search results show either of the following, you can submit an unmanaged vehicle report.
- The vehicle is not registered.
- The vehicle is registered and is hazardous, abandoned or unsightly or dilapidated.
If you cannot conduct a search because the vehicle has no identification you can submit an unmanaged vehicle report.
An abandoned vehicle is a registered vehicle that:
- has been left for more than 24 hours in a parking bay (e.g metered spaces) where the time for a vehicle to remain parked is limited
- is parked for more than 7 days in a parking bay where the time a vehicle may remain parked is not limited (e.g. a line marked bay with no limit).
Council may also consider a vehicle as abandoned where it meets all of the following criteria:
- it has been left parked for 14 days
- has no licence plates/VIN visible
- ownership cannot be identified.
An unsightly or dilapidated vehicle is one that is badly damaged, missing parts, has been heavily vandalised or is making an area look unpleasant.
Whether a vehicle is classed as unsightly or dilapidated can only be determined by an authorised Council officer – this helps ensure decisions are fair and consistent.
If you know who’s responsible for an unmanaged vehicle, you can download and use our letter template to let them know about your concern.
The letter communicates that you would prefer not to make a complaint to Council and requests they take reasonable action to remove or relocate the vehicle.
If your issue doesn't meet the criteria for an unmanaged vehicle, you can check if it is an illegally parked vehicle.
Report an unmanaged vehicle
After you report an unmanaged vehicle, you'll receive a reference number.
Council will then assess your request, confirm the urgency, and gather any additional information if required. We may also contact the last known registered owner to request that they register or move the vehicle.
We'll then:
- Inspect the vehicle to collect evidence, mitigate any immediate community safety concerns, or sticker the vehicle.
- Determine enforcement action. This can include issuing a fine to the owner or last known registered owner, or removing (towing) and impounding the vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
A vehicle is considered hazardous if it is causing, or likely to cause, a danger, hindrance or obstruction to traffic or is preventing the use of a road or footway.
Examples of a hazardous vehicle include (but are not limited to) a:
- parked vehicle fully obstructing a footway forcing pedestrians to walk on the road to get past
- vehicle that has been in an accident and appears undriveable
- vehicle with sharp pieces of metal or glass sticking out.
To report a hazardous vehicle, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.
If you park illegally, you may receive a fine or have your vehicle towed.
Parking fines
You can be fined for disobeying parking rules and signs. You have 28 days from the issue date to pay your fine.
Learn more about parking tickets and fines.
Towed vehicles
Council or the Queensland Police Service may have your vehicle towed if it’s parked:
- in a clearway or ‘No stopping’ zone
- across a driveway.
If your vehicle has been towed, you’ll need to pay a release fee to the tow company. You may also have a parking fine registered against your vehicle.
Unmanaged vehicles
Council publishes details of all unmanaged vehicles that have been removed from Council roads and road-related areas. Refer to how can I claim my vehicle?
Illegally parked vehicles
To claim an illegally parked vehicle that has been towed from a clearway, 'No stopping' zone or across a driveway, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.
If you see an A4 size Council branded yellow sticker on a vehicle's windscreen or windows, it means Council has inspected the vehicle and determined the vehicle is unregistered, abandoned or unsightly / dilapidated.
If you are the owner or know who owns the vehicle, phone Council on 07 3403 8888 and quote the reference number on the sticker.
To stop any further action, the owner should do one of the following:
- Register the vehicle (if it is unregistered).
- Move the vehicle from the road to within a private property boundary.
If you take action quickly, it helps avoid problems and keeps the area safe and tidy for everyone.
Under the Health, Safety and Amenity Local Law 2021 it is an offence to park an unregistered vehicle on a road. The owner or last known registered owner may be fined.
There are areas that are significantly impacted by unmanaged vehicles being repeatedly left and stored on the road or on Council land.
These vehicles are typically associated with business activities. They are considered unmanaged vehicles and can be reported online.
The information you provide assists Council in targeted and ongoing investigations.
If you want to get rid of an old, unwanted car, you can contact a:
- scrap car removalist
- private tow truck operator
- second-hand car dealership
- scrap metal recycling business.
These businesses may buy your unwanted car or offer free and low-cost removal services.