An abandoned vehicle:
- has no registered keeper on the DVLA's database and is untaxed
- has been stationary for a significant amount of time
- is burnt out and the owner is not known locally
- is significantly damaged, run down or unroadworthy, for example, has flat tyres, missing wheels or broken windows
- the number plates are missing
If you suspect a vehicle has been abandoned, please check to see if it has road tax and MOT by entering the registration number and make on GOV.UK: Check a vehicle’s tax and MOT.
If the car has road tax, MOT and there are no parking restrictions where it is parked on the road, we probably won't be able to treat it as an abandoned vehicle.
What happens next
After your report an abandoned vehicle to us we will:
- try to contact the owner
- leave a notice on the vehicle for 15 days, warning it'll be removed if no one claims it
- remove it after this time - we will take it to the compound or destroy it