How do we now deal with abandoned cars? A PROBLEM that is faced by many of us, according to the DGT (Direccion General de Trafico), every year, approximately 50,000 vehicles are abandoned by their owners on roads in Spain and around 6,000 in workshops, warehouses and public car parks.

petrol and diesel has been narrowing for many weeks and is currently just over 1.5p. Despite this, the difference drivers pay at the pumps remains stubbornly high at around 19p a litre.

RAC Fuel Watchfigures show that retailers are today taking an average margin of nearly 19p for every litre of diesel they sell.

As well as around another 20,000 ‘forgotten’ vehicles in areas such as shopping centres, neighbourhood communities and the like.

Until recently, those affected, for example, in a private urbanisation where a damaged car is left abandoned for months, had to go to court so the car could be removed. Now the DGT has published an instruction to manage the destruction and decontamination of abandoned vehicles on public roads. Owners are required to prove the abandonment with photographs and with statements before a notary or with certifications from the property administrator.

Prior to the order to transfer and scrap the abandoned vehicle, the Administration “must require the owner of the vehicle to warn him that, if he does not remove it from where it is parked within a month, it will proceed to the transfer to an authorised vehicle treatment centre,” explained a spokes ­ person for the DGT.