Abandoned and nuisance vehicles

We deal with the following types of vehicle:

• abandoned vehicles
• untaxed vehicles
• two or more vehicles for sale, parked on a road within 500m of each other, which are being sold as part of a business
• vehicles that are being repaired on a road (exemptions apply)

What is an abandoned or nuisance vehicle?

There's no legal definition of abandoned cars, but we use our judgement to decide whether a vehicle is abandoned or a nuisance, by taking into account whether or not the vehicle:

• is taxed
• has a registered owner
• is damaged, rundown or un-roadworthy
• has been burnt out
• is missing one or more number plates
• contains rubbish/waste
• has a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification)
• is one of two or more vehicles for sale, parked on a road within 500m of each other, which are being sold as part of a business
• is being repaired on a road (exemptions apply)

What can I do?

You can report abandoned or burnt out vehicles online using Report It.

Alternatively, you can contact the Environment Contact Centre on 01642 726001.

What can the council do?

We can:

• remove an abandoned vehicle from a road (this includes private roads and estates. If the vehicle is on private land the council will serve a 15 day notice of removal on the owner/occupier)
• immediately dispose of abandoned vehicles of no value. If vehicles are considered to be of some value, the council will send a written notice of destruction to the owner. If at the end of this notice period the vehicle is unclaimed, the council can dispose of it. The council has also been given powers by the DVLA to remove and dispose of untaxed vehicles.
• trace vehicle ownership and impose fines on those abandoning vehicles by working with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)