Report an abandoned or untaxed vehicle

We remove any vehicle abandoned in the open air or on any part of the highway, free of charge. However, we may charge a landowner to remove an abandoned vehicle from a hard-to-access area.

Officers must decide if a vehicle is abandoned and an assessment of the vehicle will be undertaken. It may be likely the vehicle is abandoned if at least one or more of the following applies:

  • it has no keeper on DVLA’s database and is untaxed  
  • it’s stationary for a significant amount of time (at least 6 weeks)
  • it’s significantly damaged, run down or unroadworthy, for example has flat tyres, missing wheels, or broken windows
  • it’s burned out
  • a number plate is missing

To report an abandoned vehicle, you will need:

  • the make and model of the abandoned vehicle
  • its colour
  • its registration number
  • its exact location
  • supporting evidence of abandonment

We aim to inspect abandoned vehicles within 5 working days of being notified.

Untaxed vehicles

You can report an untaxed vehicle on the DVLA website.

Local authorities can only deal with untaxed vehicles when they have received permission to do so from the DVLA.