Parking and towing

Regulated parking

Parking  on roads and in regulated parking areas is controlled and enforced by local  governments. Parking conditions are also enforced by the Queensland Police  Service.

You  must obey an official sign or line marking telling you how to park on a road or  in a regulated parking area.

Signs  indicate where you can and cannot park and any conditions or restrictions that  apply to parking.

• Time limits - the letter P alone means there is no time limit. You can park any time for  any length of time. If there is a time limit, it is shown by the number in  front of the P. For example, 2P means two-hour parking. The sign may also show  the times and days when this time limit applies.
• Vehicle restrictions - signs also state the types of vehicles that may  or may not be parked in an area. For example heavy vehicles may be restricted,  or only motorcycles may be allowed to park in the area, or only vehicles displaying an Australian disability  parking permit may be allowed to park in the area.
• Exemptions -  certain vehicles, such as those belonging to local residents, may be excluded  from a sign’s parking restrictions. Any exceptions are shown on the sign.
• No parking – these signs mean you cannot park in this area at any time. You may stop only  to pick up or set down passengers or goods for a maximum of two minutes unless  the sign allows a longer time.

Where  parking spaces are marked on the road or in the regulated parking area, you  must not take up more than a single space, unless your vehicle is longer than  the length of space.

Unregulated parking

Parking  in unregulated parking areas, such as in shopping centre carparks or in private  carparks for entertainment or hospitality businesses, is controlled by the  owner or occupier of the parking area. The owner or occupier can choose whether  to apply and enforce parking conditions in their parking areas. This may  include towing unauthorised vehicles from the carpark or the property owner or occupier may enter into an  arrangement with local  government for their officers to enforce parking in the area.

Private  property parking and towing can be complex and confusing for motorists, private  property owners and occupiers and towing operators. It’s important to remember:

• Motorists have no general right to park in private carparks. If you park somewhere you  are not authorised to park your vehicle may be towed. For more information  about private property parking and towing for motorists, see the Information for motorists fact sheet.
• Private property owners and occupiers who want to enforce parking conditions by towing  must ensure they have a legal basis to remove unauthorised vehicles from their  parking area. If you want to remove unauthorised vehicles from your carpark  carefully consider your legal obligations. For more information about private  property parking and towing for owners and occupiers, see the Information for private property owners and occupiers fact  sheet and the Signage Guidelines for parking on private property.
• Private property owners and occupiers who have  entered into an arrangement with local government have given authority for  local government officers to issue  infringement notices to anyone who parks contrary to any signs or road markings  such as parking in a space displaying the international symbol of access without displaying a disability parking  permit.
• Towing operators who remove vehicles from private property must have authority from the owner or  occupier to tow vehicles from the property. If you perform private property  towing ensure your business practices meet the legal requirements. For more  information about private property parking and towing for towing operators, see  the Information for tow truck operator accreditation holders fact sheet.

Private property  parking and towing

Having your vehicle towed when  you leave it parked somewhere can be very inconvenient, especially when you  return to it late at night.

The Department of Transport and  Main Roads regulate tow truck operators who conduct private property towing  under the tow truck accreditation scheme. The scheme requires private property  towing to be conducted by accredited tow truck drivers using authorised tow  trucks. Tow truck drivers and assistants must be employed by tow truck operator accreditation holders.

Tow truck drivers must take reasonable steps to locate a vehicle owner or driver before towing the vehicle. Reasonable steps includes, for example, asking other people (at the carpark or nearby shops) if they know where the driver went; looking around the immediate area to see if the driver is nearby or approaching the carpark; looking for contact or business name details on the vehicle.

Tow truck drivers must carry a Towing Consent which represents an arrangement  between the property owner or occupier and the tow truck operator accreditation holder,  authorising them to tow vehicles parked on the property.

If you return to your car and it  is in the process of being loaded onto a tow truck, the driver should release  it to you at no charge. If the car is already loaded and secured ready for  towing they should release the car if you pay them the on-site release  fee.

You are entitled to ask the  driver to show you the Towing Consent.

If you think your vehicle has  been towed from a private property parking area you should contact the towing  operator using the details on the signs at the parking area, or contact the  Queensland Police Service via PoliceLink on 131 444 to find out where  your vehicle has been towed.

Towing destination

A vehicle towed from private  property must be taken to the operator accreditation holders nearest holding yard.

Costs and fees

The maximum charges for private parking towing are regulated by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Note: Call-out fees and other fees such as for taking steps to  locate the owner, travelling to the place where the vehicle is located,  allowing the vehicle owner access to the vehicle at the holding yard (within  business hours) and other incidental fees cannot be charged.

• Fact sheet: Information for motorists
• Fact sheet: Information for  private  property owners and occupiers
• Fact sheet: Information for drivers and assistants
• Fact sheet: Information for operator accreditation holders

Tow truck hotline

If you want to provide  feedback about towing practices you can call the tow truck hotline on 1800 681 636.

Find more information about tow truck  charges and legislation requirements.