When your car has been taken to a pound, it’s natural to feel a bit lost — quite literally. The first step is to confirm who seized it and where it’s being kept. Different authorities impound vehicles for different reasons, so knowing who to contact saves a lot of time and worry.

Find out who seized the vehicle

The easiest way to identify who’s holding your car is to check the paperwork you were given at the roadside or through the post. A “vehicle seizure notice” or “form 3708” will normally name the enforcing authority and include a phone number or web address. The organisation could be one of the following:

• Local police force – for offences such as no insurance, no licence, or dangerous driving.
• DVLA – for untaxed or SORN breaches.
• Council or private contractor – for parking, clamping, or abandoned vehicles.
• Border Force or HMRC – for import, customs, or smuggling offences (much rarer).

If you’re unsure who to call, start with the local police on 101. They can check their vehicle recovery system and tell you whether the car is in police custody or with another agency.

Use the official online pound finder

If the police impounded your vehicle in London, you can usually locate it using the national pound finder at this London Councils site. You’ll need your vehicle registration and possibly your postcode to search. The tool shows which pound has your car, their contact details, and opening hours.

Make sure you only use the official government site — several unofficial websites mimic the service and may mislead you into paying unnecessary fees or providing personal details.

What to ask when you make contact

Once you reach the correct pound, note down the following details:

• the exact address and opening hours;
• the total fees due, including storage and release charges;
• which documents you’ll need to bring (usually photo ID, V5C, and proof of insurance);
• whether you’ll need to book a time slot for collection.

Ask whether the pound accepts card payments, as some still only take cash. Confirm if you’ll need to attend in person or if someone can collect the car on your behalf with written authority.

When the car was leased or hired

If the vehicle belongs to a leasing company or employer, contact them straight away. The pound will only release the car to the legal keeper or someone authorised in writing. In such cases, the leasing or fleet manager usually arranges the insurance and paperwork required for release.

If the pound won’t answer the phone

Some compounds operate reduced hours or have limited staff. If you can’t get through, try calling the police recovery unit directly rather than the pound’s number. You can also visit your local police station with your paperwork — they can confirm which site is holding your car and whether it’s open for collection.

Final note

To find your impounded vehicle, start with the paperwork you were given and contact the authority named on it. If that’s missing, call 101 to locate the pound. Once you know where it is, contact the site directly, confirm what documents you’ll need, and make arrangements for payment and collection. The sooner you call, the easier it’ll be to get your car back before extra storage fees build up.

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.