A MAN took a police car for a joyride on the Sunshine Coast - in the nude.

Police were at the scene of a traffic crash at the intersection of Maud St and Aerodrome Rd, Maroochydore about 7.35pm Saturday.

The marked police car was unattended when the naked man jumped into the vehicle.

Police tried to remove the man from the car, but he put the vehicle into gear and drove off.

The car was found a short time later at the intersection of Ocean St and Beach Rd, where the man was taken into police custody.

A 26-year-old Golden Beach man has been charged with two counts of wilful exposure.

He has also been charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and adversely affected by an intoxicating substance, and obstructing police.

He is due to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on December 2.

