- 1. Service Description
East Hampshire District Council provide a statutory service for the removal of
abandoned vehicles, left on the public highway or land in the open air, to
which the general public have free access.
- 1. Service Standard - Timescale
Timescale
To serve the appropriate "removal notice" on abandoned vehicles within 48
hours of being informed of the abandoned vehicle's location.
To remove the vehicle as soon as is practicably possible upon the expiry of
the "24 hour removal notice".
To issue appropriate fines to the last registered owners of the collected
abandoned vehicles & prosecute as necessary.
If the vehicle is abandoned on privately-owned land, the council must issue
a 15 day notice of intention to remove the vehicle on the land owner. If the
owner does not object to the notice within the 15 day period, the council can
enter the land and remove the vehicle.
- Can the council remove an abandoned car with a valid tax disc?
Yes, we will remove the vehicle, if our investigations establish that it has
been abandoned.
A valid tax disc does not mean that a car has not been abandoned.
We will place a 24 hour removal notice on the vehicle, after which time it
will be removed and stored while the council will attempt to locate the
owner.
If the vehicle is regarded as being in an un-safe condition it will be
removed immediately, to ensure the safety of the public and the environment.
An "un-safe" condition can be summarised as:
Smashed windows/engine bay or car open to access
Fuel cap missing
Vehicle has been burnt-out (arson)
- How can I get rid of an old car that needs scrapping?
Please contact any local scrap dealer in your area. They are likely to levy
a charge for coming out to you and removing the car.
If you have any difficulty locating a suitable dealer, we can suggest you
contact MC Recovery on 01962 738886.
Please remember that as the last registered owner of the vehicle you must
ensure that you dispose of it to a registered vehicle breaker and that you
complete your section of the V5 registration document and return it to the
DVLA. If you do not follow this procedure you may still be liable for fines and
charges connected to the vehicle.
- There is an abandoned vehicle that needs removing, how can I get it removed?
You will need to contact Customer Services on 01730 234295.
Is the vehicle on the public highway ? (i.e. is it in a named road or
lane?)
If it is not, please see below for exceptions.
If it is on the public highway, we will require the exact location, colour,
make and registration number of the vehicle.
Council inspectors will then visit the vehicle to ascertain whether it is
actually abandoned.
If it is, they will place a 24 hour removal notice on the vehicle. It will
then be taken away if it has not been removed after 24 hours by its owner. The
vehicle is then stored for 7 days before being destroyed.
The current definition of "abandoned" assumes that the vehicle is parked a
considerable distance from the address of its registered keeper. The vehicle
may also not be displaying a valid road fund licence. Abandoned vehicles
commonly show signs of damage and lack of maintenance (i.e. flat tyres, no
wheels, smashed windows etc...)
If the vehicle is on Housing Association land, a parking area or garages,
the relevant Housing Association must be contacted and informed. If you are
unsure of ownership, please contact us, and we can pass the information on to
the relevant Housing Association.
If the vehicle is abandoned on private land, the council can issue a 15 day
notice on the owner of the land, requesting permission for the council to
remove the vehicle.
- Who should I contact to report a vehicle without a valid road fund licence?
A vehicle is not deemed to be "abandoned" if it is simply untaxed.
The council does not have powers to remove vehicles that are only untaxed.
Untaxed vehicles should be reported to the DVLA on 0870 240 0009.
Pass details (location, colour and registration number of the vehicle) to 01730 234295