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What can the council do?
We have a statutory duty to deal with vehicles that are alleged to be abandoned on the highways, housing land, local amenity land and other areas of land controlled by us.
We are not legally bound to remove vehicles from private land.
Unfortunately removing abandoned vehicles is a long, drawn-out procedure laid down by legislation forbidding us from instantly removing a vehicle we believe is abandoned. Vehicles that are found to be in a fair or reasonably good condition have to be traced through the police and the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
If the police or DVLA notify us of the registered owner of an abandoned vehicle we are looking into we are legally required to write to that person to check that the vehicle still belongs to them.
Previous case history has shown that in around 90 per cent of cases we are writing to a previous owner who has since sold the vehicle onto another party. The vehicle has not been re-registered and therefore remains in the previous keeper's name. This ultimately wastes an awful lot of time but is legally required.
Once we have checked the registered owner we serve a notice on the vehicle and only when the notice expires can we legally remove the vehicle for final disposal and scrap.
In certain cases, where vehicles that have been reported are found to be in a dangerous condition (for example burnt out), we can speed up the process.
We urge you to report the details of any vehicle you consider abandoned at your earliest convenience - the sooner you inform us, the sooner we can remove it!
If you would like to report such a vehicle, please complete the online form below
Reporting an untaxed vehicle which is not abandoned
If you wish to report a vehicle which is being used without a valid tax disc please contact the Department of Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA) (external link) or telephone 0800 325 202.
Retrieving an abandoned vehicle
If your vehicle has been removed by us you can arrange to retrieve it by completing the general enquiry form or by using the details below. When we receive the form we will advise you of the costs involved and issue a release note.
- Standard: We will respond to at least 80 per cent of abandoned vehicles within one working day.
- Standard: We will remove at least 70 per cent of abandoned vehicles within 24 hours of our having the legal right to do so.
Contact details
Safer Neighbourhood Wardens
South Derbyshire District Council
Civic Offices
Civic Way
Swadlincote
Derbyshire
DE11 0AH
Tel: 01283 595943
Fax: 01283 595855
Online: report an abandoned vehicle (below) or make a general enquiry
email: environmental.health@south-derbys.gov.uk
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