Call Now0333 003 8450 Get A Quote Be Wiser's Guide To Impounded Car Insurance Home Knowledge Base Car Insurance Knowledge Be Wiser's Guide To Impounded Car Insurance Knowledge Base Categories Thu, 12/08/2021 Why Are Cars Impounded? Authorities such as the police and the DVLA have the right to seize vehicles. There are a number of reasons why your car may be impounded or seized, including: Being uninsured Not paying road tax Parking on private land (while not driving or having tax) without a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) Using your car in a dangerous, careless way Driving or being driven by someone without a licence Driving with an invalid or revoked driving licence Parking your vehicle illegally or dangerously Does Standard Car Insurance Cover You To Collect An Impounded Car? If you hold a standard car insurance policy, most insurers will not insure you to retrieve your car out of the impound. You usually need a specialist policy to do so. What Is Impounded Car Insurance? The purpose of impounded car insurance is to allow you to release a vehicle from the impound. If you need to release your car from the impound, you will have to prove that the vehicle is insured for a minimum of 30 days before it can be released. How Much Does It Cost To Get A Car Out Of An Impound In The UK? You will need to call either 101 and ask for the local police, or the NSL if it is related to car tax payments, to find out where your car has been impounded. Then you need to pay a fine to release the car, which is likely to be between £100 and £200 if you can pay within 24 hours. If not, you usually have to pay extra for storage. It is important to note that if you don’t go to get your car, it may eventually be destroyed or sold on. How Do I Get My Car Back From An Impound? Normally you will receive a notice letter when your car is ready for collection. This letter will contain detailed instructions and let you know which pound your vehicle is being kept at. If you are unsure, it is best to check with the specific impound before your visit to see what they require. But generally speaking, to reclaim your car from an impound you are likely to need: Proof of identity Valid driving licence Valid certificate of motor insurance Proof of ownership (V5C) A current MOT test pass certificate Proof that your car is insured (you will need a minimum of 30 days insurance cover to have your car returned to you) Can Someone Reclaim An Impounded Vehicle On Your Behalf? If you, as the legal owner of the vehicle, can't collect an impounded car, then someone else can collect it on your behalf. However, this person must bring the documents listed above, as well as: An authority letter – this is a letter signed by the owner that gives the person the authority to collect on your behalf A copy of your passport or driving licence – this is so that the signature on the letter of authority can be verified A valid certificate of insurance, showing that the driver collecting the vehicle on behalf of the policyholder is also shown as a driver covered under the policy Find Insurance For Your Impounded Car Having your car impounded is a major inconvenience and can be a costly one. Thankfully, Be Wiser can provide you with temporary car impound insurance so that you can return to the road with minimal and hassle, providing: Instant cover over the phone (insures policyholder only) A minimum of 30 days cover Cover for all drivers from the age of 21-68 Cover for drivers with a range of motoring and non-motoring convictions Start your search for your impound car insurance policy today! Related Insurance Products Car Insurance Impound Car Insurance Car Insurance Knowledge [67] Share Article Need Insurance? Get A Car Quote Get Insurance Car Insurance Impound Insurance Convicted Driver Insurance Food Delivery Driver Insurance Young Driver Insurance Retrieve A Quote Customer Services Existing Customers Insurance Documents Make A Claim Make A Complaint Wiser Knowledge Insurance Glossary Knowledge Base FAQs About Be Wiser About Us Careers Contact Us Opening Hours Our Website Accessibility Intellectual Property Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Close Brothers Pre-Contract Credit Information Premium Credit Pre-Contract Credit Information Be Wiser Insurance Services, Call Wiser, Drive Wiser, Street Wiser, Insure Wiser, Be Wiser Lifestyle, Be Wiser @Home and Be Wiser Business are trading names of Atlanta 1 Insurance Services Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm reference number 308213. Our name, address and regulatory status may be verified by visiting their website at https://register.fca.org.uk. We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. By clicking the Accept button, you agree to us doing so. Agree More Info No Thanks