Can You Get Impounded Car Insurance If Your Car Was Seized for No Tax?

Yes; but not from just any insurer.

Most standard car insurance policies won’t cover the release of an impounded vehicle. Even if you already have an active policy, it probably won’t meet the requirements needed to retrieve your car.

To get your vehicle back, you probably need a specialist impounded car insurance policy; one that specifically covers seized vehicles and meets police requirements.

How to Get the Right Insurance & Get Your Car Back

1. Sort Out Your Road Tax First

Before you even think about insurance, you probably need to get your car taxed. The pound won’t release your vehicle unless you can prove it’s been properly taxed again.

Here’s what you may need to do:

• Pay your road tax online through the DVLA website.
• Make sure your car is insured first; you can’t tax it without insurance.
• Keep proof of payment; you might need to show it at the impound.

If your car was untaxed owing to a mistake, and you have proof that you already paid, you might be able to contest the seizure. But if you were genuinely caught out, just pay the tax and move on.

2. Find an Insurer That Covers Impounded Cars

Not all insurance companies will cover cars that have been seized. Many mainstream insurers won’t even offer impound insurance; so don’t waste time calling your usual provider.

Instead, look for a specialist impounded car insurance provider.

When searching for the right policy, make sure it:

• Explicitly states that it covers impounded vehicles.
• Is valid for at least 30 days (police pounds won’t accept anything shorter).
• Provides at least third-party cover.

If the policy doesn’t meet these conditions, the pound won’t accept it, and you’ll just be wasting time and money.

3. Get Your Documents Ready Before Heading to the Pound

Now that you’ve sorted your tax and insurance, make sure you have everything you might need before heading to the impound lot.

Here’s what you’ll need to bring:

• Proof of insurance – A policy that explicitly covers impounded cars.
• Your driving licence – Or another form of valid photo ID.
• The impound notice – The official document issued when your car was seized.
• Proof of road tax payment – If you recently taxed your car, have confirmation with you.
• V5C logbook (vehicle registration document) – You’ll need proof of ownership.

If you turn up without one of these, you could be sent away; and that means more storage fees adding up whilst you sort it out.

How Much Will It Cost?

Unfortunately, this isn’t going to be cheap. Impound-related costs can add up quickly, and the longer you wait, the more expensive it gets.

Here’s what you’re likely to pay:

• £192+ release fee – This is the standard charge for getting your car out of the impound.
• £26 upwards per day in storage fees – The longer you wait, the more you owe.
• £300–£800 for impounded car insurance – Prices vary depending on your driving history and insurer.
• Outstanding fines or penalties – If your car was seized owing to enforcement action, you might have extra fees.

The faster you sort this out, the less you’ll have to pay in extra charges.

What If You Can’t Get Insurance?

If you’re struggling to find an insurer willing to cover your impounded car, you still have options.

1. Use a Vehicle Recovery Service

If you can’t get insured quickly, you may be able to hire a recovery truck to legally transport your car home instead of driving it away.

2. Transfer Ownership

If a friend or family member can get the right insurance, you might be able to transfer ownership to them so they can retrieve it.

3. Let the Car Go

If your car isn’t worth much, and the costs to get it back are too high, you might decide it’s not worth it. After seven working days, the police can auction or scrap it if it remains unclaimed.

It’s not ideal, but for some people, cutting their losses is the cheaper option.

What Matters Most:: Get Insurance Fast or Risk Losing Your Car

If your vehicle was impounded for no tax, getting it back requires both road tax and specialist impound insurance.

• Tax your car first; you can’t get it back without proof of tax.
• Find a specialist insurer; not all companies will cover impounded vehicles.
• Act quickly; storage fees add up fast, and delays will cost you.

If you probably need quick, reliable impounded car insurance,click the button below to get your quotes or ring the number below for expert advice. The sooner you act, the less you’ll have to pay!