In most ordinary parking situations, the police do not impound cars — that job usually falls to local councils. However, there are certain cases where the police can authorise removal or impoundment if a parked vehicle poses a safety risk, causes an obstruction, or is suspected of being stolen, untaxed, or uninsured. So, while routine parking tickets come from councils, there are specific circumstances where the police may still order a tow.

Normal parking offences are handled by councils

For most drivers, a yellow ticket or a letter from a parking enforcement team is as far as it goes. Under the Traffic Management Act, local authorities issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for standard contraventions such as overstaying a bay or parking on double yellows. If a vehicle is repeatedly left in contravention or obstructs traffic in a bus lane or restricted area, the council can arrange removal to its own car pound.

In these cases, the police are not involved. You’ll usually find a removal sticker or notice with details of the council pound and instructions for payment. The vehicle can normally be recovered once the PCN, removal, and storage fees are paid.

When the police can intervene

Police powers to remove parked vehicles come from Section 99 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Officers can authorise towing if the vehicle:

• is causing a dangerous obstruction or hazard,
• is parked illegally on a motorway or in a live carriageway,
• is blocking emergency access or a pedestrian crossing,
• is abandoned or left in a dangerous position, or
• appears untaxed, uninsured, or linked to an offence under investigation.

For example, a car left on a blind bend, blocking a driveway, or straddling a junction may be removed by police for safety reasons. So may a vehicle parked in a way that prevents emergency services or road maintenance vehicles from getting through. If officers find the car has no valid insurance or tax, it may be seized under separate powers even if it was parked at the time.

Untaxed or uninsured vehicles parked on the road

A parked car doesn’t have to be moving to be seized. If it’s on a public road and uninsured or untaxed, the police or DVLA can remove it under Section 165A of the Road Traffic Act or Schedule 2A of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act. In those situations, the offence isn’t parking-related but one of keeping a vehicle without the required documentation. The car will be treated as an impound case and held at a secure pound until the owner provides valid insurance and pays the statutory fees.

What to do if your car has been removed

If you return to find your car gone, check nearby lamp posts or signs for removal information — councils often post these within 50 metres of the space. If there’s no sticker, call the non-emergency police number (101) to confirm whether the vehicle was removed by police or reported as stolen. Be ready to give your registration number, make, and colour.

Once the right authority is identified, they can tell you where the car is being stored, how to recover it, and what documents to bring. If the removal was by the police, you’ll likely need proof of insurance, ID, and the vehicle’s logbook, along with payment of the recovery and storage fees.

How to avoid problems

Even if the parking offence seems minor, always treat any warning notice seriously. Councils and police both have powers to remove a vehicle that’s obstructing or unlawfully parked, and the cost of recovery is much higher than a simple fine. Keeping your tax and insurance up to date ensures that if your car is removed, you can collect it without further complications.

Final note

Police generally don’t impound cars for ordinary parking offences — that’s handled by councils — but they can remove a vehicle if it’s dangerous, abandoned, uninsured, or untaxed. If you’re not sure who’s taken your car, contact the police first; they can quickly confirm whether it’s in a pound or has been reported stolen. Acting fast reduces storage charges and avoids the risk of your car being disposed of before you have a chance to collect it.

Check here for more useful information about impounded cars!

Please note: impound rules, collection windows and fee structures are set locally and can change at any time. Details on this site offer a broad outline only and are not guaranteed to match the requirements of any individual pound or authority.