Vehicle removals

In Newham, we pay attention to vehicles that are parked dangerously or inconsiderately.

If your vehicle is parked in contravention of parking regulations you may receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) and it could also be removed.

If you think your vehicle has been towed away by the council, you can call TRACE on 08452 068602 (24hr).

Within Newham a vehicle may be removed for any parking contravention once a penalty charge notice has been issued.

Here are some examples of when a vehicle can be removed;

• Parked in a position causing danger or a serious health and safety obstruction/hazard to other road users or pedestrians
• Parked in a formal disabled bay
• In an operational bus lane or at a bus stop
• Parked in a suspended bay
• Being a persistent evader (if you have three or more outstanding penalty charge notices)
• Having a vehicle with a foreign registration number (non-EU vehicles) and in contravention
• Parked obstructing a dropped footway
• Footway parking
• Contravening a loading ban
• Parked in a bay reserved for certain users e.g. doctors, police etc.
• Parked on school keep clear markings.

Please note Newham Council does not clamp or order the clamping of vehicles. If your vehicle has been clamped, it will be by a private company or possibly a bailiff. There should be contact details in the notice on your car.

Prior to removal, a penalty charge notice (PCN) is issued. Removed vehicles are taken to the vehicle pound in Folkestone Road (also signposted as Jenkins Lane), East Ham. See a map of the car pound. The charge for removals is not set by the Council, but by a London-wide body called London Councils. This ensures that charges are consistent throughout London.

As set by London Councils, the charge for vehicle removal is £200. If the vehicle is not collected within 24 hours of the time of removal, the owner will incur storage charges of £40 per day (excluding Sundays and public holidays).

If your vehicle is removed and you feel it should not have been, you can make representations against the PCN and removal only after you have paid the release fees. Details on how to do this will also be given to you at the vehicle pound. You must make a representation within 28 days of collecting your vehicle.

To find out more about making representations against a PCN, go to our Penalty Charge Notices page.