An abandoned vehicle is a vehicle without a known owner. The Council has a duty to remove abandoned vehicles, which are dealt with under the Removal and Disposal of Vehicles (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 and the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978.
The fact that a vehicle is untaxed does not necessarily mean it has been abandoned. The enforcement authority for untaxed vehicles is the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) which has its own prosecution officers. The DVLA can be contacted on the Road Tax Cheat line 08000 325202.
A notice is fixed to any vehicle deemed to be abandoned and the time that must elapse before the vehicle is removed depends on its location and condition.
Enforcement action may be taken against any person who abandons a vehicle. This can include a £200 fixed penalty notice or a prosecution in the magistrates’ court where the fines can be much higher.
The council takes a robust approach to abandoned vehicles. Residents who wish to report an abandoned vehicle are requested to give the following details on 01803 861234
- a contact name or contact telephone number
- the make, model and colour of the vehicle in question
- the registration of the vehicle if known
- the nearest town and exact location of the vehicle, which is important
- confirmation as to whether there is a tax disc displayed and if so, the date on the disc
- the condition of the vehicle, giving details of any damage or missing parts
