Or ring ☎ 0161 388 2552 (office hours)
Where the official fees come from
Police and council impound yards across England and Wales use a single, nationally regulated tariff for removal, storage and disposal. These charges come from statutory regulations and apply regardless of which pound is holding the vehicle. The aim is to keep the fees consistent, predictable and transparent, rather than allowing each pound to set its own prices.
The official daily storage fees for cars
For a standard private car or light van (not a motorbike, and weighing no more than 3.5 tonnes), the official daily storage cost is:
£26 per day, or part-day.
This charge begins on the day the vehicle arrives at the pound. Even if it arrives late in the evening, that day still counts as the first 24-hour period. Another day’s charge begins automatically at the same time each subsequent day until the vehicle is collected or disposed of.
Official removal charges for cars
Alongside storage, there is a one-off removal fee. For most impounded cars the regulated removal charge is:
£192 for a vehicle upright on the road and under 3.5 tonnes.
This is the most common category. It covers normal police seizures such as no insurance, no licence, dangerous condition or certain parking-enforcement situations. If the vehicle was damaged, off the road, stuck, overturned or required specialist lifting gear, it falls into a higher tariff. Those higher bands carry significantly larger removal charges.
What about motorbikes?
Motorbikes, mopeds and similar two-wheeled vehicles sit in a lower fee category. Their daily storage rate is:
£13 per day.
Removal charges for two-wheeled vehicles are also lower than the standard car tariff because lighter equipment is used. The exact removal fee depends on the circumstances of the seizure and how the bike was positioned when taken.
Disposal charges if the car is not collected
If the keeper does not claim the vehicle within the statutory timeframe, the pound can dispose of it. When a standard car under 3.5 tonnes goes to disposal, the official disposal fee applied is:
£96.
This fee is added to the total owed by the keeper up to the date of disposal. If the car sells at auction, the sale price may reduce the amount owed, but many older or damaged cars fetch very little. If the vehicle is scrapped, there is no value to offset, and the full balance remains payable.
Why storage costs rise so quickly
The daily rate looks modest, but it accumulates fast. Storage begins immediately and continues every day until the vehicle leaves the pound. Most pounds expect the keeper to claim the vehicle within a few days. After roughly a week without contact, many authorities begin preparing for disposal. By that point, daily storage charges and the original removal fee have usually created a noticeable bill.
Higher fees for heavier or unusual vehicles
Vehicles above 3.5 tonnes, modified vehicles, or those requiring special recovery equipment fall into higher tariff categories. These higher classes carry larger removal and storage charges because specialist trucks, reinforced bays or more complex lifting procedures are needed. The category is determined at the time of recovery, based on weight, position and condition.
A simple way to approach the charges
For most private cars, you can rely on three core figures:
- £192 removal fee
- £26 per day in storage
- £96 disposal fee (only applied if the car is not reclaimed)
Motorbikes use lower storage charges, and larger vehicles use higher ones, but the structure follows the same pattern. Acting quickly, arranging the correct documents and ensuring you have suitable insurance or recovery arranged are the easiest ways to keep the total cost as low as possible.
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.