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Abandoned vehicles

An abandoned vehicle can be described as a vehicle that has been left by the owner without any intension of returning.

You should contact the Police if a vehicle is:
- In breach of local traffic regulation orders
- Causing an obstruction on the public highway
- Burned out
- Left in a dangerous place

Possible signs of an abandoned vehicle

  • The car has been stationary for over 6 weeks
  • Smashed windows or mirrors
  • Evidence of mould
  • Litter or growth under the vehicle
  • No tax or MOT
  • Flat tyres

If you are concerned that a vehicle has been abandoned, please check if it has been taxed and has a valid MOT in the first instance:

If the vehicle has a valid MOT and has been taxed, it is not considered an abandoned vehicle.

If a vehicle has a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) but is parked on a public road, you can report it to the DVLA.

Please note that we will not intervene in residential disputes about vehicles outside your property.

Report an abandoned vehicle

When reporting an abandoned vehicle please include the following information:

  • Location
  • Registration number
  • Make, model and colour
  • Current condition
  • How long it has been at the location

Please send the information to:

For data protection reasons, we cannot disclose details of the vehicle owner/registered keeper, nor the details of the individual who submitted the report.

What will happen next

  1. A member of the team will inspect the vehicle if the initial report suggests that further action is needed.
  2. If we have reason to believe that the vehicle has been abandoned, we'll contact the owner requesting them to make arrangements to move it.
  3. If no action has been taken by the owner of the vehicle, the Council will have the power to dispose of the vehicle.

Disposal of an abandoned vehicle

We can dispose of an abandoned vehicle immediately if:

  • It is only fit to be destroyed
  • It has no number plates

In all other cases, we must try to find the owner of the vehicle.

If we find the owner, we must give them at least 7 days’ written notice to collect the vehicle before disposing of it.

If the owner cannot be found or fails to comply with a notice to collect the vehicle, we may dispose of it.

Contact us

For more information, contact us via: