Why selling a car in the pound isn’t straightforward

Selling a car while it’s being held in a police or council pound is possible in some situations, but there are strict limits. Pounds won’t release a vehicle to a new buyer unless the legal process is followed, the correct documents are provided and all outstanding fees are settled. The authority’s priority is making sure the person collecting the car is genuinely entitled to do so, and that the vehicle leaves the site legally, safely and with the right paperwork in place.

You must still pay all impound fees yourself

Before the car changes hands, the existing keeper remains responsible for removal and storage charges. These must be paid in full before the pound releases the vehicle to anyone, including a buyer. Pounds will not take payment from the new buyer unless you explicitly authorise it and the pound agrees to the arrangement. Most keepers settle the fees themselves, then complete the sale once the vehicle is free to leave.

Storage charges also continue to accrue daily until release. If you delay while trying to arrange a sale, the bill will rise. This is why most people collect the car first, then sell it once it’s safely off-site.

What paperwork the pound expects for a change of keeper

If you still want to complete the sale while the car is in the pound, the buyer must attend with proper identification and paperwork. Pound staff usually need:

• Photo ID for the buyer
• A letter or bill of sale showing the transfer of ownership
• The V5C logbook (or the new keeper slip if you’re keeping the main document to send to DVLA)
• Proof that all impound fees have been paid
• An insurance certificate in the buyer’s name if they intend to drive the car away

The pound may phone you to confirm that you really have sold the car. If there’s any doubt, they will refuse release until everything is clarified.

Insurance and roadworthiness rules still apply

A new buyer cannot simply collect the vehicle because they own it. Pounds still apply the same requirements as they would with the previous keeper. That means:

• The buyer must show valid insurance that is active immediately.
• The vehicle must be roadworthy if they intend to drive away.
• If the car is unsafe, has no MOT or has serious defects, a specialist vehicle recovery company must collect it.

Ownership alone does not override safety checks. If pound staff believe the car cannot be driven safely, they can insist on a recovery truck regardless of the buyer’s insurance.

Why many pounds prefer the keeper to collect first

Although not mandatory in all areas, many pounds prefer the existing keeper to attend first, pay the fees and take responsibility for the release. This avoids confusion over who owns the car at the moment of release and ensures the legal paperwork matches DVLA records. Once the car has left the pound, the keeper can complete the sale normally. This is often the smoothest route because:

• you stay in full control of the process
• you avoid potential disputes at the counter
• the buyer doesn’t need to deal with pound procedures
• you avoid delays caused by missing documents or mismatched details

Most private buyers prefer the vehicle to be in your possession before they hand over payment. A pound environment adds complexity that many buyers aren’t comfortable with.

When selling from the pound might make sense

There are situations where selling directly from the pound is practical. These include:

• the vehicle is damaged and you plan to sell it to a trader, breaker or salvage buyer
• the buyer has their own recovery truck and wants to collect it unopened
• you are unable to attend in person, but you can authorise the transfer and settle the fees remotely

Trade buyers often collect damaged vehicles straight from a pound as part of their routine work. They are familiar with the process and rarely need the car to be roadworthy.

When the pound won’t allow a sale

A pound may refuse to release a car to a buyer if:

• the keeper cannot be contacted to confirm the transfer
• the paperwork is incomplete or unclear
• the DVLA details do not match the seller’s information
• the police are holding the vehicle as evidence
• there is an ongoing investigation or dispute over ownership

In these cases, the pound will hold the vehicle until the matter is resolved, or until disposal deadlines are reached if the keeper does not act.

A practical way to approach the situation

You can sell a car that’s currently in the pound, but it’s rarely the simplest route. The fees must be paid, the paperwork must be perfect and the buyer must be insured or have a recovery truck. For most people, collecting the car first and selling it afterwards is far easier. If you choose to complete the sale while the car is still in storage, prepare the documents carefully and contact the pound beforehand so they can explain exactly what they expect at the counter.

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.

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