Vehicle removal scheme

The Police Vehicle Recovery Scheme is the process that manages the recovery, storage, release and disposal of vehicles recovered by the Police.

If the police have reasonable grounds to suspect someone of driving a vehicle without insurance or otherwise in accordance with their driving licence, a vehicle may be seized.

Details of how to reclaim a vehicle can be found on the Seizure Notice issued to the driver.

Full details of the Statutory Charges can be found in the Related Information.

Please note these charges are set by the Government, not the police, and can vary depending on the weight and condition of the vehicle.

Vehicle seized because driver had no driving licence or insurance
In order to get your vehicle released you must:

• Prove you are the registered keeper/owner of the vehicle.
• Pay the charges for the removal/retention of the vehicle.
• Produce at the police station specified on the notice a valid certificate of insurance covering your use of the vehicle and a valid driving licence authorising you to drive it.

On some occasions the driver of a vehicle will be unable to satisfy the document requirements i.e. they will not have a valid driving licence or certificate of insurance. However, provided they can prove they are the registered keeper/owner and have paid the relevant fees they can nominate a third person to remove the vehicle. The third person must have a valid driving licence and a certificate of insurance covering that person to use the vehicle. The easiest way to show that you are the registered keeper of a vehicle is to produce your V5 registration document.

If you don't know how much the release fees will be for your vehicle or you want further clarification on how to release your vehicle, you will need to contact the police force that seized it via the non-emergency 101 number and clarify the matter with them.

Vehicle seized because it was being used antisocially
In order to get your vehicle released you must:

• Prove you are the registered keeper/owner of the vehicle.
• Pay the charges for the removal/retention of the vehicle.

If you don't know how much the release fees will be for your vehicle or you want further clarification on how to release your vehicle, you will need to contact the police force that seized it via the non-emergency 101 number and clarify the matter with them.

Vehicle clamped/seized because it was untaxed
The link below explains what you need to do:

https://www.gov.uk/get-a-clamped-or-impounded-vehicle-released

Vehicle clamped/seized in relation to parking
It's a criminal offence to clamp/block/tow away a vehicle without lawful authority. Only the police, DVLA and local councils (this includes bailiffs) are now legally entitled to clamp vehicles. If your vehicle has been clamped/removed by anyone else, you should report the matter to your local police via the non-emergency 101 number. See Q528 for further information on wheel clamping.