Abandoned vehicles in your neighbourhood can:
- attract vandals
- increase the risk of crime
- increase the risk of fire
- create a nuisance where parking is in short supply
Any parked vehicle causing a traffic hazard is a matter for Police Scotland.
Please be responsible when reporting abandoned vehicles, noting the following.
Most vehicles reported to us are untaxed, rather than abandoned. Sometimes a vehicle that looks abandoned in registered and taxed. Basic checks for Tax and MOT may be carried out by anyone online.
Vehicles reported to North Ayrshire Council may be checked against DVLA records. We can investigate and act on abandoned vehicles. Examples include vehicles that:
- (A) have no current vehicle keeper on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) record
- (B) have been stationary for a significant amount of time
- (C) are significantly damaged, run down or unroadworthy condition
- (D) have been partially or fully burned out
- (E) are lacking one or more of its number plates
- (F) contain waste
Please note: Category (C) could include vehicles with flat tyres, wheels removed or broken windows.
This also includes vehicles that are on privately owned land where the land is open and accessible to the public.
A car is NOT abandoned if it does not meet the above criteria.
Report an abandoned vehicle
It is an offence to abandon a vehicle. The keeper, at time of event, may recieve a fixed penalty notice and be liable for all costs for proper disposal.
To report and abandoned vehicle you will need:
- the precise location of the vehicle
- the make, model, colour and, if available, registration number
- confirmation that you have checked the vehicle tax
- information, such as approximate length of time the vehicle has been at this location
- for caravans, trailers, and so on, a description of the vehicle
Report abandoned vehicle
What happens next?
If a vehicle is deemed to be abandoned by us it may be removed after investigations are complete and where a notice has been served on the vehicle, and the last registered keeper of the vehicle.
If a vehicle is considered to be a hazard:
- A 24 hour removal notice will be served on the vehicle.
- Once the 24 hours has elapsed, request for proper disposal will be actioned.
Most abandoned vehicles, that have been removed, are stored for a maximum of seven days before they are authorised for destruction. North Ayrshire Council reserves the right to dispose of vehicles at Public Auction to recover any costs associated to the investigation.
Report an untaxed vehicle
Use the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service to find information about a vehicle, including Tax and MOT. You will need the vehicle make and registration mark (number plate).
Vehicles that hold a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) must be kept on private property and not on any area classed as the public highway.
If a vehicle is taxed, but does not have an MOT and is being stored or used on a public road, this should be reported to Police Scotland.
If a vehicle has an MOT, but is NOT taxed and is being stored or used on a public road, this should be reported to the DVLA.
Report untaxed vehicle