This information relates to:
- goods worth less than $200
- motor vehicles worth less than $1,000.
For information on uncollected goods worth $200 or more, but less than $5,000, view Medium-value goods.
For information about uncollected vehicles worth $1,000 or more, or goods worth $5,000 or more, view High-value goods and vehicles.
Giving written notice
Before a business can take steps to dispose of any uncollected goods or vehicles, it must give written notice of its intention to do so to the person who left them with the business.
This notice must include certain information - view Written notice of intention to dispose.
Holding the goods or vehicle
After giving written notice, a business must retain the goods or vehicle for a further 28 days. The business can then dispose of them, unless the owner or person who left them has collected the items or given delivery instructions.
If the business cannot contact the person who left the goods or vehicle - despite making reasonable attempts to notify them in writing - it only has to wait 60 days before taking steps to dispose of the items.
Disposing of the goods or vehicle
A business can dispose of low-value goods or vehicles in any way, including by selling, destroying or keeping them for its own use.
The business must record certain details about the goods after disposal. For more information, view Records of disposal.
Any money left over after selling the goods or vehicle, and paying the relevant charge and disposal costs, is ‘unclaimed money’. The business must handle it according to rules set by the Unclaimed Money Act 2008. For more information, visit the State Revenue Office website.
If the sale does not cover the relevant charge and disposal costs, the business may pursue the owner or person who left the goods or vehicle for the debt in court.
For more information about the relevant charge, view Relevant charge.
Selling an uncollected vehicle without a court order - receipt
When a business sells any uncollected vehicle without a court order, it must give the buyer a receipt containing:
- the seller’s full name, address and date of birth (or their business name, address and ABN)
- the name of the vehicle’s registered owner. These details can be obtained from VicRoads, for a fee
- the vehicle’s last registration number (if available) and vehicle identification number
- the buyer’s full name, address and date of birth
- the date of sale
- the sale price
- a statement that the vehicle has been sold under Part 4.2 of the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012
- any other information that may be required by the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Regulations 2012.
Both the seller and the buyer must sign the receipt.
For more information, visit Uncollected vehicles - Vic Roads.
Disputes
If you are having a dispute with a business about a problem with a product, view Resolve your problem or complaint.