Abandoned vehicles
We can remove vehicles when we consider them to have been abandoned by their owner. If the vehicle is on private land it can only be removed with the landowner's consent.
If the vehicle is on a car park or land owned by a Registered Social Landlord (Housing Association), please report this to them in the first instance.
What is an abandoned vehicle?
Just because a vehicle is untaxed, has no MOT, is poorly parked, not owned by a resident in the road or is awaiting recovery having broken down, it does not mean that it has been abandoned.
There is no legal definition of an ‘abandoned vehicle’ but it will usually:
- not be taxed or SORN. Please check if a vehicle is taxed and has an MOT
- not have been moved for 21 days or more
- not have an owner living nearby
In addition we will take the following factors into account when deciding whether a vehicle has been abandoned:
- the age and appearance of the vehicle
- the value of the vehicle
- the overall condition of the vehicle, for example, whether it has flat tyres, rusted brake discs, rainwater damage, significant damage, contains waste or has mould on the inside
- the presence of a number plate
- apparent roadworthiness
- security
- proximity of the vehicle to the registered address of the owner/last registered keeper
How to report an abandoned vehicle
Given the information above, if you still consider a vehicle to be abandoned, please report it to us using one of the links below.
- usually inspect the vehicle within ten working days
- confirm if the vehicle is either taxed or registered as SORN and has a valid MOT
- try to trace the owner of the vehicle which may include placing a note on the windscreen asking them to contact us
If after our investigations we consider the vehicle to be abandoned, we will:
- request details of the last registered keeper from DVLA
- serve a legal notice on any owner/registered keeper we can find and normally affix a seven day notice on the vehicle windscreen. However, if the vehicle is clearly damaged and unroadworthy then we may give less notice
- if the vehicle is on private land, a notice will be served on the landowner(s) giving them 15 days to object to the vehicle’s removal
We will have the vehicle removed if it is still present once the notice period has ended, unless the vehicle owner has claimed it or any landowner has objected.
Once removed, the vehicle is the responsibility of Norfolk County Council for disposal. The registered keeper of the vehicle is invoiced for the cost of collection, storage while ownership is determined and final disposal.
The owner of the vehicle may also be liable to prosecution or a fixed penalty notice for abandoning the vehicle.
Untaxed vehicles
We have no powers to take action regarding untaxed vehicles or SORN vehicles parked on the highway. Therefore please do not report these issues to us.
Instead, you can report an untaxed vehicle directly to the DVLA.