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Report noise from motor vehicles

If you're concerned about excessive noise from motor vehicles you can report noisy engines and exhausts, dangerous driving and horns, alarms, sound systems and vehicle refrigerators.

Project Status: When you need to do this

If you have a concern about excessive noise from motor vehicles in the local area, you can report it:

  • Noise can come from horns, brakes, a refrigerator left running on a parked truck, engine or muffler noise, deliberately revving engines or loud sound systems.
  • The police and the NSW Environment Protection Authority handle most noise complaints about cars and motorcycles, but sometimes there are other avenues where you can raise your concerns.

What you need to do 

  1. Noisy engines and exhausts

    • Residents can report vehicles with noisy engines and exhaust systems to the Environment Protection Authority on 131 555.
    • You’ll need to provide the vehicle’s registration number, its make, model and colour, and note when and where the incident occurred.
    • Police and the authority can require vehicles to be inspected and tested for compliance with noise-control regulations.
    • They also have the power to issue on-the-spot fines to motorists who have illegally modified the noise-reduction equipment on their car or motorcycle.

  2. Dangerous driving and horns

    • Police can respond to complaints about deliberately noisy and dangerous driving, illegal sounding of horns and offensive noise from motor vehicle sound systems.
    • To report these problems, contact your local police station or the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.

  3. Alarms, sound systems and vehicle refrigerators

    • We can respond to complaints about offensive noise from car-intruder alarms, sound systems and vehicle refrigerators, such as those found on trucks and vans, that can be heard indoors.
    • To report excessive noise from these sources, you can contact us at any time.

  4. Noise from major roads

Other information

Legal requirements

NSW law requires that:

  • noise levels from motor vehicle exhausts must not exceed specified levels
  • vehicle engines must not be modified so they’re louder than when originally manufactured
  • noise-control equipment on motor vehicles mustn’t be defective and must be securely in place
  • car alarms must not sound for longer than permitted times.
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