For years, abandoned vehicles have been a significant source of frustration and inefficiency for South Australian motor trade businesses. Members of the Motor Trade Association (MTA) have regularly sought guidance on vehicles left at the quote stage or towed to their premises, which occupy valuable space and incur unrecoverable storage costs.
Now, this outdated system has been modernised. In the final sitting week of 2025, the South Australian Government passed amendments that will benefit automotive businesses with simpler, cheaper and more modern disposal processes.
Advocacy Success: Legislative Change Achieved
The MTA’s persistent advocacy has delivered a generational change. Through engagement across the political spectrum, including discussions with Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Kyam Maher, member feedback was incorporated into the legislative process via a public YourSay consultation.
These efforts resulted in the Unclaimed Goods (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2025, which has passed both houses of Parliament.
Key Improvements
The new legislation delivers immediate benefits by:
- Reducing holding periods: from 132 days to 42 days (14 days for vehicles under $1,000)
- Simplifying disposal procedures
- Raising the Court Order threshold: from $2,000 to $20,000
- Allowing flexible sale methods: private sales now permitted
- Enabling cost recovery: storage, inspection, diagnostic, and maintenance fees can now be recovered
- Providing legal protection: civil and criminal liability protection for members acting in good faith
Automotive businesses are now advised to follow the Unclaimed Goods Act rather than the older Workers Liens Act, which was more restrictive.
Further details will be included in the next edition of Motor Trade.
