An abandoned vehicle on your property is not just an eyesore, it is a liability. Whether a former tenant left a car behind after moving out, an unknown vehicle appeared on your lot and has not moved in weeks, or a vehicle was dumped on commercial or rural property you manage, Gloucester Towing removes abandoned vehicles from private property across the Ottawa-Gatineau area and handles the process from start to finish.
Abandoned vehicle removal is different from removing your own unwanted vehicle. The vehicle belongs to someone else, which means there are steps to follow before it can be lawfully towed. This service is part of our junk removal service in Ottawa. We are familiar with how this process works and can help you move through it without creating legal exposure for yourself as the property owner.
Common abandoned vehicle situations in Ottawa
Tenant left a vehicle on the property after their lease ended
Unknown vehicle parked on private property and not moved in weeks
Vehicle left in a shared lot after a business closure or tenant change
Car dumped on a rural stretch of private land with no plates or identification
Private Property Towing and Your Rights as a Property Owner
In Ontario, property owners have the right to have unauthorized vehicles towed from their private property, but there is a process involved. Certain conditions must be met before the tow can proceed legally, including signage requirements and notification steps depending on the situation. Skipping these steps can expose you to disputes or complaints, so understanding what is required before the truck arrives matters.
When you call us, we will ask the right questions to confirm the situation and advise on what documentation or steps are needed on your end before we proceed. In cases involving vehicles with no plates, obvious abandonment, or clear prior notice given to the owner, the path forward is usually straightforward. We do not tow first and sort out the details later.
Do not tow without following the correct process
Towing a vehicle from private property without meeting the required conditions under Ontario law can result in complaints and disputes that complicate the removal. Proper signage, documentation, and in some cases a waiting period are part of the process. When you call us, we will confirm what is in place before we dispatch. A brief conversation up front saves a much longer headache afterward.
How Abandoned Vehicle Removal Works
From abandoned vehicle to cleared property
Call (613) 662-6262 with the vehicle's details, location, description, how long it has been there, and whether you have given the owner any prior notice.
We confirm the situation and advise on any steps needed before the removal can proceed. In most cases, if the vehicle is clearly abandoned and the property is properly signed, we can proceed quickly.
Our flatbed arrives and removes the vehicle from your property. We handle the loading regardless of whether the vehicle runs or is in poor condition.
You receive confirmation of removal. The vehicle is taken to a licensed facility where the owner can claim it within the required period before it is processed further.
Abandoned Vehicle Removal Across the Ottawa-Gatineau Area
Gloucester Towing handles abandoned vehicle calls from property owners and managers across the Ottawa-Gatineau area. Residential landlords, commercial property managers, condo boards, and business owners with parking lots all use this service. We respond to your location, not just driveways, surface lots, parking structures with clearance, and rural properties are all within our service range.
If the abandoned vehicle is on public property such as a city street, the process is different and goes through the City of Ottawa's bylaw enforcement. For vehicles on private property, we are the right call.
Yes, under Ontario law property owners can have unauthorized vehicles removed from their private property. However, certain conditions must be met first, primarily that the property is properly signed and that the vehicle qualifies as unauthorized. We will confirm the situation when you call before dispatching. In clear abandonment cases the process moves quickly.
There is no single fixed number of days under Ontario law for private property. What matters is whether the vehicle is parked without authorization on your property. If you have no agreement with the vehicle's owner that permits parking there, it can be considered unauthorized regardless of how long it has been there. How long it has been sitting does affect how clear-cut the situation is, so share that detail when you call.
An unknown owner does not prevent removal. If the vehicle has plates, the registered owner can be identified and notified through the standard process after the vehicle has been taken to a licensed facility. If there are no plates, the vehicle is treated as abandoned property. Either way, the removal itself can proceed, what happens next depends on whether an owner comes forward to claim it.
Yes. Condo boards and property management companies are among the most frequent callers for this type of service. Parking structures are accessible to our equipment as long as there is adequate clearance. For condo lots, have the property manager or board authorization ready when you call, as we will confirm who is authorizing the removal before we proceed.
A vehicle blocking a driveway entrance, fire route, or accessible parking space is a more urgent situation and moves to the front of our dispatch queue. Call us immediately and describe the obstruction. In cases where the vehicle is blocking emergency access routes, contact Ottawa bylaw enforcement simultaneously, they have authority to expedite removal on safety grounds regardless of the standard process timeline.
We handle the towing and removal documentation on our end. As the property owner, you are responsible for having the correct signage in place and maintaining any records of prior notice given to the owner if applicable. We can advise on what documentation is typically needed when you call and make sure the removal is done in a way that protects you from disputes after the fact.
Vehicle abandoned on your property? Let's clear it.
