Discovering that your vehicle has been seized or impounded can be a stressful ordeal, but knowing the steps involved in the release process can make it easier to navigate. This guide outlines the necessary actions to reclaim your vehicle, whether it was seized by the police or impounded for other reasons.
Types of Vehicle Impoundment
The process for retrieving your vehicle depends on whether it was seized by the police or simply impounded. Police typically seize vehicles for serious offences, such as driving without insurance, driving without a valid licence, or failing to pay vehicle tax. In these cases, you will receive a seizure notice either on the spot or via post if you were not present.
Vehicles can also be impounded without being seized for various reasons, including being stolen, involved in an accident, parked illegally, linked to a crime, driven in an anti-social manner, causing an obstruction, abandoned, trespassing, or surrendered under a dispersal order.
Insurance Requirements for Vehicle Release
To release your vehicle from an impound or police pound, you need the correct insurance coverage. Standard motor insurance policies do not usually cover impounded vehicles, so you will need specific impound insurance. It’s important to check your insurance policy or contact your insurer to confirm that it covers vehicle release from a police compound.
If your current insurance does not include this coverage, you have two options: secure an annual policy that includes impound release, or purchase a 30-day impound insurance policy, which is specifically designed for releasing vehicles from police compounds.
Steps to Release a Seized Vehicle
If your vehicle has been seized by the police, the first step is to carefully review your seizure notice. This notice will be given to you at the time of seizure or sent to you if you were not present. You must visit the designated police station within 7 working days (or up to 14 days in some regions) with your seizure notice. This process must be carried out by the registered keeper of the vehicle unless there are exceptional circumstances.
When visiting the police station, you will need to provide several documents, including:
- Your seizure notice
- Your driving licence (and passport if you have a paper licence)
- Proof of address (such as a recent utility bill or bank statement)
- Proof of vehicle ownership, which could include the car registration logbook (V5C) with a matching address, an unaltered and valid new keeper supplement (V5C/2) with a bill of sale and two proofs of address, or a confirmation email from the DVLA about a change of registered keeper
- A valid MOT certificate (or proof of a pre-booked MOT if exempt)
- Valid insurance that covers impound release
- Proof of road tax
After having your seizure notice stamped at the police station, proceed to the police pound, which may be operated by a third party. Bring all your documents, including the stamped seizure notice, and be prepared to pay the release fees and any daily storage charges.
Steps to Release an Impounded (Not Seized) Vehicle
For vehicles that have been impounded but not seized, the process is slightly different. You will receive a collection notice by mail once your vehicle is ready for collection. You can then go directly to the pound with the required documents, similar to those needed for a seized vehicle, but without the seizure notice.
If you cannot collect the vehicle yourself, you can authorise someone else to do so on your behalf. They will need a signed letter of authority from you and must be insured on the vehicle.
Understanding Release Charges
The cost of releasing your vehicle varies based on its condition and weight. For an undamaged vehicle under 3.5 tonnes, the standard release fee is £192, plus a daily storage fee of £26. Heavier vehicles or those in a damaged condition may incur higher fees. For a full breakdown of charges, refer to The Removal, Storage and Disposal of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations 2023.
Common Reasons for Vehicle Seizure
A vehicle is typically seized by police if the driver is uninsured, not complying with their driving licence, or if the vehicle is untaxed. Vehicles may also be impounded without seizure for other reasons, such as being stolen, involved in an accident, parked illegally, linked to criminal activity, driven anti-socially, causing obstruction, abandoned, trespassing, or under a dispersal order.
Final Thoughts
While retrieving your vehicle after it has been seized or impounded can be challenging, understanding the requirements and having the correct documentation and insurance in place can make the process smoother. Always ensure your insurance policy covers impound release and respond promptly to any seizure notices to avoid additional complications and costs.
For detailed instructions tailored to your local police force or council, it’s best to consult their official guidelines and follow the specific steps they provide.