North London borough named the worst offender for vehicle noise

New analysis has found that Islington in the north of London is the worst area for car noise, based on the volume of complaints received by the council. This local authority received almost 11 times more reports of noise than the UK average.

The study from webuyanycar analysed council data on car-related noise complaints to find out which areas are suffering the most, as vehicle numbers on British roads reached a record high of nearly 42 million in 2024*.

Topping the list, Islington locals submitted an average of 13 noise complaints per 10,000 residents over the past 3 years. Westminster residents filed an average of 7.5 per 10,000, ranking second.

This was followed by the London boroughs of Camden (7.0) and Kensington and Chelsea (6.9). Overall, five London boroughs ranked in the top 10 noisiest areas for car noise. Only 10 neighbourhoods had no noise complaints.

What are the repercussions of noisy vehicles?

Richard Evans, Head of Technical Services at webuyanycar, warns that for drivers whose cars make too much noise, the consequences can be costly.

“Even when your car is in your driveway or garage, creating excessive noise can still prompt responses from the authorities.”

“Local authorities have the power to serve an Abatement Notice to anyone causing a noise nuisance, under Section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This is essentially a formal warning from the council to stop the disruptive activity. Ignoring this type of notice can lead to prosecution and fines of up to £5,000 in the Magistrate’s Court.**”

“Depending on the circumstances, the police can also take action under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 against anyone whose driving causes alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public. They can even seize and remove vehicles entirely, and recovering your car can cost you significantly.”