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The basic rule
A family member can drive the car home after release, but only if they meet every requirement the pound checks. Pounds do not make exceptions for relationships. They look purely at identity, entitlement and insurance. If any part fails, the vehicle will not be released for road use.
Insurance requirements
This is the point that usually decides things. The person driving the car away must hold a UK-issued insurance policy that is valid for impounded-vehicle release. A standard annual policy or a one-day temporary policy will not be accepted because those products exclude seized vehicles.
The driver needs a thirty-day impound-ready policy in their own name, matched to the correct vehicle. The certificate must show the registration number and the exact start time for the intended collection. If the family member does not have this, the pound will refuse road release.
Licence entitlement
The pound checks that the family member’s licence allows them to drive that specific vehicle. If the car is manual and the family member has an automatic-only licence, release by road will be refused. If the vehicle is a van or larger, the driver must hold the correct category.
ID and verification at the desk
The family member must present strong photo ID that matches the insurance certificate. The pound normally contacts the registered keeper if someone else is collecting the car, simply to confirm the arrangement. A permission letter helps but is never enough on its own. Staff will only release the vehicle if they can fully verify the person standing at the counter.
Tax, MOT and roadworthiness
These checks apply regardless of who is driving. If the car is untaxed, the pound may insist on tax being arranged immediately or may apply local procedures such as a tax deposit. If an MOT has expired, the pound may require evidence of a pre-booked MOT appointment. If the vehicle is unsafe, nobody will be allowed to drive it away.
If a family member cannot meet the requirements
If the family member does not have suitable insurance or the correct licence, you can ask a specialist vehicle recovery company to collect the car instead. This avoids the need for a driving policy, though it can be costly and often involves waiting for a transporter.
A clear way to approach it
A family member can drive your car home, but only if they have proper ID, the correct licence and a thirty-day impound-valid insurance policy in their own name. Pounds treat them exactly the same as any other driver, and will not release the vehicle unless every condition is satisfied.
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.