Police are investigating the deaths of two people in a car on the outskirts of Ballarat in central Victoria.

The bodies of a 27-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman were found in the car which was parked on Smarts Hill Road in Cardigan.

It is believed the pair had been living in the car and were using a butane heater to keep warm.

Their dog was also found dead in the vehicle.

Police made the discovery while checking on a car around 9:30 last night and are not treating the deaths as suspicious.

The coroner will investigate whether fumes from the heater contributed to the deaths.