We operate a service for the removal of abandoned vehicles from the highway. An abandoned vehicle is regarded as a vehicle that has no known owner and that has been dumped.

We do not ordinarily remove vehicles from private land without express permission from the land owner, however if you think that there is an immediate risk to health, safety or the environment please contact Customer Services.

Anyone wishing to make a report should provide:

  • their full details
  • the vehicle make
  • model
  • registration number
  • colour
  • location
  • a reason why they think it is abandoned.

If possible, please also provide the condition of the vehicle, how long the vehicle has been there and whether the vehicle is being used at any time.

A vehicle considered to be abandoned on the highway will be served a notice informing anyone with legal claim to remove it within 24 hours. If the vehicle remains unclaimed after that deadline, arrangements will be made for it to be removed and in most cases scrapped.

Owners of vehicles that we have to remove as abandoned may be charged statutory fees:

  • £105 + VAT for removal 
  • £12 + VAT per day for storage of vehicles until disposed of
  • £50 + VAT on disposal
  • £200 Fixed penalty notice for abandoning it

When reporting abandoned vehicles we suggest you download the What3Words app; this means we can now respond to exact locations in very rural areas or in a town environment to find the issue to be dealt with.

The app helps us to find the exact location of the abandoned vehicle by giving small areas 3 unique words. When giving details of the location in our online form, please use the 3 words generated by the app in the location details box.

Our teams have been trialling What3Words and have found it very successful so far, they have found it saves time and enables them to find the abandoned vehicle more accurately, the first time. 

All the emergency services in Devon and Cornwall are now also using the app as a back up to their other location finding systems, so you may find the app useful in future too.

You can check to see if a vehicle is taxed or MOT'd directly with the DVLA.