Abandoned and untaxed vehicles

For a vehicle to be considered abandoned it needs to have been untaxed for two months and one day or declared Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) but left on the road. Vehicles declared SORN should be kept on private property, not on the public highway.

Report an abandoned or untaxed vehicle

Our responsibilities

We have a statutory duty to remove vehicles that have been abandoned on the public highway, on council land or on 'any land in the open air'.  Any car parked causing a traffic hazard or illegally parked is a matter for the police, not us.

Under Regulation 3 of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, a vehicle that is considered abandoned will be given a seven-day notice if it is on a public road or a 15 day notice if it is on private land.

Any car parked causing a traffic hazard or an illegally parked car which is not in an unsafe condition is a matter for the police, not us.

See if an abandoned vehicle is untaxed

You can use the DVLA's website to check if a vehicle is taxed.  If it is not you can report it. 

Check if a vehicle is taxed

Report an untaxed vehicle