9:29 am, January 20, 2026
Pet ashes, a life-sized silicone doll and a box of Halloween decorations. No, this is not the plot of some terrifying horror movie – these are just some of the bizarre items discovered in vehicles at WeBuyAnyCar over the last year.
That is according to new survey of the firm’s brand managers, who have been revealing the most weird and wonderful things they found at work throughout 2025.
The data shows that a manager in Sunderland stumbled across a life-sized silicone baby doll, which he initially mistook for a real infant at first glance.
Meanwhile, workers in Bradford got more than they bargained for when found an urn full of pet ashes inside a vehicle that had already been dropped off by a customer.
Other unusual discoveries included a racy Valentine’s card, £50 in 1p pieces and a collection of Dolly Parton CDs complete with cowboy boots – which the previous owner later came back for.
Employees also found wedding rings, potted plants and a child’s fidget toy – which was bizarrely found under the bonnet of one car.
The data comes a year after the firm revealed that one family even left their grandmother in the back of a car in 2024, before returning to pick her up a short time later.
Reacting to the latest list of finds, Richard Evans, head of technical Services at WeBuyAnyCar, said: ‘Cars quickly become part of everyday life, so it is no surprise they end up holding everything from shopping bags to sentimental keepsakes.
‘What does catch us out is just how often people forget items that are valuable, personal or completely unexpected.
‘From pet ashes and jewellery to items that stop our teams in their tracks, it really shows how easy it is to overlook what is still inside your car.
‘Our advice is simple, before you walk away, check the boot, door pockets and glovebox.’
As well as the strangest things left behind, the firm also revealed the most commonly forgotten items.
Almost a quarter of all cars (24%) were left with cables and chargers still inside, while CDs or cassettes were left inside 22%.
Other common items included spare change (also 22%), shopping bags and dashcams (both 20%) and keys not related to the car (18%).
