Human remains found in burnt-out Vic car

Human remains have been found inside a burnt-out car belonging to a man who has been missing since Christmas Day, Victorian police say.

The vehicle found pushed back from the side of a road near Bendigo is owned by 47-year-old William Stevenson, of Kerang in central Victoria.

Mr Stevenson's 1996 green Mitsubishi Magna sedan was discovered by a police officer at around 5.30pm (AEDT) on Wednesday.

Police say the remains are yet to be formally identified and the car is undergoing forensic testing.

The human remains are those of a man but no cause of death had been determined, Detective Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles told reporters at the scene on Thursday.

Two people are in custody assisting detectives with their inquiries.

The car was extensively burnt and could have been there for a number of days, police say.

Det Sen Sgt Iddles said the vehicle was moved by another vehicle after it was set on fire.

"If someone has moved the car, they are not in trouble, we just need to eliminate all possibilities," he said.

The fact that nobody had reported the fire was "odd".

Anyone with any information about who moved the car should contact police, Det Sen Sgt Iddles said.

Mr Stevenson was last seen by friends and was reported missing after he failed to turn up to work.