Clearways and tow-away zones

We enforce clearways and tow-away zones to keep traffic flowing smoothy and safely during peak times. 
 

All clearways on major roads within 20 km of Melbourne’s CBD are tow-away zones. This means that your vehicle may be towed away and impounded if it blocks clearways during the restricted times.

View more information on road signs, including clearway and tow-away signs. 

The difference between a clearway and a tow-away zone

A clearway is a section of road where parking and stopping is not allowed at the times shown on the clearway sign. 

If there are no times on the sign, the clearway applies 24 hours a day. Your vehicle won’t be towed away if it is illegally parked in a clearway, but you may get fined. 

A tow-away zone is a section of road where parking is not allowed at certain times shown on the sign. If you park there illegally, your motor vehicle may be towed away and you may get fined.

You may be fined if you ignore the law

If you park in clearways and tow-away zones during the restricted times, your vehicle may be towed and impounded.

You may be fined and have to pay a vehicle release fee to get your car back.

Find out if your vehicle has been towed

If you believe your car has been towed, you can enter your registration details to check Nationwide Towing & Transport’s records. You can also check the back of the tow-away signs for the towing contractor’s contact details.

Check if your vehicle has been towed

What to do if your car is towed

Towed vehicles are taken to an impound yard. 

Call 13 48 69 to find out where it’s impounded and arrange to collect it.

The City of Melbourne and the City of Port Phillip have their own towing and infringement arrangements. Please contact them directly if your vehicle is towed from one of these municipalities.

If you see your vehicle being towed

If you return to your car as it’s getting towed and the tow truck hasn’t left the area, you may be able to pay a fee and have it released at the nearest safe location. You can pay using EFTPOS.

If the truck has already left the area, or if the tow truck operator deems it unsafe to release the vehicle on the roadside (for health and safety reasons), your vehicle will be towed to the impound yard.

How to collect your vehicle

To collect your car from the impound yard: 

1. Call the impound yard before you go. 
2. Make sure you bring proof of identity. 
3. Pay the vehicle release fee. 

Impound yard locations

Vehicles towed from clearways and tow-away zones will be taken to one of these impound yards.

Fees and fines

If your car is in a clearway or tow-away zones, you must pay a fine and a vehicle release fee.

You should collect your towed vehicle within five days. After five days, you must also pay a daily storage fee until you collect the vehicle.

You must pay the release fee to get your vehicle unless there are special circumstances, like a medical emergency. You must provide proof of special circumstances before the release fee can be waived.

Towing operator responsibilities

Nationwide Towing & Transport can remove illegally parked vehicles during tow-away operating hours. 

The tow truck operator must complete an ‘authority to tow’ form and take multiple photos with geotagged information of the vehicle. 

If you believe that your car was damaged during towing, please contact Nationwide Towing & Transport on 13 48 69.

Contact the Department of Transport and Planning

View information more on clearway fines.

You can write to the Department of Transport and Planning:

• if you think you shouldn’t have been fined
• if you think your vehicle shouldn’t have been towed
• to request an internal review or have the matter heard in court.

You’ll need to provide details on the date, time and location of the tow, plus the reasons you believe your car shouldn’t have been towed.

The City of Melbourne and the City of Port Phillip issue their own infringements. If you receive a fine in any of these municipalities, contact them directly.

Report an illegally parked car

Report a vehicle that’s parked illegally in a clearway and tow-away zone, please call Nationwide Towing & Transport on 13 48 69.

Read more about these laws

The rules for clearways are published in the Road Safety Road Rules 2017.

• Part 12 – Stopping on a clearway (Rule 176)