Why can your car be seized?
- No Insurance on the vehicle
- Driving with an invalid or revoked licence
- No Car Tax on the vehicle
With all of the above you will need to get your vehicle released and you may need specialist seized car insurance which Alternative Insurance Brokers can supply for virtually all circumstances.
Seized car insurance can be purchased on an annual basis or short term seized vehicle insurance can be purchased for a period of 30 days which will be the minimum that most impounds will accept.
If you have to deal with your vehicle being seized then remember the points below:
How does the police seize the car?
A repossession order will first be raised. Then a subtracted towing company by the police will see that your vehicle is transported to an impound. The towing company will then be in legal possession of your vehicle. The vehicle is then impounded in the police impound and will be locked away to prevent unauthorised access.
How to retrieve a car from the Police Impound?
To find out where your vehicle is located, you can contact Trace – the Towed Vehicle Tracking Service on 0845 206 8602.
To get your seized vehicle out of the police pound you will need to meet certain requirements. Refer to your court order and follow the instructions given. If you are behind on any charges, taxes, parking tickets, then you will have to pay these in advance and be approved by the lender.
If the vehicle is in a poor condition, you should communicate with the body repair shop and impound to ensure you can get everything arranged in a timely manner. If there are extenuating circumstances – for instance where criminal activity may be at play – the possession order will need to be signed by a judge. The car owner will be charged for every day the vehicle is in the impound, so the owner should act as quickly as possible.
Having a reliable insurer who offers seized vehicle insurance will help get your car or bike out of the impound quickly.
What should I take with me?
Take your cheque book and credit card, and possibly a few hundred in cash in case that is the method you have to pay in. In addition, take some proof of ID, proof of seized vehicle insurance and your title or registration.
Is there anything I can do?
There are processes for lodging a complaint but generally a car or bike will not be impounded without a legitimate reason. Therefore you will be best paying the fee without making a fuss. Everyone has an excuse and the pound won’t care.
Should I inspect the vehicle?
Yes, inspect your car or bike before leaving the pound and take any pictures if there is damage – you can then report this to the pounds management.
If you take on board the above advise and call 0161 388 2520 to obtain seized vehicle insurance that will work you will soon have your vehicle back on the road.