Seized vehicles

Here, you can find out how to reclaim a vehicle that has been seized under Section 165A of the Road Traffic Act 1988. This means an officer had reasonable grounds to believe that the driver was uninsured or was not driving in accordance with their driving licence.  

If your vehicle has been seized the driver should have received a seizure notice.

If your vehicle has been impounded for another reason, go to our impounded vehicles page. 

How to reclaim your vehicle

If the vehicle is registered to you, you were driving the vehicle at the time and your insurance has lapsed without your knowledge you can attend the designated station on your seizure notice.

In all other circumstances please email Operation Tango within seven working days of the seizure. Please send a picture of the front and back of your driving licence and your Certificate of Insurance. You will receive an automated email confirming receipt of your email.

Once the documents have been checked, we'll email you with any further enquiries or with your release information.

Please be aware that if you have a foreign licence or a foreign vehicle you will need to attend Operation Tango at Birkenhead Police Station in person with all relevant documents, such as visas, importation documents, and if you are a trader you may need to attend in person with your stock books. 

Please do not phone. We can only deal with you in person.

If you cannot email, you can attend a designated station and they will assist you. 

Operation Tango
Birkenhead Police Station
Mortimer Street
Birkenhead
Wirral
CH41 5EU
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To produce documents opening hours are Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm;

Our designated police stations are:

Birkenhead
Southport
St Anne Street
Huyton
St Helens
Admirals Street
Kirkby
Marsh Lane
Newton-Le-Willows
Wallasey

Birkenhead Police Station
Mortimer Street
Birkenhead
Wirral
CH41 5EU
Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm; Saturday 10am to 6pm.
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If you're producing a motor trade or fleet policy, or if you're a Motability customer, non-EU licence holder or you want to reclaim a foreign registered vehicle, you will be directed to speak with our Tango office, who are open between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday only. Outside of these hours you may be directed to an email address where your enquiry can be dealt with remotely.

To guarantee being seen try to attend before 1.30pm and be prepared to wait during busy periods.

If you attend any other station and your vehicle is in the above category, you will be directed to attend Birkenhead Police Station or contact Operation Tango, remotely, via e-mail.

Southport Police Station
Albert Road
Southport
Sefton
PR9 0LL
Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm; Saturday 10am to 6pm.
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St Anne Street Police Station
St Anne Street
Liverpool
L3 3HJ
Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm; Saturday 10am to 6pm.
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Huyton Police Station
Lathom Road
Huyton
Knowsley
L36 9XU
Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm; Saturday 10am to 6pm.
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St Helens Police Station
College Street
St Helens 
WA10 1TG
Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm; Saturday 10am to 6pm.
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Admiral Street Police Station
Admiral Street
L8 8JN
Tuesday to Friday 10am to 6pm.
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Kirkby Police Station
Webster Drive
L32 8RF
Tuesday to Friday 10am to 6pm.
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Marsh Lane Police Station
Marsh Lane, Bootle
L20 5BW
Tuesday to Friday 10am to 6pm.
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Newton-Le-Willows Police Station
Earlestown
Newton-Le-Willows
WA12 9BW
Tuesday to Friday 10am to 6pm.
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Wallasey Police Station
Manor Road, Liscard
CH44 1DA
Tuesday to Friday 10am to 6pm.
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Please don't phone. We can only deal with you in person.

Registered owners/keepers of the vehicle using a nominee to collect their vehicle must bring the nominee with them to the station.

Collecting your vehicle

You will receive a release notice by email or from the designated police station.

This will include:

• the phone number of the recovery operator
• the address where you can collect your vehicle

Please bring your driving licence with you as photo ID when collecting your vehicle.

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 seized before 6 April 2023 you'll have to pay the charges listed in The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Retention and Disposal of Seized Motor Vehicles) (Amendment) 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