At a glance
Impound insurance can help you get your car back if it has been seized
Policies normally last at least 30 days
You’ll need to arrange suitable cover, pay fees and show certain documents to release your car
Temporary car insurance doesn’t cover impounded cars but can help once the vehicle has been released.
What do I need to do if my car is impounded?
Find out where your car is – it should be detailed on your notice letter
Get the right insurance – check if your current policy covers impounded vehicles. If not, you’ll need impound insurance.
Pay the release fees and collect it within 7-14 days.
Unfortunately, we don't currently offer specialist impound insurance. But you can still compare standard policies and temporary car insurance with us.
What is impound insurance?
Impound insurance (also known as compound insurance) is a type of short-term car insurance specifically used to release a car from the pound.
Standard car insurance doesn’t usually cover impounded cars, as it’s a specific, high-risk situation. So if your vehicle is seized, you may need specialist cover to get it back.
How does impound insurance work?
Impound insurance is a standalone policy. It typically provides third-party only cover and last 30 days.
That’s because if your car is seized, you’ll usually need to show it’s insured for at least a month to get it back.
If you don’t have valid insurance or your existing policy won’t cover impounded vehicles, you’ll need to buy impound insurance to fill the gap. Cover is immediate, allowing you to get your car back on the road as soon as possible.
Can I use temporary car insurance for an impounded car?
No, standard temporary car insurance won’t typically cover impounded cars. This can catch people out, but it’s a common requirement and easy to fix once you know what type of cover you need.
Your insurance needs to meet specific conditions to be released, such as:
Provide cover for at least 30 days, rather than just a few days
Clearly state that it allows for the release of an impounded car
Give the policyholder (or authorised driver) the legal right to drive the car away.
Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as one-day impound car insurance.
When temporary car insurance might help
Temporary car insurance can come in handy once your car has been released. You can use it to:
Drive home (if it’s in a safe and roadworthy condition)
Get short-term cover before arranging an annual policy
Cover you temporarily if you're selling the car and don’t need long-term car insurance.
Here’s a quick way to understand what type of cover you’ll need, depending on your situation:
Situation | Cover type |
|---|---|
Your car is still in the pound | Impound insurance |
Your car has been released but isn't insured | Temporary car insurance |
You need ongoing cover | Annual car insurance |
If you’re not sure which applies to you, check whether your car has already been released. This will help clarify which type of cover you need.
Do I need compound insurance?
Most people need impound insurance to release their car from the pound, especially if it was seized unexpectedly. This can happen if:
You don’t have insurance or a valid licence – driving without insurance is one of the most common reasons why cars are seized in the UK
You’ve parked illegally or caused an obstruction – including parking on private land, blocking the road or causing disruption to traffic or road access
Your car is untaxed or not declared SORN – if your car's on public roads without valid tax, or you haven’t declared a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) for it when it’s not being used
Your car is left unsafe or abandoned – e.g. after you've broken down or had an accident
Your car is linked to crime – vehicles used in criminal activity or driven in a way that causes alarm or distress may be taken to the pound.
Did you know?
According to The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, almost 160,000 cars were seized across the UK in 2025 – the highest amount in nearly 20 years.
How do I get my car back if it's been impounded?
First off, don’t panic. Here’s how to get your car back swiftly.
1. Find out where your car is
You should get a notice letter once your car has been seized. If you don’t get one, you can call the police on 101 and they’ll help you locate it quickly.
If it was impounded for being untaxed, you can also call NSL, the company that enforces car tax payments for the DVLA, on 0343 224 1999.
2. Pay the release fees
Once you’ve tracked your car down, follow the instructions on your notice letter to pay the release fee. You may also need to pay daily storage charges.
You can normally pay online, over the phone or in person at the pound.
3. Provide documents
Before the car is released, you’ll need to show:
The seizure notice or penalty ticket
Photo ID to prove you own the car
Your driving licence
Proof of tax and appropriate insurance
A valid MOT certificate (or proof that you’ve booked a test)
The car’s logbook (V5C).
You'll normally have 7-14 days to collect your car, depending on the reason it was impounded.
Bear in mind
Your car may be sold or scrapped if you miss the deadline or don’t pay the release fee. As long as you act within the timeframe, you should be able to avoid this.
How much does it cost to release my car from the pound?
The release fee depends on the weight and condition of your vehicle. You’ll also have to pay a storage charge for each 24-hour period that the car has been impounded – full or partial. These charges can add up, so it’s worth collecting your car as soon as possible.
