Abandoned vehicle removal is one of our most frequently submitted service requests. Abandoned vehicle removal requests are handled by the Neighborhood Services Unit (NSU) of the Philadelphia Police Department. To ensure questions about abandoned vehicles are answered correctly, this blog guides you step by step through the removal process.
Step One: Determine if the vehicle is ‘abandoned’
Before anything, we must determine if a vehicle is considered abandoned. The City must always confirm that the vehicle in question is abandoned before the Philadelphia Police Department can tow it. If it is found that the vehicle does not meet the criteria to be an abandoned vehicle, the City will not remove it.
If you see that the steering column inside the vehicle is broken or is missing the cover, please call 911 immediately to report the potentially stolen vehicle.
A vehicle is considered abandoned for any of the following reasons:
- It is not drivable. This may be a car with flat tires, missing parts, or any other damage that would prevent it from moving.
- It is dangerous. This may be a car that has been involved in an accident or has jagged edges, leaking fluid, broken glass, or anything else that poses immediate danger.
- Its inspection and registration have expired for more than 90 days.
- It is illegally parked and is inoperable for more than 48 hours. The inspecting officer must be able to see that the vehicle is inoperable, i.e. the engine is on the ground.
- It does not have a license plate, inspection sticker, and vehicle identification number.
- It is left on private property for more than 24 hours without the property owner’s consent.
Vehicles left for more than 24 hours on private property that is accessible to the public can be reported as abandoned. Not all driveways and alleyways are considered private property. Some rear driveways are part of the common drive and therefore not considered private property. The officer investigating the vehicle will determine if it’s private property once the vehicle is reported. The property owner’s written consent is required before the police can tow the vehicle. If a vehicle is left in a vacant lot, the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP) will work with NSU to get it removed. You can report vacant lots that need cleaning using our online form.
The police cannot investigate a vehicle on inaccessible private property (walled or fenced–in property).
Step Two: Reporting an abandoned vehicle
There are four ways to report an abandoned vehicle to 311.
- Dialing 3-1-1 (215-686-8686 if you are outside of Philadelphia)
- Using the 311 mobile app
- Online via the 311 web portal
- Emailing 311 at Philly311@phila.gov or by clicking here
Be sure to include the following essential information in your report:
- An exact address (street name and number) of the vehicle’s location. If you are not sure of the exact address, use Atlas to find the closest exact address.
- Vehicle color
- Make (i.e. Honda) and Model (i.e. Civic)
- Body style (i.e. 4-door sedan)
- Description of the vehicle’s condition
- License plate state and number
- A photo of the vehicle
We encourage you to include as much information as possible in your report. Once you’ve submitted all the information, you should receive confirmation from 311 that we have your request. Once you’ve received your confirmation, you are done!
Congratulations, you’ve reported an abandoned vehicle. Make sure to keep your confirmation information to look up your case status.
Step Three: Follow Up
Once you’ve reported a vehicle, an officer from the Neighborhood Services Unit will investigate and determine whether it is classified as abandoned. If the officer finds that the vehicle poses an immediate danger, it will be towed immediately.
In less severe cases, the vehicle owner may receive a courtesy notice from the Police Department informing them of their intent to tow. The owner is given a short period of time to bring their vehicle into compliance with the law. This could include repairing the vehicle or updating the vehicle’s registration/inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long does it take to get a vehicle removed?
It can take up to 120 business days to get an abandoned vehicle removed. The length of time depends on the severity of the issue. Abandoned vehicles posing an immediate danger will be removed immediately. Less severe cases will take longer. Depending on the season and states of emergency, police officers in the Neighborhood Services Unit could be reassigned to higher priority issues.
I reported an abandoned vehicle more than 120 days ago, but it hasn’t been towed. Should I submit another request?
No. Do not make multiple complaints about the same vehicle. Submitting more than one compliant about the same vehicle slows down the process and causes a backlog of complaints. If your abandoned vehicle request has been open for more than 120 business days and the vehicle has not been removed, please follow up with Philly311 with your service request number. We will be happy to investigate the case for you.
Can I report larger vehicles like box trucks or trailers?
Yes, you can report larger vehicles such as vans, trailers, and rental trucks. If there is debris in the truck, be sure to let us know in your report. The trash from the vehicle needs to be removed before it can be towed safely. These larger vehicles will take longer than usual to remove, as special equipment such as cranes or low-boy trucks needs to be coordinated for the removal process.
My vehicle was towed by Neighborhood Services. How do I get it back?
If your vehicle was towed by the Neighborhood Services Unit, please contact them by calling 215-685-9500, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
