Laura Sharman 15 February 2018

Abandoned cars have cost councils £1m over past two years

Councils are being forced to remove an abandoned car every 30 minutes, according to a new investigation.

The freedom of information request, conducted by Confused.com, reveals that the number of cars abandoned on the roadside has increased six-fold in the last four years.

Although councils spent almost £1m removing 32,000 cars in 2016 and 2017, they only issued £116,000 in fines over the same period. According to the data, councils were also responsible for destroying 20,551 of the seized vehicles.

The scrapyard map from Confused.com reveals that councils in the South East removed the most unwanted vehicles throughout 2016 and 2017 by taking care of 6,264 vehicles.

Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at Confused.com, said: 'The rising cost of fuel, car insurance and tax is overwhelming some motorists, causing some of them to ditch their vehicles when they breakdown.

'Our interactive map shows just how much of an issue this has become across Britain, as councils spend hundreds of thousands of pounds every year removing unwanted cars from the roadside.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Family Support Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 6 £27,269 - £30,060 (Pay Award Pending)
Do you want to work in an ambitious Local Authority with strong leadership and partnership commitment to Children’s Services? Durham County Council a Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

SENDIASS Support Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
An exciting and rewarding opportunity has arisen within the busy and fast paced SEND Information, Advice, Support Service (SENDIASS). The service has Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Residential Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £29,093 - £32,654 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Team Leader

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Class Teacher

Durham County Council
£31,650- £33,483
Class Teacher MPS 1 -2   £31,650- £33,483 Temporary – required from Monday 1st September 2025 (subject to DBS) until 31st August 2026 25 hours per wee Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner