A legal expert has outlined what residents can do after a neighbour left a car abandoned on their street before moving abroad, sparking frustration in the local area11:08, 03 Jun 2026Residents frustrated by a vehicle left sitting on their street for months may have more options than they realise, according to a legal expert.‌One homeowner described how a van had remained parked at the corner of a cul-de-sac for five months, leaving neighbours and visitors forced to manoeuvre around it in a way they believe is both inconvenient and unsafe.‌The resident explained: “All my neighbours and visitors have to drive on the wrong side of the road to get around it, which is annoying and potentially dangerous.”‌They added that the vehicle’s owner had previously lived nearby but was believed to have relocated overseas. “The owner used to live in a nearby village, but word is, he has moved to France,” they said.Responding to the issue in the Daily Mail, consumer lawyer Dean Dunham KC said cases involving vehicles apparently abandoned on residential streets are increasingly familiar — but residents are not without options.“This is more common than you might think, but the good news is you have several routes to get the van removed,” he explained.‌He said the first step is to establish whether the vehicle is road legal by checking if it is taxed, insured and has a valid MoT through the government’s online vehicle enquiry service.“Your first port of call is to check if the van is taxed, insured and has a valid MoT. To do this, go to the Gov.uk website and run the registration through the free vehicle enquiry service. It will tell you instantly if it is taxed and has a valid MoT,” he said.‌If the vehicle remains properly taxed and roadworthy, Mr Dunham explained that the owner is generally entitled to leave it parked on a public road, provided there are no parking restrictions in place.However, if paperwork has expired, authorities may be able to step in. “If either has lapsed, you can report it to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). Untaxed vehicles on a public road can be clamped, impounded and ultimately scrapped, usually within weeks,” he said.Where those checks fail to resolve the problem, residents can ask their local authority to determine whether the vehicle has effectively been abandoned.‌“If the above steps do not help, contact your local council and ask them to investigate whether it is an abandoned vehicle,” Mr Dunham said.He advised residents to provide as much detail as possible, particularly if there are reasons to believe the owner has left the country.‌“Make sure you explain the circumstances, including how long the vehicle has been left unattended and why you believe the owner has now left the country,” he said.Councils are able to remove vehicles judged to have been abandoned under legislation including the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 after serving notice, while police may also become involved if a vehicle creates a hazard.“If the van is causing a genuine obstruction or danger, you can also report it to the police on 101 as a highway obstruction,” Mr Dunham added.Article continues belowHe also urged neighbours to double-check for overlooked parking restrictions and consider raising concerns collectively. “Agreeing with your neighbours to report the issue together carries more weight than a single complaint.”