Complain at vessels being where there should be automobiles (3,5)
I believe the answer is:
car parks
'being where there should be automobiles' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'complain at vessels' is the wordplay.
'complain' becomes 'carp' (carp can informally mean to complain or whinge).
'at' says to put letters next to each other.
'vessels' becomes 'arks' (ark is a kind of vessel).
'carp'+'arks'='CAR PARKS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for car parks that I've seen is " Lots in America".)