Abandoned vehicles

If you see a vehicle you think may be abandoned, please report it to your local council. It is a criminal offence to abandon a vehicle.

What is an abandoned vehicle?

There is no legal definition of abandonment. Local councils use their discretion to decide if a vehicle is abandoned.

• A vehicle does not have to be on the road or council land to be abandoned and it may be taxed or have a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
• Vehicles broken down or causing an obstruction can also be removed by the police.

If the local council decides a vehicle is abandoned they have a statutory duty to remove it. They aren't legally obliged to affix a notice to the vehicle as this has lead to anti-social behaviour in the past.

What we do with abandoned vehicles

Once the local council authorises a vehicle's removal it comes into our custody. We then inform the police and try to trace the registered keeper using the DVLA records.

We give the registered keeper 7 days' notice to claim the vehicle and pay the statutory removal fees before they authorise its disposal.

We can only release vehicles with proof of ownership.

Destroying vehicles

We can destroy a vehicle without notice if it's in a really bad condition (for example, if it is a safety hazard or burnt out).

Removal fees

You can find out statutory removal fees in the removal, storage and disposal of vehicles (prescribed sums and charges) regulations 2008. Costs depend on the size, location and condition of the vehicle at the time of removal.

If you wish Kent County Council to dispose of an abandoned vehicle on your behalf

Once a vehicle's in our possession we can dispose of it with written permission from the registered keeper. The registered keeper has to pay removal fees for us to dispose of their vehicle or if they want to take personal items from it. They can't take any item that forms part of the actual vehicle.

Where we dispose of vehicles

Vehicles authorised for disposal are taken to a authorised treatment facilities according to the End of Life Vehicle Directive.

We notify the DVLA and police of all disposals.

Vehicle surrender scheme

If you own a vehicle you want to dispose of, we can do this for you free of charge. Read more about the vehicle surrender scheme.

Operation Cubit

Kent Cubit Operations ceased in March 2013.

The scheme was extremely successful  and dealt with over 10,000 untaxed vehicles in Kent and Medway, ultimately preventing them from becoming abandoned.I

f you see an untaxed vehicle please report it to DVLA.