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Report Abandoned Car

March 21, 2024

Looking for the right people to help you with an abandoned car in your community?

We’re here to help connect you with the responsible council or authority – we call them Solvers – to report an abandoned car in Australia or New Zealand when you use the form right here or in the Snap Send Solve app.

When is a car considered abandoned?

Solvers across Australia and New Zealand have different rules for classifying a vehicle as abandoned. Many consider a vehicle to be abandoned if it is:

  • Unregistered,
  • Registered but has not been moved in more than 2 months,
  • Deemed to be not roadworthy.

Snap Send Solve connects you with the responsible Solver based on your location, so they can take the right course of action, without you having to do the guesswork.

Can I report an abandoned car on private property?

Cars in public areas can be Snapped via our app or by using the form above. Cars abandoned on private property, such as shopping centre carparks, should be reported directly to the property owner.

As Snap Send Solve grows we’ll keep adding more businesses to our platform, like shopping centres, so you can Snap issues, no matter who is responsible.

How do you report an abandoned vehicle with Snap Send Solve?

Snap Send Solve makes collecting details such as the number plate, make, model and colour of the abandoned vehicle simple and streamlined. This makes your Snap super easy to Solve. Just Snap a photo, add a description and we’ll notify the right people!

You can create a Snap using the app using the “Abandoned Cars” incident type under the “Parking & Cars” category, or just use the form above. Snap Send Solve makes the reporting process easy if you don’t know who to report abandoned cars to or what to do with abandoned cars or vehicles.

Should I report an abandoned car?

When you report an abandoned car using the Snap Send Solve app or form, you can have an impact on a range of issues, which can be Solved quickly and efficiently when you create a Snap.

Other issues caused by abandoned cars include:

  • Traffic issues,
  • Obstructing roads, as well as cyclists and pedestrians,
  • Taking up valuable parking spaces in your local area,
  • Environmental hazards, such as causing waste and pollution,
  • Attracting pests and vermin that can spread disease,
  • Attracting vandalism and arson.

Collection of abandoned cars can also be expensive and time consuming for authorities and councils involved. Be a part of making your community cleaner, safer and better.

Who is responsible for removing abandoned cars?

In most circumstances, it is a Solver from your local council who is responsible for abandoned vehicles and who tows abandoned cars.

So, what happens next?

When you Snap an abandoned car, your photos, notes and location information help the Solver pinpoint active issues and start working to Solve them. What happens if you leave a car abandoned? When you Snap an abandoned car, a Solver from your local council will put a notice on vehicles that are identified to be unregistered or are deemed to be abandoned.

This notice tells the owner they must register the vehicle or move it by a certain date. If the owner doesn’t contact the Solver or move the vehicle, in most cases it will be towed and impounded. If you believe your vehicle has been impounded, please contact a Solver from your local council to discuss how you can reclaim the vehicle. We’ve found that Snappers report high response rates and prompt resolutions when using Snap Send Solve, without time spent waiting on the phone or following up emails.

Snap using the app so you can easily track the progress in the History section, as well as provide feedback, along with your satisfaction rating. Solvers each have their own customer service level standards and will provide feedback on your Snaps depending on their time and resources. If your report isn’t Solved right away, you can also send a Nudge two weeks after sending your Snap, which is a friendly follow up signal to the Solver.

Where do I report abandoned cars?

If you’re looking for where to report an abandoned car, Snap Send Solve has made reporting abandoned cars straightforward. You can use the form above or download the Snap Send Solve app, which is free from the App Store and Google Play. It’s never been easier to report an abandoned car online!

Can I report an abandoned car anonymously?

Currently, we do not provide the option to create reports anonymously. Solvers (including local councils) need some personal details, such as your name and email address, when you report an abandoned car. Each council and authority maintains their own privacy agreement, which is in place when you report an abandoned car via Snap Send Solve.

Where do abandoned cars go?

While it varies between different council areas, most vehicle owners are given 48 hours to retrieve their car before it is towed and impounded.

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