Towed and impounded vehicles

Unregistered and abandoned vehicles are towed directly to an overflow yard.

Vehicles towed from Clearways and not collected within 14 days are moved to an overflow yard.

Before collecting your vehicle:

• Call 03 8872 9660 to make an appointment for collection.
• Bring:
  • correct fees to release the vehicle
  • proof of ownership
  • proof of registration
  • your driver's licence
  • keys
  • (if you are not the registered owner) authorisation letter from owner

If the vehicle is unregistered you will need an Unregistered Vehicle Permit from VicRoads External link​ to drive it. Otherwise, it must be collected by a tow truck or transported on a trailer.

We may consider refunding the fee paid to release your vehicle in exceptional circumstances.

These circumstances must be:

• unforeseen
• outside of your control
• a situation that reasonably prevented you from parking legally (for example, a medical emergency or a vehicle breakdown).

You will need:

•    independent supporting documents that prove these circumstances (we do not accept statutory declarations).

We will consider your request and contact you with the outcome.

[Text on screen: Keeping clearways clear]

Narrator: to help reduce congestion on some of our busiest roads, we've made every clearway a towaway Zone on major roads within 20 km of Melbourne CBD.

Narrator: Drivers who Park illegally in towaway zones during peak times will have their vehicle towed and receive a fine on top of the vehicle release fee. Keeping clearways clear and traffic flowing smoothly.

Narrator: To find out more visit the website and search clearway and towaway zones.

[Text on screen: Find out more www.transport.vic.gov.au]

[Text on screen: Authorised by the Department of Transport and Planning, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne]

Parking may be permitted before and after Clearway and Tow Away times, so always check the signs carefully when you park.

Clearway signs – show a white letter ‘C’ on a red background and may include the words ‘Tow Away’.

No Stopping signs – show a black letter ‘S’ with a red line through it. These signs may also include the words ‘Tow Away’.

See some example signs below.

Image

The Victorian Government Department of Transport started the Clearways management program External link​ in 2020.

The program made all existing clearways within 20 kilometres of the CBD into tow-away zones and called for increased enforcement.

As part of the program, all drivers parked illegally in Clearways are fined and must pay a release fee External link to collect their towed vehicle. These fines and fees apply to all Clearways managed by metropolitan councils (or by Transport Victoria) under the program.

The following streets are subject to towing during Clearway or Tow Away times, or if a vehicle is causing an obstruction. Always check the signs for specific times.

* Indicates locations where vehicles may be towed under the power to move obstructing vehicles (in clause 4, Schedule 11 of the Local Government Act 1989).

The powers to remove vehicles causing obstruction (in clauses 5(1)(b), 5(2), 5(4) and 5(5) in Schedule 4 of the Road Management Act 2004), may be exercised only in relation to vehicles parked or left standing during the times of clearways on all other lengths of roads above.