Abandoned Vehicles

If you suspect a vehicle has been abandoned, please check to see if it has road tax and valid MOT by entering the registration number and make of vehicle on gov.uk

Check if a vehicle has taxed and has an MOT – gov.uk

Important

If the vehicle has road tax, MOT and there are no parking restrictions where it is parked on the public highway, we probably won't be able to treat it as an abandoned vehicle.

What is an abandoned vehicle?

A vehicle is only abandoned 'where it appears to a local authority that a motor vehicle is abandoned without lawful authority…' (Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978). This means that a vehicle is deemed abandoned when an authorised officer at the Council decides that it is abandoned, usually after investigation.

The following characteristics are generally common to abandoned vehicles and will be taken into consideration when deciding that a vehicle is abandoned:

• untaxed (this should not be the only factor)
• flat tyres
• broken windows
• stationary for some time
• has no current registered keeper
• contains any type of waste material
• missing number plates
• burnt out
• significantly damaged, run down or not roadworthy.

Many vehicles that are reported do not fulfil enough of these criteria and the authorised officer cannot deem it abandoned.

Report a vehicle

The Council will remove vehicles from the highway and from Council-owned land.  If the vehicle is on private land, the landowner will need to contact the Council and give permission for the vehicle to be removed.

How to report an abandoned vehicle

Situation	What to do
Vehicle on the public highway which is untaxed, with no other issues.	Report an untaxed vehicle on gov.uk
Vehicle on the public highway which is registered as being subject of a Statutory Off Road Notice (SORN), with no other issues.	Report an untaxed vehicle on gov.uk
Vehicle on the public highway, with a number of the above issues Or Vehicle on open land - includes  Housing land and private land or private roads, that is accessible and open to the public.	Use our online form to report an abandoned vehicle You need to tell us: Your name, address and contact details Information about the vehicle - registration number, make, model, colour Where the vehicle is abandoned What is wrong with it – refer to the list above
Vehicle is blocking a public road or footpath	Call the police on 101
Vehicle is on fire or being vandalised	Call the police on 999

How we deal with abandoned and nuisance vehicles

The Council has the power to:

• Remove vehicles after an investigation has confirmed it is abandoned
• Remove vehicles without warning in certain circumstances

What we take into consideration.

• Is it taxed?
• Does it have an MOT?
• Is it damaged to a point it's un-roadworthy?
• Has it been burnt out?
• Has it been stationary for a long time?
• Does it have or has it been issued multiple PCN’s (Penalty Charge Notices)?
• Is it not displaying trader plates correctly?
• Is it SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification)?
• Is it insured?
• Is it missing number plates?
• Does it contain rubbish?
• Is it been repaired on the road? (exemptions apply)
• Do the registration plates relate to a different vehicle?
• Is it parked on the highway with trader’s plates been displayed?

What happens after you report an abandoned vehicle to us

• We will try to contact the owner/registered keeper, if known
• We may leave a notice on the vehicle, warning it will be removed if no one claims it
• In certain circumstances, we may remove it without notice
• Vehicles removed will either be stored for a short time before being sold and destroyed, or some vehicles may go straight for destruction (if found in a poor state of repair, burnt out, no keeper etc)