Has your car been impounded as you were driving without insurance? You will need impounded car insurance to get it released from the police pound. Many insurance brokers refuse to cover impounded cars. You need to insure your car if you are driving or parked your car on public roads. If your car is impounded, you will have to provide proof of insurance to have it released. Not every insurance policy includes impounded car cover, so you will need to check your policy documentation to ensure you have the right cover in place.
If not, you will have to add impounded car cover to your insurance policy for an additional cost or take out a specialist temporary car insurance policy for impounded cars.
Why are cars impounded?
The police and other authorities have got all the power to impound vehicles. Your car might be impounded due to the following:
- Involved in an accident
- Not parked legally on public roads
- Causing an obstruction
- Being used in a crime
- Not insured
- Stolen and found by the authorities
- Driven by someone without a valid driving license
What happens to your car if you don’t pay tax?
Not paying your road tax can be one of the main reasons your car was impounded. If the car is impounded as you have not paid your car tax, you have the options
- Pay your tax to get it back
- Pay a surety fee so your car is officially off the road
How to get back your impounded car?
If your car has been impounded, first of all, you have to find where the car has been taken. If you did not receive a notice letter, you can contact the police and ask the police which police pound has your car.
Once you have tracked down your car, you will need to pay charges to get it back. You have 14 days to retrieve your impounded car and after 14 days if you are unable to retrieve your impounded car, it will be crushed or thrown away.
What do you need?
If your car has been impounded, you are legally needed to pick it up within seven days of the date on the notice letter. You will require:
- Driving license
- Proof of ownership
- A valid MOT certificate
- Proof of insurance
If you don’t want to get your car back, you can disclaim it. To do this, go to the police pound with proof that you are the legal owner of the car and proof of your identity. You will have to pay a disposal fee as well as parking fees.
Where can you find insurance for impounded cars?
You may find that your existing policy covers you for getting back your impounded car. But not all policies do the same, always check the small print and contact your insurance provider if you are not sure. You might well be able to include impounded car cover in your impounded car insurance.
Contact us today to get a quick insurance quote for your impounded car.
