Abandoned Vehicles

Under Section 2 of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, it is a criminal offence to abandon a motor vehicle or anything that has formed part of a motor vehicle or abandon anything else on any land in the open air or on any other land forming part of the highway.

An abandoned vehicle is a vehicle on any land forming part of the highway, which may be:

• Untaxed,
• Has no current registered keeper,
• Has been stationary for a significant amount of time,
• Is significantly damaged, run down, unroadworthy or burned out,
• Lacking one or more of its number plates or contains waste.

Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, the Local Authority may now issue Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 as an alternative to prosecution at court. In addition, to the removal charge, disposal charge and any contractors storage and release fees.

A person found guilty of such an offence may be punished on summary conviction to a fine of not exceeding £2,500 or up to three months imprisonment or both.

Abandoned Vehicle Leaflet  (link opens in new window)

If you wish to report an abandoned vehicle, please contact the Enforcement Team or use our online form

If the vehicle is on private land, please contact the landowner directly. If you are the land owner and believe a vehicle has been abandoned on your land without permission, please contact us for more information.

Untaxed Vehicles

It is an offence under the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 to have a vehicle on the road without tax or to have a vehicle on the road which has a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). A SORN means that, by law, the DVLA must be informed when a registered keeper does not re-license a vehicle because it is not being used or kept on a public road.

A SORN declaration is valid for twelve months unless you re-license, sell, permanently export or scrap the vehicle before the twelve months has expired.

If you wish to report an untaxed vehicle on the highway, please complete the DVLA's online form , or call the DVLA Hotline on 0800 0325202.

If you suspect the vehicle to have been stolen, please contact your local Police station.

Contact Details

The Enforcement team can be contacted via the Customer Service Centre on 01462 474000 or at service@north-herts.gov.uk .

Licensing and Enforcement Team
North Hertfordshire District Council
Council Offices
Gernon Road
Letchworth Garden City
Hertfordshire
SG6 3JF