End of Life and Abandoned Vehicles

What is an abandoned vehicle?

An abandoned vehicle will be untaxed and has no known owner. If you are not sure if a vehicle has been abandoned the following bullet points should help you make a judgement:

Is the vehicle untaxed i.e. no tax disc present at all or past the expiry date? (This should not be the sole consideration, but should be taken into account with the other points below.)
Are any of the tyres flat or have any of the wheels been removed?
Is there litter or any other signs under the vehicle, indicating that it has not moved for some time?
Is the windscreen or any of the windows broken?
Is there any mould on either the inside or outside of the vehicle?
Does the vehicle contain items of waste e.g. tyres, old newspapers, general rubbish?
Does the vehicle have number plates?
Has the vehicle been 'hot-wired ' i.e. driven without keys by connecting ignition wires together? (If it has, there will be wires hanging from the dashboard.)
Has the vehicle been vandalised? Exterior vandalism might include dents in bodywork, graffiti, bumpers/spoilers being removed; interior vandalism might include radio being stolen, seat covers being slashed.
Has a vehicle that you and your neighbours have never seen before suddenly appeared in your road and no-one is claiming ownership?

Why is it a problem?

Abandoned vehicles are unsightly and can be hazardous.
Taxpayers bear the cost of recovery when the registerd owner cannot be traced.
Local Police and Fire services must spend time dealing with vehicles that are parked dangerously or set alight.

What does the law say?

It is a criminal offence to abandon a vehicle. Penalties can include both substantial fines and imprisonment.
Local authorities have the power to recover costs of removal, storage and disposal from the person responsible for abandoning the vehicle.
The police have powers to remove any vehicle that is in breach of local traffic regulations, causing an obstruction, likely to cause a danger, broken down or abandoned without lawful authority.
The Council is responsible for removing abandoned vehicles, and are required to search for the vehicles' owner and allow them 14 days to remove the vehicle. If they do not, or if an owner cannot be traced, the Council is required to give a further 7 days notice before removing and scrapping the vehicle.
If an abandoned vehicle is on privately owned land, the Council is required to give the landowner 15 days notice of our intention to take away the vehicle.

How do I report an abandoned vehicle?

Never, enter or even touch an abandoned vehicle - It may have been used in a crime and need to be investigated by the police. They also pose a health and safety risk, may contain hazardous waste and can often pose a fire risk.
Never approach a burning vehicle or burnt out vehicle - Burnt paint, rubber and other materials maybe toxic or corrosive and harmful. If a vehicle is on fire call the fire service immediately. If already burnt out contact your local authority.

To report an abandoned vehicle please use our online form which is the most efficient method of letting us know. Alternatively phone Environmental Services on 01993 861020. Please state the location of the vehicle, its make, model and colour and its registration number (if present).

How should I dispose of a vehicle?

If you have an end of life vehicle that you wish to dispose of please phone Environmental Services on 01993 861020 or complete our general enquiry form and mark it for the attention of Environmental Services. We will then collect it and arrange for its safe disposal.