Southampton City Council fact sheet
Abandoned vehicles
Abandoned vehicles can be a problem in Southampton. They are a nuisance and can cause a hazard to us all. We will issue a notice and usually remove the vehicle within a few days.
Why are vehicles abandoned?
There are a number of reasons including:
No re-sell value
Inability to afford running costs
MOT failure
Owner absent
Outstanding fines
Criminal activity
If you believe there is an abandoned car in your neighbourhood then please report it to Actionline. The tax should be expired by at least one month or in such a condition that it is a hazard to the public.
You can ring or email Actionline. Alternatively you can write to Parking Services
Vehicles on private land
If you are the owner of land on which a vehicle appears to have been abandoned the council will still be able to deal with the problem. In order to speed up the recovery process we will require written authorisation from you to enter the land in question, together with contact details for the person responsible for the land.
Your unwanted vehicle
If you have a vehicle that you no longer want then Project Car Clear could come and take it away free of charge.
All you need to do is take the relevant documentation (not the car) to one of the following places:
City fire stations, at St Mary’s, Hightown or Redbridge
One of the council’s local housing offices
Charles Trent Ltd, 10 Princes Street, Northam, Southampton, SO14 5RP.
You will need proof of your identity and address, proof of ownership (vehicle registration document), details of the car’s location and vehicle keys.
You will also be asked to sign a form handing the car over to the city council and once the car has been logged onto the system, it will be removed free of charge as soon as possible.
This scheme is for Southampton residents only and cars must be within the city boundary. For more information about the citywide Project Car Clear initiative and to report abandoned cars, contact Actionline free on 0800 5 19 19 19.
Southampton City Council , Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and contractor Charles Trent Limited are working together to tackle the issue of abandoned cars.
SORN Declaration
If you are the keeper of a vehicle and you do not licence it because you do not use it or keep it on a public road, you must tell the DVLA as soon as you take the vehicle off the road. Telling the DVLA about this is called declaring SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification). The vehicle must be kept on private land, for example a driveway or garage. It must not be kept on council-owned land, including highways and housing car parks. If you do leave an untaxed vehicle on council land after declaring SORN, you run the risk of it being removed and disposed of.
For information on how to declare SORN contact the DVLA on 0870 240 0100 or visit www.dvla.gov.uk .
Frequently asked questions
Q Why does the council remove abandoned vehicles?
A The initiative is designed to improve residents’ quality of life by ending environmental blight caused by nuisance vehicles.
Q How many vehicles does the council remove?
A We remove in excess of 1,000 vehicles most years. The last two years have seen a substantial drop in the number removed from the highway compared to five years ago.
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Last updated: 12 October 2007