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Original poster

Abandoned car mystery - WWYD

86 replies

Wotchaz · 15/12/2023 15:10

For the last 4 weeks there has been a car parked outside our house, it literally hasn’t moved. When it was originally parked it was quite busy so I suspect they thought it would be inconspicuous, but that was actually the only time in the week that there are ever cars parked there (youth football training over the road on a Sunday morning), so it’s very obvious.

It’s untaxed, and its MOT ran out a year ago. It’s parked over the edge of a bus stop so buses now can’t pull in and have to block the road to let people in/out.

After a couple of weeks we reported it to the police, who said that because the plates aren’t stolen they’re not interested. Have told the council because of the bus stop thing, and also reported the lack of tax.

But the really odd thing is that it’s got a buggy and a suitcase in the back, and when DH last night (on a whim) tried the door, he found it’s unlocked. There was a bit of folded up paper on the front seat which we looked at (in case it was a suicide note/something to indicate someone needed help), and it was a council tax notice for a property 40 miles away.

Is this sufficiently odd for us to contact the police again? It’s not bothering us being there, but the bus stop thing is causing a bit of chaos and I don’t expect the council to actually address it in any sensible timeframe since we report it through the same portal as for potholes and they definitely don’t get fixed! I find it really hard to think of any story that doesn’t involve it being stolen/abandoned and if it was my car I’d like to think that it wouldn’t just be ignored.

Alternatively DH has joked about sitting in it, releasing the handbrake and pushing it off the bus stop to an actual parking space but I don’t know if this is genius or highly illegal.

OP posts:
wasdarknowblond · 17/12/2023 18:29

What about having a quiet word with a breakers yard or someone like that - you never know, they might come along and take it away?

Riverlee · 17/12/2023 18:35

We had an abandoned vehicle opposite our house. Turned out it had been used in a robbery in another county.

Lovely13 · 17/12/2023 19:17

Had similar with a small van, presumably stolen, outside home. No authority I contacted was remotely interested. A local builder eventually ‘rehomed’ it. Used to see it occasionally. Don’t know the legality of what they did, but was happy to see it go!

CRD67 · 17/12/2023 19:54

Having an MOT that has expired means it is not insured. The Police need to know their job better. Tell them if there is an accident then they will be responsible. Take it to the local press too. Good luck.

Brontebythesea · 17/12/2023 20:02

The person above who said the car is not insured if it hasn’t got its MOT is wrong.

SauvignonBlanche · 17/12/2023 20:05

Brontebythesea · 17/12/2023 11:26

I’m actually surprised the police haven’t followed up. I once parked my mum’s car that I had borrowed (and was on the insurance for) the street my boyfriend lives on - legally and on the road further on up from where he lives because I couldn’t get parked outside his house. I then got sick and didn’t leave the house for four days. After THREE days my mum got a call to her house to say that the woman who lives near where the car was parked had called them about an abandoned car. The police officer said the car was legally parked and not to worry but she wanted to check everything was ok and that the homeowner had been concerned…

Thos happened to my DM, she went to visit my eldest DSis and parked legally and considerately in her street. Within a week DF had the police calling him about his ‘abandoned’car.

bananamangoes · 17/12/2023 20:26

Id go onto my local council website and report it as an abandoned vehicle

Katywester · 17/12/2023 21:08

Check the boot and look in the suitcase! Miss detective here always reads more in to things!!

tootiredtoocare · 17/12/2023 21:41

Get on to your local councillor.

IsThisOneAvailable · 17/12/2023 21:42

I'd have a look in the suitcase tbh

Blinky21 · 17/12/2023 22:31

Had a car parked for 3 weeks outside our house, I told the neighbourhood policing team and they said they would try and contact the owner, it was gone 2 days later

Missingpop · 17/12/2023 22:54

Get out of it; not bothering you, it’s driving you up the fucking wall; you want the that bucket moved because it’s lowering the tone of the neighbourhood.
Report it go DVLA at its causing a hazard ‘ they will get it moved they’re pretty quick too; I’ve had a few of the old slag over the roads taken away by them they’re pretty hot on cars parking up with no tax & mot’s

felixthemoggy · 17/12/2023 23:00

There's one outside mine, not taxed or MOT'd since August, I reported to council who came back & said it belongs to a local person so they have no interest. Police not bothered as its stationary, and will only take action if seen being driven on road, and reported to DVLA who still haven't been out to clamp it!!
Hope you have more luck.

