Information about abandoned vehicles
Last updated: 16/05/2012
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Since the introduction of an environmental change for the
disposal of redundant vehicles along with the fall in scrap metal
values, a significant rise in the numbers of abandoned vehicles is
occurring both locally and nationally.
What is an abandoned vehicle?
An abandoned vehicle is one that appears not to be in regular use
and has been in situ for a period of time (usually 2 weeks or
more). Just because a vehicle is in poor condition and/or out of
tax does not necessarily mean that it is abandoned and therefore on
occasions additional enquiries may have to be made to establish
whether or not the vehicle is abandoned before the council can
remove it. If a vehicle is on private land the council must
first serve a 15-day notice on the landowner. Once the 15 days have
expired the vehicle will then be treated as if on the highway.
Vehicles that are illegally, obstructively or
dangerously parked, irrespective of whether a vehicle is
taxed or not, Must be reported to the police as
they can arrange for the vehicle to be dealt with immediately.
Avoid breaking the law when 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 to confirm these details).
- Sign the declaration yourself and send the blue part only to
the DVLA at 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.
Remember until the DVLA receive new keeper details you
will remain liable for the car tax and any fines or costs run up by
that vehicle.
To report an abandoned vehicle we
need:-
- The location of the vehicle (outside house no.....,
opposite......).
- The make and colour of the vehicle?
- The registration no. of the vehicle?
- Does it have a tax disc? If so when does it expire?
- How long has it been in it's current position?
- What is the general condition of the vehicle?
You can report
abandoned vehicles online.
Once reported an Officer visits the site to ascertain if the
vehicle is abandoned. If it is, the possible courses of action
are:
- If the vehicle is only fit for destruction, whether it displays
a current tax disc or not it may be removed and destroyed
immediately.
- If the vehicle does not display any registration mark and no
tax disc it may be removed and destroyed immediately.
- If the vehicle does not fall into either category above a
seven day notice of removal will be sent to the registered
keeper of the vehicle, as held by the DVLA.
- If the vehicle is on private land (except private roads, etc) a
15 day notice of removal will be affixed to the land and if
the owner of the land can be traced a notice sent to
that person advising that person of our intended action.
- If there is a vehicle registration number undertake a trace of
the last known keeper using the DVLA online service
The costs for removal, destruction or storage of abandoned
vehicles is recovered from the last known keeper as a sundry debt.
Non-payment will result in action being taken in the County Court
for recovery of the debt.
If the vehicle did not display a registration mark or tax disc a
second trace of the last known keeper will be established, where
possible, from the VIN number provided by the destruction
centre.
Please contact the Environmental Protection Team for
further information and advice on 0300 1234 212 or by e-mail
envhealthandlicensing@cornwall.gov.uk