Abandoned Vehicles

Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council aims to keep the number of abandoned vehicles on our streets to a minimum and welcome co-operation from the public to help us do this.  The Council also aims to provide the best service possible in response to complaints of abandoned vehicles.

Local authorities are under a duty under Section 3 of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, to remove a vehicle which is abandoned in their area, on any land in the open air, or on any other land forming part of a highway.  Under this Act, abandoning a vehicle is a criminal offence, carrying a maximum penalty or a fine of £2,500 or three months' imprisonment or both.

However, this may not cover vehicles abandoned on private land, although we do have the power to remove these vehicles with the landowners consent for which a fee will be charged . If you believe a vehicle to be abandoned you can report it online, or by telephone.

Online Form: Report an abandoned vehicle

Telephone: 01743 281111

What we will need to know:

We will ask you to tell us about the vehicle:

• where the vehicle is
• make, model and colour
• the registration number (if it has one)
• the date on the tax disc (if it has one)
• what condition the vehicle is in
• how long the vehicle has been left there

Taxed abandoned vehicles

Unfortunately the Council does not have legal powers to remove taxed vehicles, if the vehicle is in dangerous condition, or is an obstruction to the public, please contact Shrewsbury Police Station (08457 444 888) who will give further advice.

Untaxed abandoned vehicles

There is often confusion regarding vehicles that are not taxed.  Although it is an offence to use a vehicle on the highway without tax, untaxed vehicles are not necessarily abandoned.  Some people choose to ignore the law and drive vehicles without valid tax but have certainly not abandoned them.

The last registered keeper of a vehicle has the responsibility to ensure that the vehicle has valid tax.  If a vehicle is sold or transferred it is the responsibility of the registered keeper to ensure that the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) is informed so that the records can be updated.

Untaxed vehicles that are not abandoned can be reported direct to the DVLA (please follow this link) or you can call the national untaxed vehicles telephone hotline - the freephone number is 0800 0325 202, for more information visit the DVLA website at www.dvla.gov.uk 

What is an abandoned vehicle?

An abandoned vehicle is one that appears not to be in regular use and/or is usually not displaying a valid road disc (unless on private land with the landowner or occupier's permission) for which no owner can be found or traced.  To be classed as an Abandoned Vehicle it must meet more than one of the following criteria:

• It has been left unattended for at least one week
• It does not display a valid tax disc
• One or more flat tyres
• Presence of weeds/litter etc under vehicle
• Rusty brake disks
• Broken windscreen/windows
• Mould on inside/outside
• Presence of waste in vehicle
• Absence of number plates

It is not considered abandoned if:

Many of the vehicles reported to us cannot be regarded as abandoned; make sure that the criteria in the section above is met, some other reasons are listed below:-

• If it is frequently moved, (even if it doesn't have a valid tax disc)
• If it has a valid tax disc; the owner has the legal right to leave a taxed vehicle on the highway, also the Council cannot scrap a vehicle until a valid tax disc expires 
• Even without a valid tax disc the Council has no power to remove a claimed vehicle. A claimed vehicle is one that the owner has contacted us to say it has not been abandoned
• The notice we place on the car does state that the owner must notify us if they do not wish the car to be removed
• Vehicles found abandoned may be taken away and destroyed following the established legal procedure. If we find a vehicle that we believe to be abandoned we are legally required to attach a notice to the vehicle giving the owner a chance to remove it before we do
• Sometimes taxed and relatively new vehicles or those that have a great value have been stolen. If you have any suspicions you can contact the Police or your local community police officer who can confirm if the car has been reported as stolen.

If you find a notice from the Council on your vehicle you should contact us on 01743 281111 as soon as possible to cease the abandoned vehicle process.

How to reclaim a vehicle?

We have powers to remove vehicles if we believe that they have been abandoned.  If your vehicle has been removed by the Council, you will have to satisfy the Council that the vehicle was not abandoned and prove that you are the legal, registered keeper.  If the vehicle is in storage, you will be required to pay any outstanding costs incurred before the vehicle is released.  If you are responsible for the abandonment of any vehicle you may also be prosecuted.  If found guilty, you could be fined up to £2,500 or face up to 3 months imprisionment.

How does the Council respond to a complaint of an Abandoned Vehicle?

Our Enforcement Officer will:-

• Visit the vehicle within 24 hours after receiving the notification.
• Assess the vehicle and if in the opinion of the Council it appears to be abandoned and is on the public highway, the appropriate notice will be attached to the vehicle i.e. 7 day disposal/destruction notice or a 24 hour destruction notice (wreck).
• We also photograph vehicles for evidence
• On all other land in the open air, a 15 day notice is placed on the vehicle, to inform the registered keeper of the vehicle and/or the owner/occupier of the land, that the vehicle is being viewed as abandoned.
• Take all necessary steps to trace the owner of the vehicle.  If the registered keeper/owner cannot be traced then, on expiry of the notice, the vehicle will be removed and impounded or destroyed.
• If the owner of the vehicle comes forward, no futher action can be taken by the Council in normal circumstances.  Where the vehicle concerned is untaxed, the DVLA should be informed.