Shropshire Council

Abandoned vehicles

All vehicles that are considered to be abandoned are dealt with using the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 and the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005 which contain relevant legislation that's used to remove abandoned vehicles from public highway. Our teams will investigate to confirm that the vehicle is abandoned, and if so will try to determine ownership. If needed, we'll attach a seven-day removal notice on the vehicle. If the vehicle is unclaimed after seven days we'll arrange for removal. If the vehicle represents a health and safety risk to the public we may remove it immediately.

You can report an abandoned vehicle online...

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Untaxed vehicles

Taxed vehicles aren't classed as abandoned. These should be reported to DVLA and the police.

Untaxed vehicles can be reported:

  • Online
  • By letter to your local DVLA office

Lost and stolen

Before any vehicle is sent for disposal or sold, all abandoned vehicles are checked with the police to ensure that they aren't lost or stolen.

Private land

If a landowner wants a vehicle removed from their property they must first try to trace the owner of the vehicle. The landowner can contact the DVLA to ask for their help. If this is unsuccessful they can contact the police to see if they have any interest in the vehicle. The landowner has the right to remove the vehicle.     

We'll remove a vehicle on behalf of a landowner if it's in the public interest, and if they can show that they've made all reasonable efforts to contact the vehicle owner (for example, quoting a police incident number and providing us with copies of any correspondence). Land registry documents must all be provided to us, including register view and title plan of the land.

The costs reasonably incurred by the council in officer attendance, administration, vehicle recovery and storage will be chargeable to the landowner following their request of a vehicle removal from their private land.