Abandoned vehicles
An abandoned vehicle is a vehicle which appears to have no owner. It is not simply a vehicle that is either untaxed or dangerously parked on the public highway.
What we can deal with
- Investigate all abandoned vehicle reports
- Remove vehicles that we consider to be abandoned. Section 3 of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 places duty on a Local Authority to remove vehicles which are apparently abandoned on highways, and some other land to which the public have access, subject to giving notice of removal.
What we can't deal with
- Untaxed motor vehicles unless there are other reasons for the vehicle being abandoned (general condition, position, absence of contents etc)
- Untaxed vehicles which are not abandoned - these are a matter for the DVLA and need to be reported to them at Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency.
- Taxed Vehicles - To find out how to check whether a vehicle is taxed, please go to GOV.UK website.
- Cars "trespassing" on private property. Vehicles that are abandoned elsewhere (in car parks, by garages, on private land) are the responsibility of the relevant land owners.
- Vehicles parked outside a house and a householder disapproves. It is not an offence.