The blue Mitsubishi, which had a smashed in end, bumper hanging off and was surrounded with debris, been parked on Cumberland St — the one-way southbound State Highway 1 — for weeks.
A reader said it was removed by a tow truck this morning.
This was despite both NZTA and the Dunedin City Council saying yesterday there were no plans to remove it.
DCC compliance team leader Peter Hanlin said the NZTA was responsible for vehicles abandoned on the highway and the council would contact the agency if complaints were received.
"In this instance, we haven’t received any complaints about the vehicle and don’t have any safety concerns."
NZTA coastal Otago maintenance contract manager Nic Rodger said if a vehicle was abandoned, the agency would remove and store it, at the owner’s cost, while attempts were made to contact the person.
If the owner could not be contacted, the vehicle would be sold to cover costs.
However, the agency had no immediate plans to remove the car.
"To the best of our knowledge the car is warranted, registered, and still actively possessed by someone, so while it may be an eyesore, it’s not a safety issue for the transport agency," he said.