In most cases, if the vehicle isn’t badly damaged and is on the road, the charges are:
Vehicle type | Removal charge | Storage charge (per day) |
|---|---|---|
Two-wheeled vehicles (e.g. motorbikes and scooters) | £192 | £13 |
Cars and light vans | £192 | £26 |
For the full list of fees, go to Gov.uk.
Quick tip
Your release fee may be lower if you pay and collect your car within 24 hours of it being seized.
You might also need to pay a surety fee (deposit) if your vehicle is untaxed before being released from the compound. This costs £160 for cars and motorbikes, and up to £700 for any other vehicle.
If you pay a surety fee then buy car tax within 15 days of the car’s release, you may be able to get a refund. However, you won’t get your surety fee back if you get or keep a SORN.
If you can't pay
If you can’t afford your release fees or don’t want to get your car back, you can ask for it to be scrapped instead. In this case, you’ll just need to pay a £96 disposal fee.
This can be an option if the cost of release is too high or the car isn’t worth recovering.
Where can I find impound insurance?
Unfortunately, you can’t currently compare impound insurance with Compare the Market. But here are some other ways to find the cover you need:
1. Check your existing policy
Your current car insurance may already cover impounded cars. But not all policies do, so check the small print and contact your provider if you’re not sure.
2. Choose it as an add-on
You might be able to add impound insurance to your policy as an extra.
3. Get specialist cover
If you can't add it as an extra, you’ll need to get specialist impound insurance. If your car has been seized because it wasn’t insured, you’ll need to find a specialist insurance provider who’ll accept you and give you a quote.
If you need a new policy once your car is released, you can compare car insurance with us.
FAQs
What should I do if my car is clamped?
If your car is clamped because you haven’t paid your road tax, the authorities will leave an INF32 leaflet on your vehicle. You’ll need to call the number on the back for instructions on how to have your car released.
Can I drive my car straight after it’s released?
Only if you have valid insurance with driving cover in place. If your impound insurance doesn’t include this, you’ll need separate cover before getting on the road.
Why won’t the police release my car?
Your car may not be released if you haven’t met all the required conditions, such as:
You don’t have suitable insurance that covers impounded cars
Wrong person is trying to collect it
You don’t have all the necessary documents
The fees have not been paid in full.
Can I collect the car if I’m not the car’s registered keeper?
No, the car’s registered keeper must collect the car in person – this is a legal requirement. The authorities will only make an exception if the registered keeper is:
Out of the country (and can provide evidence, such as airline tickets)
In custody
In hospital
Bedbound due to age, sickness, injury or disability, or there are compelling compassionate reasons.
If this is the case, someone can collect on the registered keeper’s behalf. But they’ll need to take proof of why the registered keeper can’t go, along with a letter authorising them to collect the car, signed by the registered keeper.
They’ll also need photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence.
Can I take out impound insurance if I’m not the registered keeper?
Most insurance providers will only offer impounded car insurance to the registered keeper of the vehicle, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
The easiest solution is for the registered keeper to take out the necessary cover and reclaim the vehicle themselves.
Can you take out compound insurance for a day?
No, one-day compound insurance doesn’t exist. If your car is impounded, you’re legally required to take out the necessary insurance for a minimum of 30 days.
Why is impound insurance so expensive?
If your car is seized by the police, it’s automatically considered a higher risk. This means that impound insurance will be more expensive – even if your offence is minor.
How much you’ll pay for impound insurance depends on factors such as your age and driving history, as well as the reason your car was impounded and how long it's held.
Does having my car impounded affect the price of my car insurance?
Yes, having your car seized by the police could increase the cost of your car insurance when it comes to renewal, or make it harder to find cover.
Depending on the seriousness of the offence that caused your car to be impounded, you may have received penalty points, a fixed penalty notice or even a driving ban. This will make you a higher risk in the eyes of insurance providers and they’ll increase your premiums accordingly.
Can I collect property from an impounded car?
Yes, you can collect your property from an impounded vehicle, even if you don’t want to reclaim the car. You’ll need proof of identity and proof that you’re the owner or registered keeper of the car.
If you want someone else to collect your belongings for you, they’ll need a letter of authority that gives your permission to collect them on your behalf, and a copy of your passport or driving licence so the police can verify it’s truly your signature.
Bear in mind that if your car is badly damaged, you may not be able to get inside it to collect your belongings.
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With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.
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