Abandoned Vehicles

Abandoned vehicle in Tillingham

In 2006/7, there were 36 abandoned vehicles in the Maldon District, although there was 197 vehicles reported. If you witnessed or know the owner of a vehicle, which has been abandoned, please let us know.

There are more and more abandoned vehicles being reported every month. Many hours of Officers time is being used dealing with the procedure of removal. Every year the removal of abandoned vehicles costs the Council tax payer thousands and thousands of pounds.

What can I do if I believe a car is abandoned?

You can report a suspected abandoned vehicle in two ways:

Telephone 01621 854477
Online, using our Report an Abandoned Vehicle e-form.

Our response time

Suspected abandoned vehicles will be investigated with 24 hours of being notified and removed within 24 hours of the expiration of the Abandoned Vehicle Notice.

When reporting an abandoned vehicle, it would be helpful if you can provide as much information as possible, including the following:

Make, model and colour of the vehicle
Registration number of the vehicle
Exact location of the vehicle
If the vehicle is taxed
How long the vehicle has been at that location
Is the car damaged or in a dangerous condition

Please note that you will be asked for your personal contact details. They will be kept confidential and allows us to update you with our progress.

What happens when the car is deemed abandoned?

One of our Street Scene Officer will attach a Notice to the vehicle demanding the owner to contact the Council within a given period. If after the time no owner has claimed their vehicle, a second inspection is made and the Council then has a legal duty to make all reasonable enquiries to find out who owns or normally keeps the vehicle.

The Council's contractor will be notified to tow the vehicle away. After the enquiries have been completed and if the owner has not claimed the vehicle, it will be dismantled for spare parts. The remaining material will be sent for recycling.

What does a 'POLICE AWARE' sticker mean when attached to a car?

Police place this stickers on vehicles that they would like removed by the owner/keeper. If the vehicle is not moved and the Police do not know of any owner, they will then normally arrange for the vehicle to be removed.

What happens to an abandoned vehicle on private land?

The Council will start the legal procedure, only if the owner of the private land requests the Council to do so in writing. The Council generally deals with abandoned vehicles on the public highway, i.e. in streets within the District.

What can happen to the owner of an abandoned vehicle?

Where evidence is obtained from DVLA or a witness, the owner will be taken to Court and could face a fine up to £2,500.

An untaxed vehicle?

The Council does not deal with untaxed vehicles. You should contact the DVLA at Chelmsford. The Council has no powers to deal with untaxed vehicles, which have not been abandoned.

Found a vehicle parked illegally or dangerously?

Irrespective of whether a vehicle is taxed or not, these vehicles must be reported to the police as they can arrange for vehicles to be removed straight away.

Selling your vehicle

When you sell your vehicle, complete the blue part of the registration document with the purchaser's name and address (the purchaser should sign the declaration box to confirm these details). Sign the declaration box yourself and send the blue part only to DVLA Swansea.

Complete the green part with the purchaser's details and give it to the new keeper.

Only complete the red part when selling to a member of the motor trade.

Don't give the whole document to the buyer for them to complete - you will only be leaving yourself open to problems at a later date.