Vancouver, BC · Guide

Can You Remove a Car From Street Parking in Vancouver?

Often, yes. A junk car can usually be removed from street parking in Vancouver as long as the vehicle can legally be released and there is enough room to position a flatbed and load safely.

The vehicle itself is rarely the hard part on a street pickup. The road around it usually is.

Call or text Jay · 604-889-4470

Tell Jay about the street, not just the car

Permit-only or time-limited parking on the block
Rush-hour or no-stopping restrictions on arterials like Broadway, Hastings or Main
Separated bike lanes between the curb and the traffic lane
Active construction, scaffolding or road work
How tightly the vehicle is parked between other cars
Whether there is a back lane that would be easier

Back lanes are often the better option

Much of East Vancouver, Mount Pleasant and Kitsilano is easier to work from the lane than the street. Lanes are narrow, so Jay needs to know about overhanging carports, fences, garbage bins and parked vehicles that would block a truck.

Space to load

A flatbed needs room ahead of or behind the vehicle to tilt the deck and winch it on. If the car is boxed in, moving one neighbouring vehicle for twenty minutes can be the difference between a quick pickup and a rescheduled one.

Ownership still applies

A vehicle parked on a public street can only be released by someone with the authority to release it. If the car is not yours, or the registered owner is not available, call Jay before booking.

A real Vancouver example

A car on a permit block off Commercial Drive had a bike lane along its side. Jay moved the pickup to the back lane behind the house, which took the loading out of traffic entirely.

Written by Jay, owner-operator of Jay's Junk Car Towing Inc., from thousands of vehicle removals in Vancouver since 2003.

Questions people ask about this

Can you remove a junk car from street parking in Vancouver?

Often, yes, provided the vehicle can legally be released and there is enough room to load it safely. Tell Jay about traffic, parking restrictions, bike lanes, construction or limited truck access.

Can you remove a car that does not run?

Yes. Jay regularly removes vehicles with dead batteries, failed engines, damaged transmissions and other mechanical problems. Tell Jay whether the vehicle rolls, steers and has working tires so he can bring the correct equipment.

What documents do I need?

Have valid photo identification and the vehicle registration when available. Remove the licence plates before the vehicle leaves. Contact Jay before pickup when registration is missing or ownership is unusual.

How quickly can my car be picked up?

Same-day or next-day pickup may be available, but it depends on Jay's route, schedule, vehicle condition and location. Nothing is guaranteed until Jay confirms a time with you.

In short

Street pickups in Vancouver are common and usually straightforward when Jay knows what the block looks like before he arrives.

Describe the street, the restrictions and the space around the vehicle when you call 604-889-4470.