Impounded vehicles
If you’ve received a seizure notice/letter or your vehicle was seized on suspicion of being driven without a driving licence or valid insurance, go to our seized vehicle page to find the right information.
On this page you'll find information on what to do if your vehicle was impounded by the police because it was:
- stolen, and found by us
- involved in a collision
- being driven while untaxed
- involved in a crime
- driven in an anti-social manner
- causing an obstruction or danger
- abandoned after an incident involving the police
If a vehicle has been impounded, the registered keeper will receive a letter inviting them to collect their vehicle once the vehicle has been released from any investigatory enquiries.
You can find out how to reclaim your vehicle and payment of charges below. Please contact us if you have any queries.
How to reclaim your vehicle
To arrange the release of your vehicle you must contact the recovery operator. We'll tell you who this is and the recovery operator will tell you if we've allowed the vehicle to be released yet.
You must provide two forms of identification, one of which must be photographic and the other providing address details.
Recovery operators are open for the release of vehicles from Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm (please don't arrive any later than 12.30pm), excluding public holidays, and Saturdays from 8am to 12pm, by appointment only.
Payment of charges
Payment should be made directly to the recovery operator when you collect your vehicle.
Statutory charges apply to most vehicles removed to a pound, depending upon the reason for removal.
You can find full details about the statutory charges you'll have to pay in The Removal, Storage and Disposal of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations 2023.
For vehicles impounded before 6 April 2023 you'll have to pay the charges listed in The Removal, Storage and Disposal of Vehicles (Prescribed Sums and Charges) Regulations 2008.
These charges are set by government, not the police, and vary depending on the weight and condition of the vehicle.
Please note, the daily storage charges start from midday the day after the vehicle was seized.
When you pay
You’ll pay for the cost of the recovery and any storage charges when your vehicle has been:
- at risk of vandalism/arson
- reported as stolen to us and we recover it
- found causing an obstruction or a danger to the public
- involved in a collision
- seized under Section 165 Road Traffic Act without valid insurance and/or driving licence
- seized under Section 59 Police Reform Act when a motor vehicle is used carelessly, inconsiderately or 'off-road' in a manner that causes alarm, annoyance or distress