Can I legally drag somebody elses car off my drive?

[NoNeed]

As title says. somebody has parked a car (an old avensis) on my drive two days ago. It has no tax and despite a note on the windscreen asking for it to be removed it is still there.
Police inform me it is a civil matter and will do nothing.
And as you can imagine parking is hard enough on this old victorian road so no driveway is a real hassle.


Thanks in advance.

[Jazoli]

I'd be inclined to stick a trolley jack under the rear beam and roll it into the road, not your problem then

[peterguk M500]

Did you give the owner permission or has it been dumped randomly?

[Adz The Rat]

When we have had cars left on our forecourt at work without permission we are told by the police we can remove it as long as we dont damage it.
Just drag it into the road then ring it in as an abandoned car, it will soon go.
Or ring local pikeys and tell them you want rid of a scrap car.

[NoNeed]

It has appeared completely ramdomly. We have not been here long and when the property was empty some of the neighbours used it. Nopermission has been given and I have knocked 16 doors with nobody owning up.

I dont own a trolley jack, but do own an old ibiza cupra with a tow bar that should be able to drag it

[mmm-five]

NoNeed said:

I dont own a trolley jack, but do own an old ibiza cupra with a tow bar that should be able to drag it

If you drag it with the handbrake still on, you may cause 'criminal' damage to the locked rear tyres and handbrake shoe - hence the suggestion of a jack on the rear beam to overcome the locked rear wheels.

[NoNeed]

to be fair it looks like its scrap anyway

[skodamanpat]

Surely if you have reoported it as having no tax the rozzers are obliged to tow it for impounding or scrapping, do a check and see if the reg is sorned or not.

[Engineer1]

Watch for the steering lock, trolley jacks are cheap enough and a handy thing to add to your tool store. Have you contacted the police about the car?

[havoc]

mmm-five said:

NoNeed said:

I dont own a trolley jack, but do own an old ibiza cupra with a tow bar that should be able to drag it

If you drag it with the handbrake still on, you may cause 'criminal' damage to the locked rear tyres and handbrake shoe - hence the suggestion of a jack on the rear beam to overcome the locked rear wheels.

Unless it's been left in-gear, in which case two trolley jacks and a mate or two.
(Or one trolley jack, two metal baking trays, and some patience to'ing-and-fro'ing)

[NoNeed]

skodamanpat said:

Surely if you have reoported it as having no tax the rozzers are obliged to tow it for impounding or scrapping, do a check and see if the reg is sorned or not.

only if it is on the road apparently. like my post said they say its a civil matter.
which is the main reason I am asking as I have spoken to the police they will know it was me that dumpet it in the road.

[Piersman2]

I'd be very tempted to wait until it's dark and then drag it quietly out into the road, maybe drag it down the street a little way. Then abondon it in a safe location in the middle of the road.

Then skidaddle home and watch the fun as people phone it in to the police as blocking the road and it gets towed away.

Should take about an hour tops I reckon

[Raify]

Could you drag it off in a straight line and claim the handbrake failed?

[Piersman2]

NoNeed said:

skodamanpat said:

Surely if you have reoported it as having no tax the rozzers are obliged to tow it for impounding or scrapping, do a check and see if the reg is sorned or not.

only if it is on the road apparently. like my post said they say its a civil matter.
which is the main reason I am asking as I have spoken to the police they will know it was me that dumpet it in the road.

Ahhh, I suppose you gave them all your details an the reg of the car? Schoolboy error.

[Eggman]

NoNeed said:

they will know it was me that dumpet it in the road.

"Goodness me, officer - the owner must have come back and moved it when they saw the note!"

It's not like they're going to call in forensics to find out.

[NoNeed]

Piersman2 said:

NoNeed said:

skodamanpat said:

Surely if you have reoported it as having no tax the rozzers are obliged to tow it for impounding or scrapping, do a check and see if the reg is sorned or not.

only if it is on the road apparently. like my post said they say its a civil matter.
which is the main reason I am asking as I have spoken to the police they will know it was me that dumpet it in the road.

Ahhh, I suppose you gave them all your details an the reg of the car? Schoolboy error.

I do believe it was a massive error actually expecting them to be interested.
They asked for my details address, phone number e.t.c and they called back as promised within the hour. But they didn't ask for details of the car.

[Lonely]

NoNeed said:

As title says. somebody has parked a car (an old avensis) on my drive two days ago. It has no tax and despite a note on the windscreen asking for it to be removed it is still there.
Police inform me it is a civil matter and will do nothing.
And as you can imagine parking is hard enough on this old victorian road so no driveway is a real hassle.


Thanks in advance.

I'd recontact the police and ask for the reason why they presume it's a civil matter. Did they PNC the reg? Did they make any effort at all to trace an owner? If they didn't then ask them politely to do it as it's their job - it could be stolen. If they have and came up with a blank then ask them to notify the local authority as it is an abandoned vehicle albeit currently on your private land but I'm sure you'll give them permission to enter and remove it.

It also fits the definition of depositing litter if all else fails and again the local authority should remove it.

I'd do it for you but I live/work in North-East

Edited by Lonely on Friday 2nd July 21:25

[NoNeed]

Eggman said:

NoNeed said:

they will know it was me that dumpet it in the road.

"Goodness me, officer - the owner must have come back and moved it when they saw the note!"

It's not like they're going to call in forensics to find out.

it's keeping a straight face though, I am useless at telling lies.

[wolf1]

Two ways of doing it.

Quick way:-
Just drag it into the road and deny all knowledge

Longer way:-
Contact DVLA and request the registered keepers details (you are allowed as you have a legitimate reason as it is on your property) Write to the registered keeper (send it recorded signed for) and request that it is moved within a specific time frame or it will be removed and the vehicle will be scrapped/sold as storage is now being charged on it at x amount per day. If they don't move it within the time frame ring the scrappers and have it removed pocketing the cash to cover the storage charges/expenses.

[Eggman]

Have you been using Ebay after getting back from the pub late? That could explain it.