A large seal has been captured by wildlife authorities after it wandered up a suburban street and climbed on a car, smashing the windscreen and denting the roof.

The Australian fur seal, dubbed "Lou-Seal" by Tasmanian police, was discovered on a street in the Launceston suburb of Newstead at dawn on Monday.

The seal climbed onto the bonnet of a car, leaving significant damage. Credit:Tasmania Police

There are small waterways dotted around Newstead, however the suburb is about 50 kilometres inland - suggesting the seal had a long trek from its usual habitat.

Photographs showed the large adult male sitting on the bonnet of a car in busy Penquite Road at 6.40am, barely left with room to turn around.