Abandoned vehicles - Print version

We inspect and remove abandoned vehicles from the streets of Coventry.

It is illegal to abandon a vehicle and we class an abandoned vehicle as one that has been left by the owner with no intention to recover or accept responsibility for it. We have a duty to remove an abandoned vehicle. Trailers and caravans that would normally be attached to a vehicle can also be classed as abandoned vehicles.

Report an abandoned vehicle

What information do we need?

We will need the following information:

• Exactly where the vehicle is
• make, colour and model
• vehicle registration number
• roughly how long it has been there
• any damage to the vehicle
• if it could be a danger to other road users or the public.

Report an abandoned vehicle [/reportabandonedvehicle]

How we decide if a vehicle is abandoned

We have set out guidelines to determine if a vehicle has been abandoned:

• How long the vehicle has been left
• Overall condition, age and appearance of the vehicle
• Whether there is a registered keeper/valid road tax according to the DVLA
• If there is a number plate
• If it looks driveable
• Security
• How close it is to the last known registered keeper's address
• If it has rubbish/waste inside

A vehicle must be left in the same place for 21 days before Inspectors will visit, to determine if the vehicle meets any other abandoned vehicle criteria

There may be legitimate reasons why a car has been left somewhere, for example:

• the owners are visiting a relative
• the owners are sick or in hospital
• the owners are on holiday
• the vehicle has broken down

If the vehicle is parked where it is obstructing a private dropped crossing (i.e. outside a house) then a request needs to be made to Parking Enforcement [/parkingenforcement] who will check and then refer the issue for enforcement action to be taken.

If a vehicle is parked on the highway and does not have valid road tax, this can be reported to the contact centre. Coventry City Council has devolved powers from the DVLA to investigate untaxed or SORN vehicles parked on the public highway. 

Vehicle Surrender Scheme

We operate a free of charge vehicle surrender scheme for vehicles that have reached the end of their useful life.

To qualify for the scheme you must be a Coventry resident and the vehicle must be registered to your current address. You will have to supply us with written authority to remove and destroy your vehicle and supply the vehicle's keys and V5 Vehicle Registration Document.

If your vehicle has been classed as abandoned

I have been served a seven-day notice - how do I recover my vehicle?

If you wish to recover your vehicle you must bring proof of your identity that includes a photograph, such as a passport or photo driving licence, proof of your address and at least two of the following:

• The V5 Vehicle Registration Document (log book)
• Confirmation that the vehicle has been SORN
• A valid certificate of insurance
• A bill of sale or similar verifiable evidence of purchase
• A current MOT certificate

You will also have to pay to recover the vehicle. The charges are as follows:

• Removal of vehicle - £150+VAT (national charge)
• Storage - £20 + VAT per day
• Return of vehicle - £45 + VAT
• Return of vehicle (same day) - £45 + VAT

I left something in my vehicle and I want it back - can I get it?

We consider that property inside an abandoned vehicle is abandoned with the vehicle. Vehicles and their contents are crushed as a whole.

My vehicle was not abandoned - why did the council take it away?

The vehicle was reported as abandoned and an inspection has deemed it as abandoned because it met our guidelines for abandoned vehicles, which are outlined at the start of this article.

My vehicle was on private land - why did you remove it?

We can remove vehicles from private land providing they meet the abandonment threshold and we have the permission of the land owner (this does not include untaxed/SORN vehicles on private land). If your vehicle was in open air on private land the landowner may be served a fifteen-day notice warning them of intention to remove the vehicle. The landowner can contact us to have the vehicle removed before the expiry date of the notice if they wish.

All registered social landlords in Coventry [Citizen Housing, Midland Heart and Orbit etc] have given permission for vehicles deemed to be abandoned on their land to be removed following investigation.

You did not tell me you were going to take my vehicle away - why?

Abandoning a vehicle is an offence. Abandoned vehicles are removed immediately, without notice unless they are on private land. Previously notices were put on vehicles warning owners they were going to be removed but this tended to encourage theft or damage so now notices are not left.