When a car is impounded, many drivers assume that a standard short-term or temporary insurance policy will be enough to get it released. Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case. Most temporary or “one-day” policies don’t include the specific legal wording required for police or DVLA release. To satisfy the pound, the cover must clearly state that it applies to an impounded vehicle and meets the conditions of the Road Traffic Act.

Why ordinary temporary cover isn’t accepted

Temporary car insurance — even from a well-known provider — is usually designed for everyday use, such as borrowing a car or test driving one for sale. These policies do not normally mention impounded vehicles in their terms. Police staff check every certificate carefully, and if it lacks the phrase confirming release eligibility, the vehicle will not be handed over. Even if the policy is valid for driving on public roads, it may still fail to meet the pound’s legal verification standard.

The reason is straightforward: under Section 165A of the Road Traffic Act, a seized vehicle can only be released once the pound is satisfied that the driver is fully insured to drive that specific vehicle away. Temporary cover that doesn’t reference impound release leaves too much ambiguity, so most compounds reject it to avoid breaching legal procedure.

How impound-specific insurance differs

Impound-release insurance looks similar to a short-term policy but includes additional compliance wording. It states that the named driver is insured to drive the impounded vehicle from the storage site immediately after release. This is what police and recovery staff look for before approval.

In most cases, the certificate from a specialist impound insurer is accepted straight away — even if the policy has only just been issued. The document is usually uploaded to the Motor Insurance Database (MID) within hours for verification.

What happens if you try to use the wrong policy

Bringing a regular temporary insurance certificate to a pound almost always results in refusal. You’ll still be charged daily storage fees while you arrange correct cover, and those costs can add up quickly. If your policy doesn’t clearly mention impounded vehicles, staff are legally obliged to reject it.

Some insurers can amend existing short-term policies to include impound release wording, but only if they’re authorised and willing to take that risk. You’d need written confirmation before attending the pound — a verbal assurance over the phone won’t be accepted.

How to ensure your insurance is accepted

• Buy a dedicated impound-release policy that specifically lists the vehicle registration.
• Print the certificate or keep an official PDF copy ready to show staff.
• Check that the document states the policyholder’s name exactly as it appears on your driving licence.
• Confirm the policy start time matches your collection slot to avoid confusion.

Final note

Ordinary temporary car insurance rarely counts as proof for the pound because it doesn’t meet the strict release wording required by law. To recover an impounded vehicle, a dedicated impound-specific policy is needed. It’s safer, faster, and avoids extra storage charges — ensuring the car can be released legally and without unnecessary delay.

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.