A driver felt something on her foot and looked down to find the fourth most venomous snake in the world had hidden itself in her car.
She managed to fight off the snake while weaving through traffic before pulling into an emergency lane.
Police said officers were called to the freeway near the Toorak Road exit after reports a barefoot woman had been attempting to flag down cars.
"The woman explained that she had been travelling at 80km/h on the freeway when she felt something on her foot and looked down to find a deadly tiger snake slithering up her leg," police said in a statement.
Police called in Tim Nanninga from Melbourne Snake Control to relocate the snake.
"Normally when snakes are in cars they find a really nice little hidey hole and they can stay in for days and not come out but we were lucky the snake moved along to the back of the car," he told 9News.
He captured the snake to be safely released into bushland later that afternoon.
"Passing motorists were left in bewilderment as the massive snake was safely removed from the vehicle," police said.
"And so ended one of the more bizarre welfare checks you'll ever hear about."
The woman was assessed by paramedics to ensure she wasn't bitten by the snake and taken to hospital for observation.
"[It's] a miracle how she got off the road and safely parked the car and called Vic Pol," Nanninga said.
Tiger snakes are the fourth most venomous snake in the world.
Experts say the recent tropical weather Melburnians have been experiencing is drawing the snakes out of the creeks and riverbeds.
Anyone who encounters a snake is advised not to approach it and call a professional.
"Stay calm, keep your distance," Nanninga said.
"They're not going to chase after you, they're not out there to hurt you."
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