Abandoned vehicle on private land

If the abandoned vehicle is on private land, you must first report it to the landowner/management company.

What the landowner must do

1. Put a notice on the vehicle informing of their intention to move it. If it is not removed within 15 days, PCC can arrange removal of the vehicle.

The notice must state:

"To the owner of the vehicle, this is private land. If the vehicle is not removed within 15 days of this notice, the Council will be informed and arrange removal of the vehicle." Include the date on the notice."

2. Take a photo of the vehicle with the notice on. If the vehicle is still there in 15 days the land owner should inform neighbourhoodservices@preston.gov.uk that PCC have permission to enter private land to address the abandoned vehicle. Attach the photograph of the notice on the vehicle.

What happens next

We will then place our own notice on the vehicle. Please bear in mind that if the registered keeper does get in touch with the landowner to state the vehicle is not abandoned, we do not have any powers to remove the vehicle and it will still have to be removed by the landowner.

Abandoned vehicles on private car parks

The owner of a private car park can write to the DVLA themselves by visiting GOV.UK - Request information about a vehicle or its registered keeper from DVLA.

The owner can then write to the registered keeper and if they do not receive a reply, can remove the vehicle. The owner may then sell the vehicle for scrap in order to help cover the costs of removal. Visit GOV.UK - Scrapping Your Vehicle.

Abandoned vehicle on public land

For abandoned vehicles on public land, to determine whether you need to report it to the police, DVLA or ourselves, see report an abandoned vehicle.