Local borough and district councils can investigate vehicles where there are justifiable reasons to consider they may have been abandoned. They can remove any vehicles that prove to be abandoned, including trailers and caravans, when it is clear the keeper has no intention of returning.
Reporting an abandoned vehicle
If you would like to report an abandoned vehicle, you must contact the relevant district or borough council.
Vehicles should not be reported as abandoned to resolve a neighbourhood dispute.
Select your local council to report:
- Cannock Chase
- East Staffordshire
- Lichfield
- Newcastle
- South Staffordshire
- Stafford
- Staffordshire Moorlands
- Tamworth
What does 'abandoned' mean?
A vehicle may be considered abandoned if:
- It has no keeper on the DVLA's database
- It is not taxed
- It has not been moved for a significant amount of time
- It is significantly damaged, run down or not roadworthy (e.g. flat tyres, wheels removed, broken windows)
- It is burned out
- It has number plates missing
A vehicle is not classed as abandoned simply because it has been parked in the same place for a few days.
How do I find out if a vehicle is taxed?
You can check this online. You’ll need:
- The make of the vehicle
- The vehicle registration mark (number plate)
Find out if a vehicle is taxed through gov.uk.
If a vehicle is parked in a dangerous position, causing an obstruction, burnt out, or thought to be involved in crime, report it to the police via the non-emergency number 101.