- It is an offence to abandon a vehicle on open land and is punishable by fines of up to £1000.
- We will investigate and remove vehicles deemed to be abandoned. A vehicle is only abandoned when an authorised officer has made the decision that the vehicle has been permanently left without lawful authority, and/ or is, in their opinion, in such a condition that it should be destroyed.
- We cannot use abandoned vehicle legislation to deal with parking issues and we can not require the owner to relocate the vehicle.
- Vehicles causing an obstruction or parked in a dangerous position should be reported to Suffolk Police.
How do I check if a vehicle has been taxed/ current MOT and report an untaxed vehicle?
- Vehicles in regular use but untaxed or have no MOT are not abandoned, however they should be reported appropriately:
- Check if a vehicle is taxed and has an MOT.
- You can report an untaxed vehicle found on the highway.
How do I report an abandoned vehicle?
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To report an abandoned vehicle, you will need to give us your details, along with the vehicle’s registration number, make, model, colour, its location and why you think it has been abandoned.
- We require these details to ensure we can locate the vehicle and request any further details where needed to determine if the vehicle has been abandoned. We can not accept anonymous complaints.
What happens after I report a vehicle?
- After initial enquiries have been made, vehicles which we believe to have been abandoned will have a notice of removal fixed to them.
- Once the notice has lapsed, the vehicle will be removed after seven or fifteen days and if unclaimed, may be destroyed.
- A vehicle owner will be liable for costs of removal, storage, and destruction.