3 weeks Ago
A Sussex location has been named as one of the UK's "abandoned car capitals". Freedom of Information requests made by Scrap Car Comparison have revealed that Brighton and Hove had the highest number of abandoned car reports in 2024 outside of London. The city had 1,983 reports of abandoned vehicles throughout the year.
This places Brighton and Hove at the top of the list of UK locations outside of London with the most abandoned cars. Top of the list was the London borough of Redbridge, which had 2,473 reports of abandoned cars. Other regional hotspots for abandoned cars included Sunderland, Bristol, and Plymouth, which all reported more than 1,300 cases to their respective councils in 2024.
Sunderland had 1,936 reports, Bristol had 1,555, and Plymouth had 1,305. Glasgow, Norwich, Kingston-upon-Hull, Manchester, Peterborough, and Chelmsford also made the top ten list of UK locations with the most abandoned car reports. The analysis has also revealed the areas of the UK which have seen the biggest increases or decreases in abandoned car reports since the study was last conducted in 2023.
Brighton and Hove saw the most consistent levels of abandoned vehicle reports, increasing by only five per cent from 1,889 to 1,983. Read next: The 15 best places to live in Sussex according to property experts Matt Clamp, customer service manager at Scrap Car Comparison, said: "Abandoned cars don’t just cause inconvenience by taking up space on roads, paths, or parking bays - they can pose serious environmental risks. "Leaking fluids may pollute soil and water, and deteriorating materials can release harmful toxins into the air.
"It’s never advisable to simply abandon a car, no matter its condition. Scrapping is not only the eco-friendly option - it’s often the smarter financial choice. "You could be missing out on potential money by walking away from a vehicle instead of scrapping it responsibly.
"Some abandoned vehicles may be linked to more suspicious circumstances, which is why it’s important to report any suspected cases to your local council." Read next: 'A total eyesore': Residents oppose plans for a 'mini skyscraper' The data was gathered from reports logged between January and December 2024. Brighton and Hove City Council's website says: "If you think a vehicle has been abandoned, you can report it using Operation Crackdown, the public reporting service.
"Please note that the vehicle removal process can take up to 30 days." To report an abandoned vehicle, visit: www.operationcrackdown.
org/.
