Falkirk Council

Abandoned vehicles are a continuing nuisance in the Falkirk area, and across the country. It is not just cars that can be classed as abandoned vehicles. The problem extends to lorries, motorcycles, trailers, caravans or the remains of a vehicle.

When an abandoned vehicle is reported to us we will visit and check its ownership, then an advisory notice will be attached asking the owner to contact the Council within 48 hours. Failure to respond results in a legal notice being served requiring removal within 24 hours.

If the vehicle is still present on expiry of the 24 hours notice it will be removed and scrapped.

An owner may sometimes be able to prove to us that the vehicle is not abandoned.

Reporting an abandoned vehicle online|

You can now report an abandoned vehicle to Environmental Health online, by using this online form.

Surrendering vehicles

The market value of scrap metal can sometimes fall so much that scrap dealers may charge to take vehicles that have reached the end of their life.

Vehicle owners can apply to Environmental Health to have a vehicle they no longer want removed free of charge, rather than being tempted to abandon it.

You can download vehicle surrender forms here|.

 

When is a vehicle considered abandoned?

There is no legal definition of an 'abandoned vehicle'. A vehicle can only be considered to be abandoned by an officer from the local authority or police force when it fulfils some or all of the following criteria:

• it is no longer in a roadworthy condition
• it is in such a place as to cause aggravation or danger to others
• it has no valid tax disc on display, or is kept on the road whilst registered with a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) Declaration (however, a vehicle may be abandoned even with a valid tax disc or SORN)
• the vehicle or its contents are having a negative impact on the local environment and the visual amenity of a community
• it is in such a place and condition that it attracts the unwanted attention of vandals and antisocial behaviour
• there is evidence that the vehicle has not been moved for a considerable amount of time
• the owner or keeper cannot be identified, or fails to respond to a legal notice.