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How pounds approach untaxed vehicles
When a vehicle is taken to a pound with no tax or SORN in place, the situation is handled in two parts. The pound deals with the release and payment of charges, while the DVLA may consider enforcement separately. The lack of tax does not stop the vehicle being held or processed, but it usually affects how and when it can be released, and what documentation the staff expect before handing it over.
An untaxed vehicle cannot simply be driven away on the road as normal. Depending on the circumstances, pounds may require extra steps, extra payments or a different method of removal from the site.
Whether the pound allows the vehicle to be driven away
Pounds normally release an untaxed car only if it is being driven directly to a pre booked MOT test or taken away by a recovery operator. That is because the exemption for driving an untaxed vehicle to a test only applies in specific circumstances. Pound staff follow their own procedures, and some require firm proof of the booking before agreeing to release the car for road use.
If the vehicle has no MOT or its tax expired long ago, staff may decline to let you drive it away at all, even with a test appointment, and instead insist on a recovery truck. Procedures differ across sites, so contacting the pound beforehand helps avoid wasted journeys.
The possibility of a tax deposit
Some pounds request a tax deposit when an untaxed vehicle is being driven to an MOT testing station. This system is used to prevent cars without tax being put straight back into normal road use. The amount is set by the pound, not nationally, and is refunded once the vehicle is properly taxed or meets whatever conditions the pound has set out. It is not applied everywhere, but it is common enough that it is worth asking about in advance.
If the pound does not use a deposit system, they may require the keeper to tax the vehicle immediately upon release, provided it meets any legal requirements for doing so.
Insurance requirements still apply
Even if the car is untaxed, insurance normally has to be in place before it can be released for driving. The pound relies on verifiable proof of cover, and informal assurances or driving-other-cars extensions are rarely accepted. If insurance cannot be arranged in a clear and documented way, the vehicle usually has to leave on a recovery truck.
If the registered keeper is not present, the pound may apply additional checks. In many cases they insist on the keeper attending with proper identification, especially when there are discrepancies in tax or SORN status.
Effect of no SORN and possible DVLA action
If the car is neither taxed nor declared SORN, the DVLA may treat this as a continuous taxation offence. This is handled separately from the pound. Penalties are normally sent to the keeper after the DVLA processes the records, and the pound’s staff do not influence or negotiate these outcomes.
The lack of SORN does not change how the pound releases the car, but it may affect the keeper financially once the DVLA reviews the case. In some situations, wheel clamping or enforcement letters follow, depending on how long the vehicle has been off the road without a declaration.
What happens if the car cannot be taxed or insured immediately
If neither tax nor insurance can be arranged on the day, the vehicle cannot normally be driven off the premises. A recovery truck is the usual alternative. The pound still expects identification and payment of release and storage fees before allowing the operator to collect the car.
Once the vehicle is off-site and stored somewhere legal, the keeper can update the vehicle’s tax status or declare SORN, depending on their plans. This has to be done in line with normal DVLA procedures, not through the pound.
Planning a practical route to release
The simplest way to avoid delays is to check the pound’s rules in advance. Many will confirm whether they allow untaxed vehicles to be driven to an MOT test, whether they require a tax deposit and what proof they need. If that route is not possible, arranging a recovery truck prevents most complications.
Once fees are paid, identification is accepted and an approved removal method is in place, release is usually straightforward. The remaining issues, such as tax penalties, are handled by the DVLA after the vehicle leaves the pound.
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.