Loud cars and motorbikes: how to report vehicle noise
Last checked: 11 November 2026
Loud exhausts, revving and racing are among the most common noise problems on residential streets. The people.uk app makes reporting them take a few taps. This guide explains who gets told, and how to do it yourself where the app is not available yet.
The people.uk app does this for you. It is a free app that writes your noise report and addresses it to your council, councillors, MP and local police, all at once. You check it and tap Send.
The app is starting with one small part of Tower Hamlets in east London. If it does not cover your street yet, the rest of this page explains how to report noise yourself.
Report it every time
If a loud vehicle disturbs you at home, report it. You do not need to know whether the driver is breaking a rule, and it does not matter what time it is.
A loud vehicle has usually gone before anyone can act, so one report rarely leads to anything on its own. What changes things is a pattern: the same street, the same times, reported by many residents.
Who to tell
- Your local police team. Call 101, or report online through your local force's website.
- Your local council.
- Your ward councillors and your MP. They can press for longer-term changes to a street, such as traffic calming or noise cameras, and for changes to the law.
If someone is driving in a way that puts people in danger, call 999.
What to include in a report
- the date and time
- the street, and the direction of travel if you saw it
- what you heard: a loud exhaust, revving, racing, or music from a vehicle
- how it affected you
- how often it happens, and whether it is at the same times each week
- a description of the vehicle, only if you saw it clearly from a safe place
Do not put yourself at risk to get a number plate, and do not confront drivers.
Noise cameras
Noise cameras use microphones and a number plate camera to pick out the loudest vehicles. The Department for Transport has trialled them in several parts of England, and some councils have put in their own.
They are not yet in general use. Reports from residents are the evidence that gets them, and other changes to a street, onto the agenda.
Common questions
Who do I report a loud car or motorbike to?
Tell your local police team on 101 or through your local force's website, and tell your local council, your ward councillors and your MP.
Can I report a loud vehicle if I do not know whether it is breaking a rule?
Yes. You do not need to know. Report what you heard, when, and how it affected you.
Do I need the number plate to report a noisy vehicle?
No. A report with the date, time, street and what you heard is still useful, because it helps show a pattern. Only note a number plate if you can do so safely.
What are noise cameras?
Noise cameras use microphones and a number plate camera to identify the loudest vehicles. They have been trialled in parts of England but are not yet in general use.
More guides
This page is general information, not legal advice. Services differ between councils and between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. people.uk is independent and is not a government service.