How to Report Illegal Parking – NSW

Have you noticed an illegally parked car or abandoned vehicle? You should report it as soon as possible.

But it’s often confusing whether to report the incident to the local council or directly to the police. Then there’s the other question: how can you tell if a car is parked illegally?

Here, we provide all the information for reporting illegal parking in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Parramatta, and other council property locations in NSW.

In this guide, we cover:

• What constitutes illegal parking
• How to report illegal parking in NSW
• How to contact the police and your local council
• What to do if you suspect a vehicle has been abandoned
• How to prevent illegal parking in your car park

If you’re a business owner struggling with illegal parking in residential car parks, retail car parks, commercial car parks, hospital car parks, or similar properties, check out PriPark’s Car Park Enforcement Solutions.

What Counts as Illegal Parking in NSW?

If in doubt, check it out. Go over and have a look if you think a car is parked illegally, and contact the authorities if you’re still unsure.

Ask the following questions to build a clearer picture of the situation:

• Overstays – Is there a time limit in the parking zone that the vehicle has exceeded?

• Double-Parking – Is the vehicle parked directly parallel to another in an illegal way? Is it blocking another vehicle?

• Unsafe Parking – Is the vehicle parked in a location or position that endangers pedestrians or other vehicles parked in the area?

• Zone Restrictions – Are there access restrictions that apply to the area where the vehicle is parked? Are they illegally trespassing?

If you can answer yes to any of these questions, it’s likely that the vehicle is parked illegally. You should report it immediately to the police or the local NSW council.

Want to reduce illegal parking? Our car park management services can help. Equipment like boom gates and retractable bollards can limit access to restricted parking zones and prevent unsafe parking positions.

Reporting Illegal Parking in NSW

If you see an illegally parked car, you can report it directly to the police or council (depending on the severity of the situation). Here, we show you how to report illegal parking in NSW in three simple steps.

1. Gather Evidence

In order to report an illegally parked car, you must supply the following information: 

• Time, date, and exact location
• Vehicle’s number plate
• Make and model of the car
• Photo evidence of the offence being committed

Taking photos with your phone is the easiest way to record this information. Make sure to shoot the licence plate and get a wider shot of the car’s parking location in relation to its surroundings. You can also use the time stamp to know the exact hour and date of the offence.

Some apps, such as Snap Send Solve, let you upload photos directly to the relevant authorities. Using a report illegal parking NSW app, you can handle everything quickly without the need for the next steps. For non-app users, however, proceed with steps two and three.

2. Assess the Urgency Level

The information you collect will help you assess the urgency of the situation. Use your best judgment here to determine your next course of action.

Dangerous parking that could pose risks for passers-by or obstruct important traffic (such as deliveries or emergency vehicles) needs immediate attention. These situations need to be reported to the NSW police force as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, less-urgent situations like overstays or abandoned vehicles can be reported to the local council.

3. Contact the Police or Council

Next, you should either call the police or contact your local council.

When to Call the Police

The police have the authority to tow vehicles. If you need a vehicle towed, such as one that is blocking access to your driveway, you can contact the police directly. 

Use the police assistance line (131 444) for non-emergency issues like overstays. However, if the situation is more urgent—such as a vehicle illegally parked on railway tracks—contact the police using 000.

When to Contact the Local Council

Cars that don’t need immediate towing can be reported to the local council. Contact information will vary depending on your location. If you spot illegal parking in Sydney, head to the City of Sydney council website.

You can find phone numbers for other New South Wales councils on the local government directory site.

How to Report an Abandoned Vehicle in NSW

The Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021 No 38 states that law enforcement authorities can enter and remove abandoned vehicles if they:

• Obstruct access
• Pose environmental risks
• Interfere with public amenities, or 
• Damage animals or people

Abandoned vehicles may be removed if they are left unattended for seven days unless otherwise specified by local regulations.

Contact the police or your local council using the contact information listed above to report an abandoned vehicle.

Stop Illegal Parking with PriPark

If you’re a car park owner or operator in NSW, you need proven parking enforcement solutions to clamp down on illegal parking and prevent instances of abandoned vehicles.

PriPark provides high-tech parking equipment, such as boom gates and licence plate recognition cameras, to control access and monitor vehicles in your parking spaces. We work closely with you to provide tailored car park management solutions that suit your budget and business goals.

Say goodbye to unauthorised and illegal parking with PriPark’s expert car park enforcement solutions. Contact us today to learn more.