Duty to remove abandoned vehicles

It is our duty to remove vehicles which appear to have been abandoned subject to the provisions laid down in the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. We will take the following factors into account when deciding whether a vehicle has been abandoned:

• the length of time the vehicle has been in its current position
• the overall condition, age and appearance of the vehicle
• the status of the vehicle in respect of Tax and SORN
• the presence of a number plate
• apparent roadworthiness
• security
• proximity of the vehicle to the registered address of the last registered keeper

Vehicles which are simply untaxed are not abandoned vehicles and can be reported to the DVLA. They have powers to take enforcement action against owners of untaxed vehicles.

Report an untaxed vehicle to the DVLA

If a vehicle is on private land, we must give the occupier of the land 15 days notice before removing it. If the occupier of the land objects to the vehicle being removed then we cannot remove the vehicle.

For highways and public land, notice periods are seven days, or 24 hours or, in exceptional circumstances, immediately if the vehicle is in a dangerous condition.

Abandoning a vehicle is a criminal offence which could result in the registered keeper being served with a fixed penalty notice or being prosecuted.