Why do people abandon vehicles?
Unfortunately, there is no one definitive reason why people abandoned vehicles. In fact, there are a wide variety of reasons why vehicles are abandoned. Some of the more usual reasons include the following:
- Changes in the value of scrap metal. Rather than receiving payment for their unwanted vehicles, under some circumstances, last registered owners may be asked to pay for the vehicle’s collection and/or disposal.
- The value of used cars is decreasing.
- Some drivers are not the registered owner and keeper of the vehicle, they have no road tax, no insurance, no MOT and as a result, have no legal connection with the vehicle, therefore once the vehicle becomes unwanted, abandonment if the only option.
- The high cost of motoring, including charges incurred from speeding fines, parking fines etc. Often the value of the charges is greater that the value of the vehicle itself, therefore abandonment is the cheaper option.
- The high cost of maintaining and repairing the vehicle when it is old.
- Vehicles involved in criminal activities are often abandoned once the crime has been committed.
- The increase in MOT failure rates, as some older vehicle cannot meet the standard required on exhaust emissions.
- Personal circumstances of the owner e.g. death of the owner, owner suffering ill health, owner in prison, owner moved away from the area.
Page last updated on: 09/11/2005
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