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Children and Young Peoples Services

Services for Adults on the Isle of Wight

Abandoned Vehicles


Service Description: Each year in the United Kingdom, approximately 2 million vehicles reach the end of their life, either through age or becoming unusable after involvement in an accident, however, around 3 million vehicles are abandoned in England each year. Abandoned vehicles are expensive to remove, have a negative impact on the environment, look unsightly and can lower the quality of life in neighbourhoods.

Also known as:- Un-taxed Vehicles

Your FAQ

Question: What are the notice requirements for vehicles that the local authority may consider to be abandoned?

Answer: For vehicles that the authorised officer considers to be have some value, steps are taken to trace the owner of the vehicle and, if successful, give them 7 days written notice that the authority intends to dispose of the vehicle if it is not collected within that time.

For vehicles that the authorised officer considers to have no value – the statutory notice period is 24 hours.

For vehicles that do not display a current licence or registration mark, they may be removed and destroyed immediately. The Isle of Wight Council has no obligation to trace or inform the owner.

If a vehicle is abandoned on land that is occupied, the local authority must give the occupier 15 days notice that they propose to remove the vehicle. The local authority is not entitled to remove the vehicle if the occupier objects to the proposal, in writing, within that period. However, if the occupier gives the local authority permission to remove the vehicle (e.g. if the vehicle was abandoned without their consent), the 15 day notice automatically lapses and the vehicle can be treated the same as if it was on a road.


The definition of the term “Occupier” generally means

The tenant or licensee
Anyone who has legal possession of and control over the premises


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