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Abandoned vehicles

Removing vehicles that appear to be abandoned within the District of Thanet.

We have a duty to remove vehicles that have been abandoned without lawful authority. We will remove the vehicle from the highway or council owned land as quickly as appropriate within the law using the following process:

  • When reports are received, we will look at the evidence provided and make a judgement on whether the vehicle is likely to be abandoned; this may include whether the vehicle is taxed, or the reported state of the vehicle. However, every report is judged on a case by case basis. A land ownership search will also be conducted to determine whether the vehicle is on Thanet District Council land or Highway land.
  • If it is decided that the vehicle is likely abandoned, an inspection will be scheduled, a 7 day notice will be attached to the window or windscreen of the reported vehicle, and photographs taken (including the VRM (number plate), any damage, the vehicle in situ from a distance (for the contractor) and any accessibility or height restriction issues.
  • After the inspection a NAFN registered keeper check is undertaken, if there is a registered keeper a letter will be sent to them notifying them of removal.
    If the owner does not claim the vehicle within the 7 days of the 1st notice a Civil Enforcement Officer will attend the vehicle for a 2nd visit.
  • A review of the vehicle is scheduled 7 days after the notice was served to confirm whether the vehicle is still in situ and further photographs taken, before instructing our contractor to remove the vehicle.
  • 24 hour removal – We have the right to remove vehicles immediately under certain circumstances, e.g. if the vehicle is in a dangerous condition or has been burnt out.

If the owner wants the vehicle returned, they must pay the appropriate fees and provide proof of ownership to KCC. The vehicle has to be returned to a legal location; off road if it is untaxed.

Report an abandoned vehicle

If members of the public wish to report an abandoned vehicle, please complete our online form.

You will be asked to provide the following information:

  • Vehicle registration
  • Reported location
  • Any other relevant information including make and colour of vehicle
  • Option to upload a photograph if necessary

We will not be able to directly update informants on reported abandoned vehicles due to the high number of reports. You can always contact the department regarding a report, our office number is 01843 577471 or email: car.parking@thanet.gov.uk.

Frequently asked questions

Private land owners can have vehicles that do not belong to them removed from land within their control by making a written request to the Parking department. This service requires a 15 day notice being attached to the window or windscreen of the reported vehicle, photographs taken (including the VRM (number plate), VIN, any damage, the vehicle in situ from a distance (for the contractor) and any accessibility or height restriction issues).

After the inspection a registered keeper check is undertaken, details and a letter sent to the registered keeper notifying them of removal.

A review of the vehicle is scheduled 15 days after the notice was served to confirm whether the reported vehicle is still in situ and further photographs taken, before instructing our contractor to uplift.

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Abandoned vehicle reports are logged according to our standard procedures. After 2 years, worksheets will be deleted in line with the DVLA’s data retention guidelines. NAFN Abandoned Vehicle Registered Keeper enquiries are also documented separately.

Before performing Registered Keeper checks, council employees must have read the guidance issued by NAFN and understand the evidence that must be in place before making a request. In addition, all other avenues must be exhausted in trying to ascertain details of the registered keeper, e.g. if someone approaches the inspecting officer claiming to be the owner, details must be taken.

It is the responsibility of the police to move or remove vehicles that are on the highway and in a position to endanger other road users, i.e. causing an obstruction.

Vehicles that have been involved in a road traffic collision become the responsibility of the owner’s motor insurance company.

If a vehicle is abandoned and contains waste then we are unable to remove the vehicle until the waste is removed. If there is any suspicion that the waste is hazardous then we need to use a specialist company to test the waste, if this is deemed as hazardous i.e asbestos then we will need to arrange a specialist clearance and decontamination of the vehicle before it can be removed and disposed of.

If a vehicle is claimed during any investigation then we will not be able to remove the vehicle.

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If we receive a request for a burnt out or extremely damaged vehicle these will be processed and removed as quickly as possible; usually within 24/48 hours, as appropriate, however, the police may need to carry out a forensic investigation before the vehicle can be removed.

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Vehicles on the highway that are reported abandoned are sent for removal after twenty one days from the abandoned vehicle notice being issued. Depending how busy the removal company is, the vehicle is normally collected within 7 days. The whole process normally takes 3 to 4 weeks.

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There may be a variety of reasons including the fact that the vehicle had not been abandoned but merely broken down, the owner had been on holiday, on private land and covered by a SORN declaration. The vehicle may also have been claimed by the owner during the investigation process.

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Only if they have been abandoned. If the vehicle has not been abandoned and has been seen being driven, it can be reported to the DVLA.

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A SORN is a Statutory Off Road Notification which must be declared to the DVLA when a vehicle is not going to be used for a period of time. The vehicle must be kept away from the highway and on private land which the registered keeper owns or has permission from the owner to use for storage. For example, a driveway to a house, in a garage or on an allocated parking space.

The SORN conditions are quite often misunderstood or flaunted, even though the penalties are severe (£5000 fine and/or imprisonment). Over half of vehicles reported as abandoned (especially in local authority or housing association residential parking areas) have a SORN. In these cases, unless the relevant landowner specifically forbids the parking of SORNed vehicles on their land, there is nothing we can do.

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A taxed vehicle that does not have MOT cannot be reported as abandoned unless deemed extremely dangerous. Kent Police deal with vehicles without MOT. You can report vehicles to them.

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