A vehicle has been left on your land. It may be untaxed, damaged, unroadworthy or simply not collected. You want it removed, and before you act you need to know who the owner or registered keeper is and whether they can be contacted. The two are not always the same person.
Tracing the registered keeper of an abandoned vehicle, or of a vehicle parked on private land, is among the examples of reasonable cause that the DVLA gives in its published guidance. It is a purpose we are able to consider, provided the facts are documented.
Who we act for
- landowners and landlords;
- managing agents and housing providers;
- businesses with private car parks or yards;
- solicitors and agents instructed by any of them.
What we need from you
- the number plate, make, model and colour of the vehicle;
- the address of the land and your interest in it, for example freeholder, tenant or managing agent;
- the date on which the vehicle was first seen and how long it has been there;
- photographs showing the vehicle's condition and position;
- a note of any steps already taken, such as notices, contact with the local council or a report to the police.
For a company, we will also ask for the company name and number, and for the name of the person instructing us.
Owner, keeper and the DVLA
The registered keeper recorded by the DVLA may not be the owner of the vehicle. If the vehicle is on finance, the finance company may be the owner. Where a trace shows that the keeper is not the owner, we tell you what we can. The DVLA also accepts applications from landowners using its published forms, and our DVLA V888 page explains the alternatives.
How we treat the request
We confirm that the vehicle is where you say it is, that you have an interest in the land, and that tracing the keeper is a reasonable step. We then confirm the fee in writing and carry out the trace. The result is released to you in writing, limited to what you need to contact the keeper about the vehicle.
Things to do before and alongside a trace
Your local council has duties and powers in relation to abandoned vehicles, and may be able to remove a vehicle that has been left in a public place or on land you occupy. It is sensible to report the vehicle to the council, and to the police if you suspect that it is stolen. Please do not move, sell or dispose of a vehicle until you have taken advice on your legal position, because the vehicle belongs to someone else.
What we will not do
- We do not trace the keeper of a vehicle that is parked lawfully on a public road.
- We do not trace a neighbour's vehicle because of a dispute that has no legal claim attached to it.
- We do not release information to anyone who cannot show an interest in the land.
- We are not a parking enforcement service. Operators who issue parking charge notices have their own arrangements with the DVLA, and we do not act as a way around them.
Reasonable cause and your interest in the land
The DVLA recognises the tracing of the keeper of an abandoned vehicle and of a vehicle parked on private land as reasonable cause. Because the keeper's details are personal data, we look for two things: that you have a proper interest in the land, and that the facts show a vehicle that has been left, rather than one that is simply parked in a way that someone dislikes.
Common questions
How long must a vehicle have been there? There is no fixed period for our purposes. We ask for the date it was first seen and the evidence of how long it has remained, for example dated photographs.
Can I have the vehicle removed once I know the keeper? That depends on the facts and on the law that applies to the land and the vehicle. Contact the keeper first, in writing, and take advice before you move or dispose of anything.
What if the vehicle has no tax or insurance? The vehicle's tax status may be relevant to the council or the police, and you may report it. It does not by itself change the test we apply.
Have a lawful reason to identify a registered keeper?
Tell us what has happened and why you need the information. We will reply within 24 hours.
Request a trace