Untaxed car clampdown sees 281 seized in a year

Often abandoned, the cars have been described as "magnets for crime and anti-social behaviour"

Nearly 300 cars and vans have been seized from a town's streets in the last year as part of an ongoing crackdown on untaxed and abandoned vehicles.

According to Middlesbrough Council, some are linked to criminal activity and used as pool cars by groups of offenders in which to stash "money, drugs or illegal tobacco".

Less than half of the 281 seized between 25 April 2024 and 25 March 2025 were reclaimed by their owners, with the remaining158 eventually crushed and scrapped.

Councillor Janet Thompson said she hoped the co-ordinated swoop between Middlesbrough Council, Cleveland Police and the DVLA as "another great day's work".

A car equipped with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) is used to patrol Middlesbrough looking for vehicles without valid documents.

During one day alone, the computer detected 68 cars and vans without valid road tax within just a couple of hours, the council said.

And, while that may genuinely be down to forgetfulness on behalf of the registered keeper, there is a more sinister side.

"Quite often these cars are linked to organised criminality," said Dale Metcalfe from Middlesbrough Council.

"It not uncommon, certainly in central Middlesbrough, for them to be used as pool cars for storing illegal substances such as drugs and sometimes even cash."

Dale Metcalfe from Middlesbrough Council

Seized vehicles incur a £100 release fee, which increases to £200 if the owner does not come forward within 24 hours, as well as a daily storage charge of £21 per day.

If the vehicle does not have a valid MOT, a surety fee of £160 is also charged, although the fee can be reclaimed if proof of vehicle tax is provided within 15 days.

Owners of untaxed, and therefore uninsured, vehicles can also face possible prosecution, an unlimited fine, a potential driving ban, higher insurance premiums and penalty points on their licence.

Thompson said she hoped getting tough would help combat the problem.

"I get people telling me that cars like this are abandoned on their street all the time," she said.

"They act as magnets for crime, anti-social behaviour and, given the state some of them are in, they can be quite dangerous too.

"I certainly wouldn't like one outside my home."