A vehicle remains the responsibility of its last registered owner. The Council will charge the last owner of an abandoned motor vehicle, where they are identified, with the costs of removal and disposal of their abandoned vehicle.
A vehicle such as a car, trailer, truck, etc may be considered abandoned if:
- It is parked on a public roadway, and
- It has been there for an unusual length of time, and
- The owner cannot be located, and/or
- It is of derelict appearance
Reporting an abandoned vehicle
You can contact us to report an abandoned vehicle. To help resolve the problem, please have as much of the following information available as you can:
- Where is the vehicle located?
- What is the vehicle's make, model, colour and registration number?
- How long has the vehicle been there?
- Do you know the name of the vehicle's owner?
Report an abandoned or derelict vehicle to the Council by calling our Customer Services Centre on 07 306 0500.
Removal of abandoned vehicles
When the Council receives a complaint of an abandoned vehicle, it will be checked and photographed. If identification can be made, the owner will be contacted either by police or by mail, and they will be given seven days to remove the vehicle unless it is:
- In a dangerous position
- Likely to be damaged by vandals
- Obstructing a public way
In these circumstances, or if the vehicle is not removed by the owner in the allotted time, the vehicle will be removed and stored at the owner's cost.
If identification is not able to be made, the car will be disposed of either to the dump or to metal recyclers to recover towage costs.
Reclaiming vehicles
A vehicle which has been removed as abandoned will not be returned to the owner until such time as the cost of towage and storage has been paid in full to Whakatāne District Council.