Report an abandoned vehicle

First you should check if the vehicle is taxed and tested using the link below. Not all untaxed vehicles are abandoned, and if a vehicle is taxed it is not generally considered abandoned.

Check if a vehicle is taxed - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If a vehicle is untaxed only, it is on a public road and none of the additional criteria below apply, you can report it to the DVLA, who may remove the vehicle.

GOV.UK - Vehicle details (dvla.gov.uk)

If a vehicle does not have a current MOT test certificate and none of the below additional criteria apply, then it is a police matter. Vehicles causing an obstruction of the highway are also a police matter.

Vehicles that are parked on the pavement or in breach of parking restrictions should be reported to Lancashire County Council - Report a Parking Problem (lancashire.gov.uk)

Rossendale Borough Council may remove abandoned vehicles from public land and all public highways. We may remove vehicles from private roads and private land provided the landowner does not object.

We will consider the criteria below when deciding if a vehicle is abandoned or not. This is not an exhaustive list.

  • The vehicle is untaxed and no in use
  • The MOT test has expired and it is not in use
  • There is a build-up of dirt or weeds under or around the vehicle
  • Any significant damage (not recent road collision damage), the vehicle appears run down and does not appear to be roadworthy
  • It is burnt out
  • The number plates are missing
  • The windscreen or windows are broken
  • The tyres are flat
  • The brakes are rusty
  • Significant waste inside the vehicle
  • Mouldy inside and out

If we believe that a vehicle has been abandoned, we will put a notice on it informing the owner it is classes as abandoned and to remove it or risk it being removed, destroyed, and face possible prosecution.

Report an Abandoned Vehicle

Environmental Crime