Abandoned vehicles

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 abandoned 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:

• abandoned 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 abandoned vehicles we can help with, we'll arrange removal as soon as possible.

Also see

• Streets, roads and pavements
• Report a street, road or pavement problem
• Unauthorised encampments
• Building materials on the highway