HOW TO SECURING THE RELEASE OF A SEIZED OR IMPOUNDED VEHICLE

Your vehicle may not be ready for collection for up to 8 hours after the time of seizure.

Section 4(4) (c) of The Regulations state that in order to secure the release of a vehicle seized under S165A RTA 1988, the registered keeper or owner of the vehicle must claim it from the Police compound on or before the specified date, which must be at least 7 working day from the date of service of the seizure notice. Both the Form 3708 seizure notice, issued to the driver by the seizing officer, and any subsequent notice letter, issued by the Pound staff state that the vehicle must be reclaimed within 7 working days. However in accordance with Section 7(2) (a) of The Regulations, the police cannot dispose of a vehicle until at least fourteen 14 days have elapsed, starting from the date of seizure.

Vehicles impounded or seized under Section S165A Road Traffic Act 1988 (RTA) if a police officer has grounds to believe that a vehicle was driven in contravention of Sections 87 or 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 –

It's a criminal offence to drive a vehicle on a public road without valid motor insurance or valid driving licence.

Normally the owner or registered keeper of the impounded vehicle is required to attend the pound in person to reclaim their vehicle or authorise recovery company, in accordance with Regulation 5 of The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Retention and Disposal of Seized Motors Vehicle) Regulations 2005.

By attending the pound in person the pound staff can meet their statutory duty to establish ownership, driving entitlement and the validity of any motor insurance policy.

This statutory requirement for the owner or registered keeper to attend in person can be waived if there is a valid reason why they cannot comply, for example if they are:

In custody.

Out of the country ( a copy of flight tickets )

In hospital.

Unable to travel to the pound due to age, sickness, injury, immobility or disability.

Unable to attend the pound due to other exceptional or compassionate circumstances, which will be considered on their merit.

Under these circumstances a third party may be permitted to reclaim the Vehicle on behalf of the registered keeper or owner. The third party must provide:

Some documentary evidence that the registered keeper is unable to attend in person for a valid reason, as listed above. The pound staff must be satisfied that the registered keeper or owner is not trying to avoid attending in person due to a driving disqualification, or because they are of interest to the police.

A signed letter of authority from the registered keeper of owner, permitting the third party to reclaim the vehicle in their behalf.

Proof of identity and signature from the registered keeper or owner.

Valid proof of ownership, a valid certificate of motor insurance and a valid driving licence for the policyholder and the third party.

The motor insurance policy must be valid for the third party to reclaim an impounded vehicle on behalf of the registered keeper or owner. Confirmation from the insurer may be required.

In order to claim a vehicle the owner or keeper must first produce valid proof of identify and then satisfy all the four requirements set out in Section 5 of The Regulations. This process can be summarised by the following mnemonic:

POLICE

P - Person Identity check (Photo ID)

O - Owner or registered keeper (Proof of ownership)

L - Licence to drive

I - Insurance certificate

C - Check validity of documents and details given

E - Expedite the release of the vehicle

However, if a person fails to satisfy any one of these requirement then the release of the vehicle will not be authorised.

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