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Abandoned Vehicles

Introduction	Removal time
Reporting an abandoned vehicle	Sale of abandoned vehicles
Removing a car wreck from private property

Introduction

A vehicle is only considered abandoned if both the registration (licence label) and the warrant or certificate of fitness (WOF/COF) have expired by more than 31 days.

The removal of abandoned and derelict vehicles from within Waitakere City is governed by section 356 of the Local Government Act, which requires the city to follow a set procedure. All reports of abandoned vehicles are investigated within 1 working day by Waste Minimisation Officers. Depending upon the condition, location and licence status of the vehicle, the following will occur:

Immediate removal - to storage or disposal
Warning notice or removal notice sent to the last registered owner and “green sticker” placed on the car
follow up inspection to check status for removal

Vehicles are towed to the Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station for disposal or storage. West Auckland police are notified of all cars towed. Secure storage is provided on site.

Reporting an abandoned vehicle

If the location of the vehicle is causing an obstruction or danger - contact the Police.

Otherwise, if both the Warrant of Fitness and the registration are expired by more than 31 days, the Council will investigate the situation. It is helpful if you are able to provide the following information:

Where the vehicle is located
Details of the vehicle - number plates, make, model, colour
Vehicle licence details - if expired, what date did it expire?
Vehicle Warrant of Fitness (WOF) details - if expired, what date did it expire?
How long has the vehicle been there?
Any other relevant details - is the owner of the vehicle known? Any wheels missing? Burnt-out? etc.

Request for the Council to remove a car wreck from private property

The Council can remove vehicles from your own private property, within Waitakere City only, for a fee of (inclusive of GST):

$25 - Inner (urban) residential areas
$50 - Outer (rural areas) Scenic Drive and beyond

A declaration form must be completed and signed by the owner, and the appropriate fee paid, before Council will organise towing.

Print the Authority to Remove and Destroy Derelict Vehicles form below, complete and make payment at the Council's cashiers at the Civic Centre, Henderson, New Lynn Library, Glen Eden Library, Massey Library, Te Atatu Peninsula Library or Titirangi Library.

Alternatively the form can be sent by mail and payment made by cheque. Contact us for address details.

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print this document. For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

Authority to Remove & Destroy Derelict Vehicles (Size 37K)

Removal time

The removal times of vehicles from the road or public area can vary as there are a series of steps that Council must follow before lawfully removing a vehicle. The process can take up to 17 days from the time that the complaint is received.

Please note that Council does not have authority to remove every vehicle reported.

The steps we take are as follows:

A Waste Minimisation Officer will visit and assess the vehicle within one working day of the Council receiving the complaint and identify whether the vehicle has been abandoned.
If the vehicle is not abandoned and not parked dangerously, the Council cannot remove it. If the vehicle is deemed to be a wreck or is parked dangerously, the Council will advise the towing contractor to remove immediately.
A 48-hour notice for removal is left on all vehicles (other than wrecks or dangerously parked vehicles). Waste Minimisation Officers check the vehicle details with the Police. Stolen vehicles become a Police issue.
A Waste Minimisation Officer will revisit the vehicle after 48 hours and if the vehicle remains, will send a 7-day notice for removal to the last registered owner.
A Waste Minimisation Officer will revisit the vehicle after 7 days and if the vehicle remains, it will be removed.

Sale of abandoned vehicles

The Refuse Transfer Station regularly (once a month) disposes of abandoned vehicles that have not been claimed by their owners (this is after the required period of notice to the previous owner). All vehicles are sold on an "as is, where is" basis.

View the latest list of vehicles available for tender. Vehicles may be inspected between 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday at:

Waitakere Recycling and Refuse Transfer Station
50 The Concourse
Henderson