CRD67 · 17/12/2023 23:29

Here's a link showing no MOT = No insurance.
https://www.comparethemarket.com/car-insurance/content/insurance-without-mot/

Inertia · 17/12/2023 23:34

I wouldn’t move it .

Report it to the police and the local council as being an obstruction as it is parked in a bus stop .

CRD67 · 17/12/2023 23:35

Brontebythesea · 17/12/2023 20:02

The person above who said the car is not insured if it hasn’t got its MOT is wrong.

Edited

Here's my proof I'm right and you're wrong!
https://www.comparethemarket.com/car-insurance/content/insurance-without-mot/

MrsPositivity1 · 18/12/2023 08:12

RudsyFarmer · 16/12/2023 17:35

I wouldn’t be putting my finger prints all over it if there’s a chance it’s stolen. Could you go to the local rag as though it’s a mystery? Get some press attention.

Omg my 1st thought too

WhatsTheUseOfWorrying · 18/12/2023 08:36

As I understood it, the logic behind the law not voiding insurance because of a lapse in valid MOT is that the insurance is mostly aimed at protecting third parties. The aim is that if you insure, and it’s obviously an offence not to, the insurer can’t wriggle out of a potentially huge payment to an injured person because of no MOT, sub-standard tyres, broken light etc.

But I’m not in that business and am happy to be corrected.

CRD67 · 18/12/2023 08:38

Reallybadidea · 18/12/2023 08:17

https://www.pattersonlaw.co.uk/faqs/no-mot-doesnt-invalidate-insurance/

On balance I'd trust a solicitor rather than compare the market. And it confirms what I was taught when I worked in insurance.

Show quote history

An insurance company would know more about insurance than anyone; as you were in insurance you would know...
If there was a claim by or against that vehicle one of the first things the insurance companies would do would be to check if it was roadworthy and had an MOT. No MOT, no payout, so not covered.

Reallybadidea · 18/12/2023 08:50

Compare the market aren't an insurance company.

And the lack of an MOT doesn't necessarily mean that a car is unroadworthy

housethatbuiltme · 18/12/2023 10:01

Brontebythesea · 17/12/2023 20:02

The person above who said the car is not insured if it hasn’t got its MOT is wrong.

Edited

Please post any insurance company that doesn't clearly have in the T&C that it voids their terms and they are declined insurance if the car ceases to have a valid MOT (except for exempt vehicles).

Just because the law doesn't officially say its 'illegal' doesn't mean the companies do not set their own rules. Its not a 'loophole' and wouldn't stand in court.

If your insurance was voided because you defaulted that is on YOU not the insurance company. Its a form of fraud to lie about the road legal state of the car you insured.

housethatbuiltme · 18/12/2023 10:02

Reallybadidea · 18/12/2023 08:50

Compare the market aren't an insurance company.

And the lack of an MOT doesn't necessarily mean that a car is unroadworthy

No but it means the car is non road LEGAL.

WhatsTheUseOfWorrying · 18/12/2023 10:13

housethatbuiltme · 18/12/2023 10:01

Please post any insurance company that doesn't clearly have in the T&C that it voids their terms and they are declined insurance if the car ceases to have a valid MOT (except for exempt vehicles).

Just because the law doesn't officially say its 'illegal' doesn't mean the companies do not set their own rules. Its not a 'loophole' and wouldn't stand in court.

If your insurance was voided because you defaulted that is on YOU not the insurance company. Its a form of fraud to lie about the road legal state of the car you insured.

Show quote history

The question is whether such a term is enforceable. All sorts of things go into insurance (and other contracts) that the courts strike down for a variety of reasons.

It’s also not fraud to have insurance for a car that was MOT’d when the insurance was bought or renewed but has since expired. Even if an MOT is passed at one time that doesn’t mean the car would pass again during the life of the MOT.

I can understand an MOT clause operating at purchase but not after. And as far as I know all insurers will check MOT status before issuing a policy.

timesaretight · 18/12/2023 10:27

How do you know it is untaxed?

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