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Abandoned and impounded vehicles

What is an abandoned vehicle?

An abandoned vehicle is a vehicle which has been discarded, left in the street and is not claimed by the registered (or last known registered) owner.

Vehicles which are owned by residents nearby to where they are located, whether actively used or not, are not abandoned vehicles and the City of Marion will not have these vehicles moved due to them being an inconvenience.

Vehicles owned by residents nearby to where they are located can be parked in the street for any length of time provided they are parked legally. A vehicle which is left on the street and is parked legally is unlikely to be abandoned.

Under the Motor Vehicles Act, the City of Marion staff are not authorised to act upon unregistered vehicles. All unregistered vehicle concerns should be raised with SA Police.

To begin an investigation, Council needs you to provide:

  • Registration number (if available).
  • Model, make and colour.
  • Approximate length of time the vehicle has been parked.

Once Council has received this information, the investigation can commence.

Vehicle inspection

The police will be contacted to ascertain the vehicle's status, and if the vehicle has been stolen, the police will organise its removal.

The registered owner of the vehicle will be contacted and will be asked to remove the vehicle if necessary.

If the vehicle is not stolen and the owner is not known, a Community Safety Inspector will attempt to find the owner by door knocking the adjacent residences, leaving a contact card if no-one is home.

First notice

If the vehicle has not been removed by the next day, a notice will be placed under the wiper advising that the vehicle needs to be removed within 24 hours.

Second notice

If the vehicle has not been removed within this period or alternative arrangements made with Council, a second notice will be placed on the vehicle declaring it to be apparently abandoned and advising that if it is not moved within 24 hours it will be impounded.

An attempt is also made to contact the registered owner/s through the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure's vehicle registration records.

Impounded vehicles

If no contact is made or the owner/s can not be contacted and the vehicle removed within an agreed time period, the vehicle will be impounded and towed to Council's pound.

Return of impounded vehicles

The owners of impounded vehicles will need to provide proof of ownership to Council.

All outstanding fees and expiations will need to be paid in full before the vehicle is released to them.

Sale of impounded vehicles

All unclaimed vehicles will be sold by tender, and a notice providing details of the vehicles to be sold will be placed in the Tenders' section of the Saturday edition of The Advertiser a fortnight before each sale.

Contact City of Marion

For more information, please contact:

Community Health and Safety
Monday to Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm

In person: 245 Sturt Road, Sturt SA 5047
Post: PO Box 21, Park Holme SA 5043