Abandoned Car

[leestudd32]

Apologies if this is the wrong section, no idea where else to put it! I've reported an abandoned car to DVLA 3 times since December 2012. The car in question hasn't turned a wheel since it was left there, the tax on it ran out at the end of December 2012 and its not sorn. I've reported it to my local council and they won't do sod all unless I report it to the management company ( I live in a newish build block of flats), they then have to contact the council in writing and also pay a £40 charge to get a notice attached to the vehicle and it then removed. Council say this due to it being private property. Is there a timescale DVLA work to regarding abandoned/untaxed cars? Because I can see my management company doing nothing about it!

[sailor sam]

Do you know who owns it?

 

LA won't be interested if it's on private property. DVLA will check to see if it has a RK (which it possibly hasn't) and will act accordingly to the point where it will get towed and crushed eventually. Not sure what else you can do other than what you have done so far.

[green_and_mean]

If its on private property get the land owner to deal with it as its nothing to do with Council and the DVLA wont remove it either.

[leestudd32]

This is the problem, I've contacted my letting agency who them contact the management company, and they are not particularly speedy at resolving issues. Though I understand its on private property its still untaxed, we pay DLVA for road tax not the local council, I can't understand the red tape around the problem. I did get a long, unhelpful response from DVLA when I contacted them last week:

 

Dear Mr Studd

 

Thank you for your email received on 26/3/13. Your email reference number is 1235013.

 

The removal of an abandoned vehicle is a matter for either the local authorities or the police. Where vehicles are not illegally parked, but otherwise appear to be abandoned, the responsibility for removing and ultimately disposing of them rests in practice with the local authorities. They have the powers to trace the last owner of the vehicle in order to assign disposal costs. Under the Removal and Disposal of Vehicles Regulation 1986, the police have the power to remove immediately any vehicle which is left in breach of local traffic regulation orders, is causing an obstruction, likely to cause a danger, broken down or abandoned without lawful authority.

 

You might be interested to know that in April 2002, the Government announced tough new measures to clamp down on abandoned vehicles. Local authorities are encouraged to work in partnership with DVLA and other authorities to make it easier to trace and clarify vehicle ownership. One of the key features is a shortening of the notice periods required before an abandoned vehicle can be removed. These changes are aimed at removing vehicles from the streets before they are vandalised and become a danger. Local authorities are able to obtain keeper information from this Agency and arrange for the vehicle to be removed after 24 hours.

 

DVLA recognises that many people feel strongly about untaxed vehicles and wish to report them for enforcement action. The Agency welcomes such information and no report is ignored.

 

DVLA has introduced a service to allow members of the public to report vehicle tax offences directly and anonymously if they wish. This can be done online at www.dvla.gov.uk/onlineservices/report_unlicensed

 

Alternatively you can submit your report in writing to, Enforcement Section, E89/A2, DVLA Swansea, SA7 0XZ

 

When submitting a report the details must include:

 

• registration number

• make/model

• colour of the vehicle

• location of the vehicle

 

 

Wherever possible, it would be appreciated if you can provide:

 

• the time it can be seen on the public road

• the name and address of the owner

 

 

An inquiry officer, who will make a formal sighting of the vehicle and fill in a witness statement, can use the information you provide for further investigations.

 

Do not reply to this email. If you wish to contact us again about this response then please use our Reply Form or copy and paste the following URL in to your browser:

 

https://emaildvla.direct.gov.uk/emaildvla/cegemail/dvla/en/reply_form_vehicles.html

 

When filling in the form the email reference number 1235013 will be required.

 

Regards

 

Z Newson

Customer Enquiries Group

DVLA

 

 

If I knew their name and address, I'd speak to the owner myself about it!