Abandoned and Untaxed Cars

If you require further information, please contact

Environmental Services

Tel: 01276 707472
Fax: 01276 707365
enquiries@surreyheath.gov.uk

Surrey Heath House
Knoll Road
Camberley
Surrey GU15 3HD

Contacts and References
Police Aware - Camberley Police Tel: 08451 252222

Report an Abandoned Vehicle by completing the form below

Online Form
Report an Abandoned Vehicle

Reporting an abandoned car

General
The Council receives every week a significant number of reports of abandoned vehicles from members of the public. Most vehicles are left in the road, and 'the road' in this case means the Public Highway. Many people are rightly concerned by the deleterious effect caused by dumped cars on their street environment, the attraction of vandals, increased risk of other crime, risk of fire, and the general nuisance where parking is in short supply locally. Untaxed cars are also offensive to those of us who operate our own cars within the law. People who leave their unwanted cars around the streets are selfish, irresponsible and thoughtless. Furthermore, DVLA information suggests that many of the abandoned cars have been operated unregistered, untaxed and probably uninsured for periods prior to their abandonment.

These problems are recognised by Central Government and the law is being changed to address the many issues of car registration and ownership which are highlighted by this problem. The process of change is slow.

Receiving Reports
All reports of apparently abandoned cars are followed up and investigated by the Council. Unfortunately, in many cases the Council cannot remove a car quickly. Owners of cars have rights too, even if they are not taxed. All cars which have been heavily vandalised and in dangerous condition or those burned-out can be removed in 24 hours. Those which appear to have been abandoned and are causing a hazard to road safety can be removed in 24 hours. Those in a safe condition will be affixed with a 7 day Notice and will be removed after the expiry of the Notice.

Investigation and DVLA information
Some cars reported as 'abandoned' are clearly not in fact abandoned; they are merely untaxed, possibly not used often or are being stored on the road. Others could be in regular use. The amenity officer who follows up a complaint has to make a judgement when he examines the car on site. Where these circumstances apply, and no tax disc is showing, the officer reports the matter to DVLA and takes no further action. The Council has no policing role whatsoever in relation to the legality or otherwise of car use. The police themselves currently have little interest in untaxed cars. It is the DVLA who have the powers to prosecute offenders. If you know of a car being used illegally, you should report it directly to DVLA (free) 0800 032 5202.

All cars reported to the Council are checked against DVLA records. These sometimes indicate that a car which looks abandoned is in fact registered and taxed but the disc not displayed in the screen. Sometimes an owner will respond to a Notice attached to his car and contact the Council to advise that he wishes to retain it and gives an undertaking to move it off the highway. In both these cases, the Council will not take any further action so long as the car is in a safe condition. Any parked car causing a traffic hazard or an illegally parked car which is not in unsafe condition, is a matter for the police, not the Council. If the Police establish in such cases that a vehicle is probably abandoned, they will pass a report to the Council to deal with it.

Dilapidated cars on private land
The Council can take action on abandoned and dilapidated cars on privately owned land where such land is open and accessible to the public. In such cases an environmental hazard is recognised and the Council can use its powers to remove the hazard or nuisance. If you have any anxieties with regard to dumped cars in these circumstances, please report it and the Council will investigate and take appropriate action.

Information

The cost of dealing with abandoned cars in the Borough
The total costs of dealing with dumped cars are high, and if you live in the Borough, you are helping to meet the expense through your Council Tax and Income Tax. The procedural problems are far from simple and the Council can be liable for compensation if it acts incorrectly or outside the law. The Council operates a policy that is in line with current legislation issued by Central Government but which minimises the cost of the disposal operation. In its policy, the Council strikes a balance between protection of the environment and the minimisation of costs for disposal of the cars. Please bear this in mind when reporting your problem. If you reported an abandoned car some time ago which is still on site, there are most likely, good reasons. The amenity officer will be pleased to explain to you on Tel: 01276 707237. Whilst efforts are made to recover costs from offending owners, in practice, this is very rarely achieved. The costs of legal proceedings to recover costs usually exceed the cost of disposal of the car.

See also FAQs for Abandoned Cars