Abandoned Vehicles

Abandoned Vehicles and Disposal of Your Old Car

How do I report an Abandoned Vehicle?

Is the vehicle causing an obstruction on a road or has it been burnt out? Then please call Hampshire Police on 0845 0454545.

Otherwise, to report an Abandoned Vehicle, you can either contact the Council’s Gateway service in person at the details below, or phone or email Action Line for further information:

Gateway
Southampton City Council
Civic Centre
Southampton
SO14 7LY

Email: actionline@southampton.gov.uk
Fax: 023 8022 3616
Tel Action Line: 0800 5 19 19 19
Text: 07797 877002

You can also report an abandoned vehicle via our online form automatically, 24 hours a day

Southampton City Council works in partnership with Silverlake Garage Autoparts contractors to remove abandoned and unwanted vehicles.

What Information is Needed?

We will require details of the vehicle and its location – ideally the vehicle make, model, colour and number plate. The more information you can provide, the quicker we can begin to deal with the vehicle. When noting the location, use house numbers or shop names and road names to help to pinpoint where you spotted the vehicle.

If the abandoned vehicle is on private land, we will need written authorisation from the owner to enter the land as well as contact details for those responsible for the land. If you have these details, this will help speed up the recovery process following a 15 day notice period.

What is an Abandoned Vehicle?

Although a vehicle may appear to be abandoned, there are various checks to be carried out to ensure that it hasn’t simply broken down and that it is of no interest to the Police.

Vehicles are classed as abandoned when:

• They have not been moved for a long time
• The Vehicle Excise Duty (Road Tax) has expired by at least one month,
• Its condition indicates to a Police Constable, Neighbourhood Warden, Civil Enforcement Officer or City Patrol Officer that it is abandoned.

What is the Council doing about Abandoned Vehicles?

We aim to investigate abandoned vehicles in 24 hours and remove them within 48 hours.

Southampton City Council, in partnership with the Police and the DVLA work swiftly to deal with abandoned vehicles. The contract to remove and dispose of vehicles with Silverlake Garage Autoparts, includes recycling of vehicles and parts wherever possible.

How do I report an untaxed vehicle?

You can report an untaxed vehicle by:

• Visiting the DVLA website and filling in their online report form at: www.dvla.gov.uk/
• Contact the DLVA Enforcement Telephone Hotline on freephone 0800 032 5202.

Please make sure that you have the following information:

• Registration mark
• Location of the vehicle
• The colour, make and model of the vehicle

Untaxed vehicles may be kept on private land if the owner has informed DVLA (this is called a Statutory Off Road Notification). Un-taxed vehicles are not permitted on the highway, public road or council land.

What do I do if I own a car and want it removed or disposed of?

Southampton City Council, offer a Car Clear service where your ‘end of life’ vehicle can be collected locally, removed and disposed of legally. There is currently no charge for this service. This scheme is available to residents who live within the Southampton City boundary only.

Alternatively, the Environment Agency maintains a list of Authorised Treatment Facilities which are licensed to dispose of vehicles. The list can be found at their website www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

If you would like to request your vehicle to be removed or disposed of by Southampton City Council, then please contact Parking Services on 02380 834600 for information on the process (as this can only be done in person at your local housing office or Fire Station as they need to verify ownership). Alternatively you can visit your Local Housing Authority, lists on this link: Housing Offices or Redbridge, Hightown or St. Mary’s Fire Stations who will be able to assist you.

You will need to take photo identification, proof of your address, proof of ownership (your vehicle registration document) and car keys with you. You will also need to complete a request form to provide your authority to the Council (or agents) to collect and dispose of the vehicle.

Beware of Burnt out Cars

Burnt out vehicles can be dangerous, due to the residue of dangerous chemicals arising from the fire. Please keep clear of such vehicles and report them as soon as possible. You can report them to Hampshire Police.

Information is available, on request, in larger print, Braille, on audio tape and on disk. It is also available in other languages.
Please contact Action Line on 0800 5 19 19 19