An abandoned vehicle is one 'which appears to have been left without lawful authority'; this is likely to be the case if it's:
- stationary for a significant amount of time
- significantly damaged, run down or unroadworthy - for example, has flat tyres, missing wheels or a broken windscreen
- burned out
- missing a number plate
Report an abandoned vehicle
Check which abandonded vehicles we can help with, before you contact our Environmental Services Team.
You'll need to provide details of:
- vehicle location
- vehicle type (car, van, caravan, motorbike)
- vehicle condition (good, dirty, damaged)
- registration number
- your name, address and contact telephone number (in case we need to check any details)
- any other information that will help us to resolve the request
Our responsibility for abandoned vehicles
Check if a vehicle is taxed and has an MOT before you report an abandoned vehicle:
- if the vehicle is not taxed report it at GOV.UK/report-an-untaxed-vehicle
- if the vehicle has no MOT contact your local police
- if the vehicle is parked illegally report it via parking enforcement or the police
- if the vehicle is taxed, has an MOT and is not parked illegally contact our Environmental Services Team
Be aware that we cannot help with:
- abandonded vehicles on private land, unless requested to do so by the landowner or emergency services
- stolen vehicles
- vehicles that have been involved in an accident
Removing abandoned vehicles
If you've reported abandonded vehicles we can help with, we'll arrange removal as soon as possible.