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Why repairs inside a pound are usually restricted
Police and council pounds are controlled environments. Vehicles are held for safety, evidence or enforcement reasons, and the sites aren’t set up as workshops. Because of this, most pounds won’t allow mechanical repairs on site. They don’t have space for tools, they can’t supervise private repair work, and they must keep the yard clear for daily vehicle movements. Even simple tasks like changing a battery or swapping a wheel are often restricted, and anything more involved is normally refused outright.
The general rule you’ll hear is that a pound is a storage facility, not a repair centre. That means any work needed to make the vehicle safe for the road usually has to be carried out somewhere else. The pound’s role is to release the vehicle once the legal conditions are met, not to support repair work inside the yard.
What pounds may allow (and what they won’t)
Although repairs are normally not permitted, many pounds will allow a brief inspection so you can see what state the vehicle is in. This is usually limited to a visual walk-around. You may be allowed to check tyre condition, look for leaks or confirm whether the engine starts. Pound staff stay nearby during these checks and must approve anything that involves touching or moving the vehicle.
What you generally can’t do includes:
- jacking up the vehicle
- removing wheels
- using tools or diagnostic equipment
- fitting new parts
- attempting bodywork repairs
- removing panels or interior trim
Pounds cannot take the risk of unsupervised work, and they also need to protect other vehicles stored on site. Even minor repairs can create safety issues if they go wrong, and the environment just isn’t designed for mechanical work.
If the car isn’t roadworthy, recovery is the usual option
If the vehicle is not safe to drive, the pound will expect you to arrange removal by a specialist vehicle recovery company. These companies use flatbed transporters or lift-and-tow vehicles, and their own insurance covers the movement. This is the approach used when:
- the vehicle has crash damage
- there are fluid leaks, electrical faults or missing components
- the tyres, brakes or steering are unsafe
- the car cannot start or move under its own power
Pounds often require recovery even when you think the car is driveable. If staff believe the vehicle has a defect that could create a hazard on public roads, they can insist that it leaves on a truck rather than being driven away.
Once the car is at your home or a garage, you can arrange repairs at your own pace without storage fees increasing by the day. Many people choose this route because it offers the quickest way to stop the fees rising while giving you the freedom to repair the car properly.
Driving away only if the vehicle is genuinely safe
If the pound agrees that the car is safe, and if you have suitable insurance and bring the correct documents, you may be allowed to drive it away. This is common when the seizure was unrelated to mechanical condition, such as a paperwork issue or a previous insurance problem. Pound staff will expect the car to be roadworthy at the moment it leaves the site.
If the MOT has expired during storage, you can normally drive the vehicle directly to a pre-booked MOT appointment, provided it is safe. Pound staff may ask to see proof of the booking. If the tax has expired because the MOT lapsed, the pound may request a tax deposit before releasing the vehicle for a test journey.
What if the car needs only minor work?
If the car requires something small, like a battery charge or a tyre inflation, some pounds may allow limited help from a recovery operator. For example, a recovery contractor may be able to start the vehicle or move it safely using their equipment. The pound may allow this because the contractor has insurance, training and proper tools. The key difference is that the work is being carried out by someone whose activities the pound can formally recognise and control.
For anything beyond these very minor steps, the pound will still expect the car to be removed from the site before repairs begin.
Planning the safest way to move forward
If your impounded car needs repair, assume the work cannot be carried out inside the pound. Contact the pound early, ask whether limited checks are allowed, and decide whether the car is safe to drive. If there’s any doubt, arrange a specialist recovery company and move the vehicle to a garage or your home.
Getting the car out quickly stops storage fees increasing and gives you full control over repairs. Pounds operate under strict procedures, and while they can release your vehicle, they can’t let you turn their yard into a workshop. With the right insurance, documents and a practical plan, the process stays predictable and manageable.
Impound processes, time limits and costs vary widely across the UK, and authorities can amend their rules at any time. Information on this site is intended as a general overview and should not be relied on as definitive for any specific impound location.