What Happens If I Don’t (Or Can’t) Insure and Collect My Impounded Car?
In most cases, drivers who have had their car impounded will want to get it back as quickly as possible. You may be wondering though, what happens if I don’t get impounded car insurance. and collect my car but instead leave it impounded for an extended period of time. This is never recommended for reasons you’ll find out below.
Key points
Why Is It A Bad Idea To Leave A Car Impounded?
- It’s still your responsibility: You can choose to “disclaim” an impounded car, which means you will no longer be responsible for taxing or insuring it but until you do, it is still your responsibility.
- It could cost you a lot of money: Even if you do disclaim the vehicle, you’ll still have to pay the initial fine you received (the reason the car was impounded originally) and you’ll also have to pay for any storage, removal and disposal charges.
How long do I have to collect an impounded car?
This can vary depending on the area you live, so it’s important you contact your local police station ASAP so you can find out how long you have to collect your car before it’s disposed of.
How do I find out where my car has been impounded?
You can either contact your local police station or if you live in London, you can use the TRACE scheme.
Will I need special insurance to collect my car?
Yes, in most cases you’ll need impounded car insurance since your regular car insurance likely won’t cover you for releasing an impounded car. It will cover you for 30 days, so it’s important to arrange long-term cover once you have it back.
In Summary
- Leaving a car impounded will result in it being removed and disposed of, which you’ll have to pay for
- You can choose to “disclaim” the vehicle but it will still cost you mean in removal and disposal fees
- Impounded car insurance will allow you to collect your vehicle and have it be road legal until you arrange long-term cover
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