You should report vehicles that are causing an obstruction or parked in a dangerous position to the Police.
You can use our online form to report a vehicle that you think has been abandoned.
A vehicle may be considered abandoned if two or more of the following signs are present:
- Broken or missing windows/windscreen
- Mould, rust, or signs of long-term neglect
- Missing number plates
- Vehicle is not roadworthy or in a poor state of repair
- Burned out or severely fire-damaged
- Parts missing (e.g. wheels, engine components)
- Accumulation of debris around the vehicle
- Rubbish or waste inside the vehicle
- Vehicle is unlocked or unsecured
- Unpaid tickets or notices present
To report an abandoned vehicle, you will need to provide the following information:
- Your name, address, and contact details
- The vehicle registration number
- The make, model, and colour of the vehicle
- The location of the vehicle
- Its current condition
- The time and date you noticed it
- A photo of the vehicle
To check that a vehicle has been taxed and has an MOT, visit the gov.uk website.
Once we receive your report within 72 hours we will investigate:
- If the vehicle is taxed
- Has a current MOT
- Determine if the vehicle meets the Abandoned Vehicle criteria
- Complete a site visit
After this, we will:
- put a sticker on the vehicle to show it has been reported as abandoned
The council does not have the legal authority to investigate the following:
- Untaxed vehicles must be reported to the DVLA
- Vehicles without an MOT certificate must be reported to Essex Police
- Illegally or inconsiderately parked vehicles should be reported to North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP).
- Vehicles causing obstruction or danger should be reported to Essex Police.
