Untaxed vehicles

Here you'll find details on how we deal with untaxed vehicles that we seize on behalf of DVLA.

How to get your vehicle back

If we seize a vehicle that's been driven while untaxed, we'll take it to a recovery agent's garage. 

To get your vehicle back, you need to go to the recovery agent's garage (we'll tell you where it is) and pay the recovery charge, plus any storage fees.

If the value of your vehicle is under £500 you have seven days to collect it.

If the value of your car is over £500 you have 14 days to collect it.

If your vehicle hasn’t been collected within the relevant timeframe the DVLA will authorise Lincolnshire Police to dispose of it.

UK-registered vehicles

When your vehicle was seized, you should have been given an INF32 information leaflet that outlines how to get your vehicle back but be aware of these points:

• You'll need to tax your vehicle before going to the recovery agent's garage and show proof – either a Post Office receipt or a transaction reference number if it it was taxed online. 
• At the recovery agent's garage pay all statutory recovery and storage fees due. Your vehicle will then be released.
• If you haven't taxed the vehicle before going to the recovery agent's garage you'll have to pay a deposit (known as a surety fee) of a minimum of £160 as well as the recovery charge and any storage fees. This deposit will be refunded if you show proof of the tax being paid within 15 days of the vehicle's release. (The refund will go to the payee.)

Foreign-registered vehicles

If you're the owner/keeper of a foreign registered vehicle (FRV), you should have been given an INF32 (FRV) leaflet that outlines how to get your vehicle back but be aware of these points.

You must pay the statutory recovery fee and any storage fees plus a deposit (known as a surety fee) and show these documents before the vehicle will be released:

• photo ID – either a driving licence, passport/national  ID Card or photo ID card
• proof of address – either a medical card, bank statement or utility bill
• a document linking you to the vehicle – either a non-UK vehicle registration document or insurance certificate

Once your vehicle is released, you must register it in the UK and pay the relevant tax. The vehicle can then be collected on proof of UK registration and payment of the tax. 

You'll have 56 days to do this after the release of the vehicle and then the deposit will be refunded to the payee.

Payment of charges

You can find full details about the statutory recovery and storage charges in the Road Traffic Act (Retention and disposal of seized vehicles) Regulations 2005 – amended 2008.

These charges are set by government, not the police, and vary depending on the weight and condition of the vehicle.

Please note, the daily storage charges start from midday the day after the vehicle was seized.

The vehicle's owner or the person collecting the vehicle must pay.

More help and support

Phone Vehicle Recovery: 01522 558125
Email: [email protected]