What happens at a car impound?

Having your car clamped and then towed away is, at best, an inconvenience but can also lead to hefty fines and potentially even losing your car. Nobody wants to find themselves in this situation but if you do, you’ll want to know what to do to get your car back and avoid it being seized.

There’s a whole legal process to go through but this can be a quick, albeit expensive, process. It’s important to stay calm and follow the government guidance if you want to reclaim your car.

If you’ve ever worried about what you’d have to do if your car was impounded, read on…

Why are vehicles impounded?

If you break any of the following, you could face your vehicle being impounded:

• Driving without valid insurance or tax. You must have motor insurance to drive your vehicle on UK roads.
• Illegal parking. If your vehicle is causing an obstruction or parked in a hazardous area, it can be seized by authorities.
• Dangerous driving. Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 gives police the power to ‘seize and remove the motor vehicle’ if it is used in a ‘manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance’.

Vehicles involved in crimes or abandoned after incidents (you’ll have seen parked cars in the middle of large roundabouts or on the side of the road with the ‘police aware’ signage) can also be impounded.

What happens when a car is impounded?

If you find your car impounded, you will receive a police seizure notice - either directly or through the post. This will explain the reasons why your car has been impounded and confirm the location of the vehicle.

Your car may have been seized because it wasn't taxed or insured, it was parked illegally or linked to dangerous driving.

Your car is likely to be found at a secure impound lot, possibly near a police station. The notice will confirm the exact address and include a reference number for you to quote when you contact the pound or try to collect your vehicle.

After you receive the seizure notice, it's time to sort the paperwork and collect your car before it's disposed or destroyed. We'll let you know everything you need to do this in this article.

Is compound insurance the same as impound insurance?

Yes, compound is simply another term for impound. It's more commonly used in the United States.

How do I get my car back after it’s been impounded?

If your car has been seized and you want to get it out of the impound, you should do the following - but bear in mind every police force might have a slightly different process.

• Check your seizure notice. This confirms what your specific force needs from you and will tell you what to do first and whether you need to upload anything online, visit a station or head straight to the pound. Most forces want the registered keeper at a police station within seven days, in the same force area where the car was seized. If you're out of the country or dealing with a medical or compassionate issue, you may be able to extend this time - but you'll need evidence.
• Check you're eligible. The registered keeper needs to be 19 or over, have lived in the UK for more than 12 months, and have no relevant criminal convictions. None of this applies to you? You'll need to contact a specialist annual broker.
• Get your documents together. You'll need proof of identity (passport, driving licence, EU ID card, or immigration document), a valid driving licence, your V5C logbook, a valid MOT certificate, and tax if it's due.
• Sort 30 days of impound cover. This is where Tempcover comes in. You'll need a dedicated 30-day impound insurance policy. Standard annual and temporary (1 to 28 days) policies are not applicable here.
• Head to the police station. Gather all the documents mentioned in step 3, plus your insurance certificate. Once this has all been checked, you will receive a release notice.
• Collect your car from the impound. Take your release notice, photo ID, and payment for any fees. Just collecting personal property rather than the car itself? You'll only need proof of ownership or your V5C.
• Don't miss the 14-day deadline. If the car is left longer than 14 days, the police can legally dispose of or auction it. Not planning to reclaim it? You won't have to do anything as it will be dealt with automatically.
• Remember to always double-check your seizure notice. It tells you exactly what your force will need.

To retrieve your vehicle, you will have to fill in the relevant paperwork and provide the following:

• Proof of identity (e.g. a driving licence or passport).
• Proof of ownership (V5C or vehicle registration logbook).
• Valid impound car insurance.
• Valid MOT certificate.

You must visit the designated impound within seven working days of the seizure notice.

Once at the impound lot, you must present the necessary documentation and pay any remaining fees.

If you are unable to collect your car in person, you can send someone else to collect the vehicle with a signed letter of authorisation, a copy of your ID and valid compound insurance which permits them to drive the vehicle.