From 13 November, abandoned cars in Belarus will be declared ownerless faster

From 13 November, the procedure for dealing with abandoned cars in Belarus changes: the amendments to the law come into force on that day.

Previously, utility services received information only about who owned the abandoned vehicle. Now state bodies will pass them extended data: information on the car's registration, on traffic rule violations and on insurance.

Owner data, including insurance, fines and technical inspections, is passed on so that a notice can be sent to the person. The owners' own consent to such a transfer is not mentioned in the reports.

If the notice is sent by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt and the person has not received it, on the 10th calendar day after sending they are considered notified. Evacuation is possible even without the letter being received.

The deadline for filing a court application to declare a car ownerless is cut from 30 to 10 days.

Evacuation is needed because abandoned vehicles interfere with street cleaning and snow removal, and technical fluids from rusting bodies and batteries get into soil and water. This year 50 vehicles have already been evacuated.