Abandoned Vehicle

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You can report an abandoned vehicle on public property or in a vacant lot.

If you are a property owner, you can also request the removal of abandoned vehicles without license plates from your private property for a fee. 

You can report a vehicle abandoned on public property. 

Public property includes:

  • Streets
  • Sidewalks
  • Highway embankments
  • Public alleys

Common driveways are not considered public property.

How the report is handled depends on whether or not the vehicle still has license plates.

With License Plates

You can report an abandoned vehicle with at least one fixed metal license plate or in-transit paper registration plate if that vehicle has been left on public property for at least 48 hours. 

Officers from your local police precinct will respond when they are not handling emergency situations. The vehicle's owner will be responsible for all towing and storage fees.

Without License Plates

You can report a vehicle without license plates abandoned on a City street or sidewalk. 

If the abandoned vehicle meets the criteria to be classified as a derelict (i.e. junk) the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will investigate and tag the vehicle. Once an abandoned derelict vehicle is tagged, it will be removed within three business days. 

If the abandoned vehicle does not meet the criteria to be classified as derelict, DSNY will tag the vehicle and refer it to your local police precinct for handling similar to a vehicle with license plates. 

Checking the Status of a Past Complaint

If you already reported an abandoned vehicle without plates and it has been at least 5 business days, you can contact DSNY to check the status of your complaint.

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You can ask the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to remove a vehicle without license plates that was abandoned by someone else on your private property. 

In order to request removal, you must:

  • Sign a waiver
  • Make the vehicle accessible for removal
  • Pay a fee based on the price of scrap metal

Vehicles owned by the property owner are not eligible for this service.

Make your request in writing to:

Derelict Vehicle Removal
Department of Sanitation
Central Correspondence Unit
59 Maiden Lane, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10038

Abandoned Vehicle in Vacant Lot

You can request the removal of an abandoned vehicle from an empty lot.

Make your request in writing to:

Department of Sanitation
Central Correspondence Unit
59 Maiden Lane, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10038

You can report an abandoned boat on a public street or sidewalk to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY).

DSNY will not remove abandoned boats from private property.

You can contact DSNY to report a boat on public property or to get information on how to remove a boat from private property.

Update KA

A derelict vehicle without plates may have been removed by the Department of Sanitation (DSNY).

You can contact DSNY to find out if a vehicle was removed from public property.

Update KA

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