Crazy Aussie car laws: is it illegal to warm up your car in the driveway?

Australian Community Media

With winter mornings biting, it’s tempting for many Aussies to let the car run for a few minutes to warm up the engine and cabin before driving off… but in some states, that simple habit could land you a fine. This video includes ACM-produced voiceover powered by AI.

Transcript

00:00With winter mornings biting it's tempting for many Aussies to let the car run for a

00:07few minutes to warm up the engine and cabin before driving off but in some

00:11states that simple habit could land you a fine. Queensland law makes it illegal

00:17to leave your engine running while unattended under environmental and

00:21traffic rules. Drivers are required to switch off the engine if they intend to

00:26move more than three meters away from the vehicle. Fines vary from state to state.

00:31In Queensland a $61 on-the-spot fine can apply for leaving an unattended vehicle

00:37idling or unsecured and in the ACT a similar fine is up to 20 penalty units

00:44which is a whopping $3,846. New South Wales has similar laws banning idling in

00:52school zones or built-up areas for more than a minute.

00:56Authorities say idling increases air pollution and wastes fuel but there is a

01:02cleaner workaround if you own an EV. Many EVs can preheat or cool their cabins

01:08remotely through an app without any exhaust emissions so you can stay cosy

01:13and compliant.

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