West Sussex County Council: Reporting Roadside Car Sales

Traders who advertise cars for sale on the roadside can commit offences under legislation enforced by the Trading Standards Service.  For example, an offence is committed by a trader who parks two or more vehicles within 500 metres of each other advertised for sale or if the vehicles are falsely described.  District Councils also have the power to issue fixed penalty notices to traders who breach the 500 metre rule. 

An offence would also be committed if a trader failed to indicate in their advertisement that a vehicle was being sold in the course of a business.  The inclusion of “Trade”, “(T)” or similar would satisfy this requirement.

Roadside car sales are of potential concern to residents and businesses.  The vehicles may, for example, be taking up valuable parking spaces or causing an obstruction.

If you have concerns about vehicles being offered for sale on the roadside, for example in lay-bys or directly on the road, then please feel free to report roadside car sales in confidence to this Service.

If you would prefer to forward details by post please complete a Roadside Summary Sheet (See link on the right) and return it to the indicated address.  You may also find this sheet useful to note vehicle details for reporting directly using the Report Roadside Car Sales form.

The information you provide will enable us to identify sites where vehicles are being offered for sale and to take appropriate action.”