'A $1200 fine?': The countries where it's illegal to have a dirty car
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While keeping your car clean is not a legal requirement in Australia, it’s considered an offence in other countries around the world, with some penalties ranging from $40 to $1284.
In November 2024, a Victorian man went viral on social media after being fined for driving a vehicle overloaded with rubbish and obscuring his view of the road.
According to a 9 News report, the motorist drew the attention of Victoria Police after officers discovered the driver's view was limited to a small makeshift hole in the sea clutter in his van.
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"Police weren't even sure if the driver had seen them, given the lack of visibility out of his front windscreen," 9 News said.
"The van was covered with rubbish and held by duct tape, with only a tiny hole for the driver to see out of," the report added.
The 65-year-old driver was issued a defect notice after Victoria Police found the Mercedes-Benz van had not been registered in three years while the motorist had an unregistered licence.
While there's no Australian road rule mandating drivers to always keep their cars clean, it's a different story in the Middle Eastern countries of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to the Royal Oman Police, "driving with a vehicle that is dirty internally and/or externally" is considered an offence and can lead to an OMR10 ($AUD40) fine.
Additionally, drivers in Oman can also be penalised for having an "unclear view through the rear window due to dirt or obstacles hindering the view" and any guilty driver can be hit with an OMR10 penalty.
While Omani road authorities didn't definitively state why these road rules are required, local and overseas reports claim cleanliness is a significant part of local culture, which is why pollution, such as littering, abandoned vehicles, or dirty cars, is a fineable offence.
It's a similar story in Oman's neighbouring country of the United Arab Emirates, where drivers can get penalised for leaving dirty vehicles in public spaces.
According to the local news outlet Khaleej Times, drivers in the capital city of Abu Dhabi, as well as Dubai, can be fined AED500 ($AUD214) for violating the road rule.
In more severe cases, drivers can also be fined AED3000 ($AUD1284) or have their vehicles impounded if the car is left abandoned in public spaces for an extended period of time.
Additionally, the local newspaper said Municipal officials in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafara region claimed the road rule was put in place "to prevent any health hazards and not tarnish the aesthetic appearance of the city".
To enforce the rule, daily inspections are conducted by local officers, and any driver found to violate this road rule is given a 15-day gracing period to clean their vehicle or risk getting their car impounded.
The road rule was introduced in July 2019, with some residents previously sharing their experiences with Khaleej Times.
"I was surprised when I returned to Dubai [after going on vacation], I got a fine of DH500 for not keeping my car clean," one local explained.
"I parked my car near my house, and there was no one to take care of it. Now, before travelling, I will leave my car at the office and give the key to one of my colleagues. The parking is indoors, and my car will not collect dust while I’m away," they added.
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