Abandoned Vehicles
How to identify an abandoned vehicle
You can help us by using our online form to tell us about any suspected abandoned vehicles in your area. Please provide us with as much information as you can. If sufficient vehicle information is not provided we may not be able to investigate your report any further.
What is an abandoned vehicle?
- A vehicle which has a number of flat tyres
- A vehicle with mould growing on the inside
- A vehicle filled with waste
- A vehicle not displaying number plates
- A vehicle that cannot be driven
- A vehicle that has been burnt out
- A vehicle that hasn't moved for a number of months
A vehicle with no tax, no MOT, or both doesn't necessarily indicate an abandoned vehicle. In the first instance, this should be reported as follows:
No tax: Report to the DVLA
No MOT: Report to Kent Police
Reporting a vehicle to us which has no tax, no MOT or both, with no other sign of abandonment will not be investigated.
Abandoned vehicles on private land
Whilst we have a duty to remove abandoned vehicles from land in the open air (including private land), we will not deal with abandoned vehicles in garages, car ports, etc. that are not truly in the "open air".
Vehicles on private land, including National Trust, Woodland Trust or housing association parking areas, should be reported to the landowner in the first instance.
We require express, written permission, from the landowner in order to act on their behalf. We also require written proof of ownership of the land, e.g. Land Registry Title of Register and Title Plan.
Should the registered keeper of the vehicle come forward at any point during the process, we will no longer consider the vehicle abandoned and it would become a civil matter.
What happens after a report has been made
What we do once a vehicle has been reported as abandoned:
- We will check your report for clear signs of abandonment.
- Under certain circumstances, we may contact the police to check whether they have any interest in the vehicle. If it has been stolen we are not able to remove it.
- Inspect, photograph and attach a seven or 15-day notice to the vehicle, (seven day for highway, 15-day for private land)
- Complete a registered keeper check and write to them.
- Schedule a review of the vehicle for seven or 15-days from the day we send the letter to the registered keeper.
- Undertake a review of the vehicle and if it is still present instruct our contractor to uplift it.
- Once the vehicle has been uplifted, the registered keeper must contact Kent County Council (KCC) on 03000 411623 or abandon01@kent.gov.uk as soon as possible if they wish to claim it. They will be told the statutory fees payable, the documents they must provide for the release of the vehicle and where to collect the vehicle from.
Do you have a car you no longer need?
If you have a vehicle that you no longer want or need, you can surrender your vehicle. Please complete the Kent County Council Vehicle Surrender form.
Abandoned vehicles policy
The purpose of our policy is to ensure efficient compliance with legislation that allows us to remove abandoned vehicles. It has been developed to ensure that our approach is consistent, proportionate and transparent.
View our Abandoned Vehicles Policy [pdf] 289KB.
How Ashford Borough Council uses your personal data
Please read our privacy page, which explains how Ashford Borough Council (as a Data Controller) collects, uses and protects your personal data.
Report an abandoned vehicle
Please read how Ashford Borough Council uses your personal data and complete our abandoned vehicle form.
Multiple reports of the same vehicle will not expedite the removing of an abandoned vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
+ A vehicle is untaxed but on a public road, can you remove it?
The fact a vehicle is untaxed does not necessarily mean it has been abandoned.
+ A vehicle is registered as SORN but parked on a public road, can you remove it?
Vehicles registered as SORN but parked on a public road fall under the remit of the DVLA.
+ A vehicle is driving around with no insurance, can you investigate?
Vehicles being driven with no insurance fall under the remit of the police.
Report it by telephoning their non-emergency number 101.
+ A vehicle is taxed but has no valid MOT and is being used on the road, can you investigate?
Taxed vehicles being used on the road (including parked vehicles) with no MOT fall under the remit of the police.
+ Can you remove a vehicle that:
- is causing an obstruction or in a dangerous position
- has been left in a dangerous position/condition after an accident
- is lost or stolen and has been dumped
The police have the power to immediately remove any vehicle which is causing an obstruction or likely to cause danger.
Report it by telephoning their non-emergency number 101.
+ A vehicle has been left on the side of the road after an accident. Can you remove it?
If vehicle has been in a road traffic collision, it is not necessarily abandoned.
Vehicles that have been involved in a road traffic collision become the responsibility of the owner’s insurance company.
+ There is an emergency with a vehicle, e.g. spilt petrol or live wires. Who do I report it to?
Emergencies involving vehicles fall under the remit of the police.
Report it by telephoning their non-emergency number 101.
+ Do you deal with abandoned vehicles on private land?
Vehicles on private land, including National Trust, Woodland Trust or housing association parking areas, should be reported to the landowner in the first instance.
We will not deal with abandoned vehicles on private land unless written permission is given by the landowner to deal with the vehicle in question.
+ Can you remove a vehicle that is parked on the highway (public road) outside my house?
Although the householder may not like this, it is not an offence.
A vehicle that moves location on a road (even infrequently) is not abandoned.
