Seized vehicles

Here, you can find out how to reclaim a vehicle that has been seized for one of the following reasons: 

• 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.
• Section 59 Police Reform Act 2002. This means an officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the driver has driven in an anti-social manner.
• DVLA offences

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

How to reclaim your vehicle

You'll find the details of how to reclaim your vehicle and the ID documentation you need to take with you on the seizure notice. You have seven working days to go to the police station listed on the seizure notice, otherwise your vehicle may be scrapped or sold after 14 days.

• Vehicles seized under Sect 165A Road Traffic Act 1988 (as amended) will only be released on production of the appropriate drivers licence and/or insurance for the specific vehicle at a nominated police station, and by paying the statutory fees.
• Vehicles seized under Section 59 Reform Act 2002 will only be released to the owner of the vehicle (on proof of ownership) and by paying the statutory fees.
• Vehicles seized under DVLA offences will only be released to the owner of the vehicle (on proof of ownership) and by paying the statutory fees. You'll also need proof of either a current Vehicle Exercise Licence (tax) or payment of a deposit (known as a surety fee) in accordance with DVLA policy.

To reclaim a vehicle the owner, registered keeper or nominee must go to one of these police stations during the front desk opening hours:

• Barrow
• Carlisle
• Kendal
• Penrith
• Whitehaven
• Workington

Valid certificate of insurance

You must show your certificate of insurance and it needs to cover the release of vehicles from police compounds. If your insurance certificate does not have the correct coverage, your vehicle will not be released.

Please contact your insurance company if you're not sure about your insurance policy.

Motor trader insurance policies will not be accepted unless the motor trader can provide proof that the vehicle is in their possession as part of their trade (these are named on their insurance policy).

Valid driving licence

You must show this in person or you can share your licence information online. You must complete this information before attending the station.

Your vehicle will not be released without a valid driving licence.

Once your documents are accepted, a release form will be sent to the garage. Garages only release vehicles Monday to Friday in normal working hours.

All of the above must be done within 14 days or the vehicle may be sold or scrapped.

Vehicles sold or purchased while in a police compound

You can sell a seized car while it's impounded and a new owner can have it released. The new owner needs the correct insurance and proof of transfer of vehicle (a V5C). If do you not have this, the vehicle will not be released.

The new owner of the vehicle must have a certificate of insurance for the seized car.

The vehicle will not be released until the new owner has the certificate of insurance and can produce it.

Payment of charges

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 on the next day after the vehicle was seized.

MOT

If your vehicle is over three years old and doesn't have a current MOT test pass certificate you can only drive it on a public road from the recovery depot to an MOT testing station. You must:

• bring evidence from a garage of a pre-booked MOT appointment, or
• arrange recovery at your own expense

Collecting property from an impounded vehicle

If you want to get property from the impounded vehicle, but not the vehicle itself, you need to bring proof that you're the vehicle's owner or registered keeper (a V5C or V5C/10).

Someone else can collect property on your behalf, but they need to bring:

1. a letter of authority, signed by you, giving them permission to collect property from the vehicle
2. a copy of your passport or driving licence so we can verify the letter is signed by you

Please note, if the vehicle is badly damaged it might not be possible to get into it to remove property.

We'll hold your property for 30 days before we dispose of it.

If your vehicle has been issued with a PG9 prohibition notice, isn't roadworthy or won’t start

If your vehicle has been issued with a PG9 prohibition notice, isn’t roadworthy or won’t start, you need to arrange for a fully trained, equipped and insured vehicle recovery operator to collect it at your own expense.

Provisional driving licence holders

If you’re driving under a provisional licence you must bring someone who:

• is over 21, and
• has held a licence for more than three years

Make sure you have L plates on the vehicle.

Things to be aware of

Bring a set of keys, in case the driver (if you weren't the driver) didn't leave the keys in the vehicle.

If your vehicle doesn’t have correct number plates and you’re planning on driving it, you must attach valid replacement plates when you collect it.