Abandoned vehicles

Report an abandoned vehicle

Once the vehicle is reported, an officer of the council will visit as soon as possible. Each vehicle is assessed individually. If the owner and / or the registered keeper of a vehicle is identified then the vehicle has not been abandoned.

If you need to report a vehicle you suspect as being abandoned please obtain as much of the following information as possible:

  • Location of the vehicle (as much detail as possible)
  • Make of the vehicle
  • Model of the vehicle
  • Colour of the vehicle
  • Registration number
  • How long it has been there
  • The owners details, if known

This is no legal definition of an ‘abandoned vehicle’ – Council officers must decide in each case whether a vehicle is abandoned. However, the following characteristics are generally common to abandoned vehicles and one or a combination of the following will be taken into account when deciding whether a vehicle is abandoned:

  • Untaxed, with no current vehicle keeper on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) record
  • No valid MOT
  • Stationary for a significant amount of time
  • Vehicle is not parked near to the address it’s registered to

Abandoned vehicles are not:

  • Badly parked vehicles or vehicles that are causing an obstruction
  • Broken down vehicles

You can report vehicles causing an obstruction to Lincolnshire Police by calling 101.

Section 99 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 authorises the police to remove vehicles that are illegally, dangerously or obstructively parked whether or not they have been stolen.

It is not the responsibility of the Local Authority to deal with parking issues or vehicles parked in a dangerous position, unless the vehicle is in contravention of the parking restrictions (Controlled by way of a Traffic Regulation Order) and in this case should be passed onto Parking Services.

If a notice has been attached to your vehicle you must contact us immediately and state that you wish to claim the vehicle.