Abandoned vehicles

If you are concerned about a vehicle that appears to you to have been abandoned, please contact customer services and report the details.

Please provide as much information as possible including:

• the make, model, colour and registration number
• location of vehicle
• length of time it has been there
• condition
• whether or not it is taxed
• is it causing an obstruction to the highway or footpath.

A search for the owner will be undertaken. In most cases if the vehicle is confirmed as being abandoned a Notice will be attached to it. On expiry of the Notice the vehicle will be removed and disposed of.

It is difficult to say how long the process will take as we may have to consult the Police, the DVLA and in some cases landowners, but we aim to have all abandoned vehicles removed within fourteen days after receipt of notification.

Disposing of vehicles

If you have a vehicle to dispose of please note it is an offence to abandon a vehicle and you could be prosecuted. We have the power to recover from you the costs incurred in carrying out the abandoned vehicle procedure.

The correct method to dispose of an unwanted vehicle is to contact your nearest licensed vehicle dismantler as listed in a local telephone directory or via other listings, and let them arrange collection and disposal. At present most dismantlers will offer this service free of charge.  If you do decide to scrap a vehicle, please remember to inform the DVLA as they will need to update their records.