Annerley Named Among Brisbane Hotspots for Abandoned Vehicles

New figures from Brisbane showed Annerley is among the suburbs most affected by abandoned and unregistered vehicles, with thousands of cars left on the streets in the past financial year.

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A total of 10,994 vehicles were removed across the city, with almost half unregistered and more than 4,000 officially deemed abandoned. Annerley joined Coorparoo, New Farm, Moorooka, Nundah, and Sunnybank Hills as suburbs where abandoned cars were most commonly reported.

While tourist towns such as Cairns and the Gold Coast have long dealt with backpackers leaving old vehicles behind, Brisbane has seen the issue grow. In Annerley and neighbouring suburbs, vehicles are often left for weeks in residential streets, creating safety risks and taking up valuable parking space.

The process of removing unregistered vehicles in Brisbane can take more than a month as authorities first attempt to trace owners. In some cases, vehicles are reunited with owners, but many end up impounded and later sold at auction. Logan City Council, for example, recently raised about $100,000 by selling 55 such vehicles.

Airports and private carparks have also been affected. At Brisbane Airport, dozens of vehicles are abandoned annually, often by overseas tourists leaving the country. In the city centre, a car left in a Queen Street Mall shopping centre carpark has accumulated theoretical fees of more than $70,000 since 2022.

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A vehicle is considered abandoned if it is unregistered and left for more than 24 hours in a short-stay bay or more than seven days in unrestricted parking. Residents are encouraged to report suspicious vehicles by phoning Council on 07 3403 8888 so they can be investigated and removed if necessary.

Published 3-September-2025