Abandoned Car - Burnt out

Abandoned vehicles

It's important to report abandoned vehicles as they can be dangerous and may have been used in a crime. It's not always easy to tell if a vehicle has been abandoned. Make sure that you don’t enter or touch the vehicle. If it has been involved in a crime, the vehicle will need to be investigated by the police. It may also contain hazardous waste and could be a fire risk.

There are a number of things that you can check to find out if the vehicle may have been abandoned before contacting us:

  • are any of the tyres flat or have any of the wheels been removed
  • is there litter or a lot of leaves under the vehicle – this may mean that it hasn’t moved for some time
  • is the windscreen or any of the windows broken
  • does the vehicle have number plates
  • does the vehicle contain items of waste, like tyres, old newspapers, or general rubbish
  • have any parts, like the bumper, seats or radio, been removed or damaged

You should also check if there is a tax disc on the vehicle and whether it's past the expiry date.

Abandoned vehicles can be reported to Carlisle City Council by telephone on 01228 817200 or use our online form.

In all cases, where possible, please provide the following information

  • Your name, address and telephone number
  • Colour, make, model and registration number
  • Where the vehicle is located
  • How long it has been there
  • What condition the vehicle is in
  • If it is taxed, the expiry date

We investigate and remove any vehicle which is abandoned. Under the Refuse Disposal Amenity Act 1978, it is also an offence for any person to abandon a vehicle.

Untaxed Vehicles

We also have the authority to remove untaxed vehicles from the highway.

To report an untaxed vehicle please contact Carlisle City Council on 01228 817200 or the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) hotline on 08000 325202.


Electronic forms

Electronic forms can be completed and submitted online, with no paper involved, which is not only our preferred method; it's kinder to the environment as well.

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Contact us

 01228 817000

Carlisle City Council
Civic Centre, Carlisle, Cumbria,
CA3 8QG