If the car has a value over any money owed to me,i send the owner a letter of intent to sale, if it has not been collected by a certain date, seven days before this date i send a second letter making it clear the car will be sold within seven days,both letters are sent special delivery, after seven days there is no responce i apply for a log book,not sure if the new DVLA way of doing things will change this approach
If the vehicle has no value its placed on the main road its usualy removed within a few days if the tax is out