'Owner has no other option': Suspected rise in abandoned cars across Canberra

Tow truck operators in Canberra report a surge in calls for removing abandoned vehicles, driven by mounting repair expenses and an uptick in uninsured motorists. ACT government records, however, indicate a decline in abandoned vehicle reports through Fix My Street, with only a fraction of the 1,300 submissions last year qualifying for removal.

The government aims to resolve cases within nine days, but investigations typically take four to six weeks. For every visible abandoned car on Canberra roads, tow truck operator Josh Harrison suspects several more are concealed in underground parking lots, unnoticed by the public. These vehicles often languish for days or weeks before being forgotten.

Business owners and apartment complexes frequently request Harrison's help to relocate these abandoned cars. Sweeney, who founded TNA Towing in 2019, also notes a doubling of requests to her business in the past year, now averaging about 10 calls per week. Harrison attributes the rise in abandoned vehicles to cost-of-living pressures, as some motorists abandon broken-down or damaged cars due to inability to afford towing, repairs, or disposal.

Additionally, fluctuations in scrap metal prices may influence this trend. Nationwide, scrap metal prices have plummeted significantly, leading drivers to abandon vehicles they cannot sell for enough money. The fluctuating costs of comprehensive car insurance also play a role, as rising premiums deter motorists from obtaining such coverage.

Consequently, those without adequate insurance often have fewer options after a crash, leaving them to abandon their vehicles. In Tuggeranong Parkway and Majura Parkway, two or three vehicles are often seen sitting idle, awaiting removal due to their owners' lack of options. These neglected vehicles deteriorate in condition over time, eventually prompting some to be set ablaze or have their windows smashed.

Even when a vehicle appears genuinely abandoned, removing it requires navigating a complex process. Under the ACT's Uncollected Goods Act, the body corporate or landowner must handle abandoned vehicles on private property, holding them for 14 days and attempting to identify and contact the owner. Public unleased land, including roadsides and government parks, falls under the Litter Act 2004 and Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999, allowing Access Canberra to tow abandoned vehicles.

However, Access Canberra's Senior Director Bob Alford explains that determining whether a vehicle is genuinely abandoned or merely left for an extended period often proves challenging. Officials must conduct thorough investigations to establish ownership and intent before formally declaring a vehicle abandoned and arranging removal.

The ACT government does not have a strict timeline for these inquiries, typically running around four to six weeks before achieving a full resolution, particularly when locating and contacting the owner proves difficult. While 11,574 abandoned vehicle reports were lodged through the government's Fix My Street portal between January 1, 2022 and July 6, 2026, only around 160 qualified for contracted removal.

This figure has remained consistent over the past few years, despite the government's assertion that many cases are resolved through owner contact for issues like breakdowns or registration problems. However, government figures do not account for all abandoned vehicles, as a single submission may relate to multiple abandoned cars, and multiple individuals may submit reports about the same vehicle.