Abandoned vehicle removal

We aim to remove abandoned cars or vehicles as soon as is legally possible. There are different procedures for removal based on the vehicle’s condition and location.

If you report an abandoned vehicle, we will investigate within 5 days of receiving the report.

Abandoned vehicle

It is a criminal offence to unlawfully abandon any vehicle in the open air or on any other land forming part of a highway, punishable by a fine of up to Level 4 on the standard scale (£2,500) and/or three months in prison.

As an alternative to prosecution, the council has the power to issue a fixed penalty of £200 to the vehicle owner.

There is no legal requirement to inform the owner prior to the vehicle being removed.

Where it appears that a vehicle is abandoned, it is the duty of the local authority to remove the vehicle from any land in the open air or on any other land forming part of a highway.

The highway is defined as a way over which all members of the public have a legal right to pass and repass, including carriageways, footways, verges, footpaths, bridleways and cycle tracks. Failure to remove an abandoned vehicle would be a breach of this duty.

The following will usually indicate that a vehicle has been abandoned:

• the vehicle is stationary for more than 21 days
• the vehicle’s overall age, condition and appearance
• the vehicle is significantly damaged, run-down or being un-roadworthy (this can include vehicles with flat tyres, wheels removed or broken windows)
• the vehicle is burnt out
• the vehicle lacking one or more of the registration number plates or the registration number plate is not valid (cloned/ringer/fake/not matching the VIN)
• the vehicle containing waste materials
• the vehicle not having a valid road fund licence (road tax)
• the vehicle is having no current vehicle keeper on the DVLA record
• the vehicle has been hot-wired
• the vehicle has suddenly appeared on the road and no one is claiming ownership
• the vehicle being unsecured or unlocked

Areas where abandoned vehicles can be removed:

• roads eg. a highway or road to which the public has access (this includes adopted highways, footpaths, and estate access roads)
• land in the open air
• council-owned land
• private housing association land
• land managed by Hackney Housing on behalf of the council
• private land (where a vehicle is abandoned on land that is occupied, the council will give the owner/occupier of the land a 15-day notice of intention to remove the vehicle or take action immediately if approved by the landowner)
• land that the cost of maintaining of which is covered by the council

A vehicle may be deemed abandoned on land that is not in public ownership.

The council has powers of entry onto private land to investigate reports of abandoned vehicles (Section 8 of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978).

Any person authorised by the council may at any reasonable time enter the land to investigate the need to carry out their functions concerning the removal and disposal of abandoned vehicles.

Report an abandoned vehicle

Report now

You can also contact us by telephone or email.

Please provide as much information as possible, ie the vehicle’s exact location, the make and model and registration number.

Claiming an abandoned vehicle

If you believe your vehicle has been removed, please check on TRACE. You can also call 0300 077 0100.

See further information on what to do if your vehicle has been removed.

If you find that your vehicle was removed, email: nuisance.vehicles@hackney.gov.uk

Hackney Car Pound operation hours

• Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm
• Saturday and Sunday – closed

Disposal of an unwanted vehicle