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How police view fault at the moment of seizure
When a vehicle is impounded, the police act on the condition or use of the car at that specific time. Fault, in the everyday sense, does not usually decide whether the vehicle is removed. Seizure is based on legal criteria such as no insurance, no licence, dangerous defects, disorder-related offences or failure to stop. If the vehicle meets one of those criteria, officers can remove it regardless of who caused the underlying situation.
This means a car can be taken even if the driver claims the keeper failed to sort the insurance, or the keeper claims the driver used the vehicle without permission. The police focus on evidence, not private arguments between the people involved.
Driver responsibility for on-road offences
The driver at the time is normally recorded as the person responsible for how the vehicle was being used on the road. If the issue relates to insurance, licence status, careless use or how the vehicle was driven, that responsibility sits with the driver. Statements about who was “at fault” rarely change that. Officers rely on what they observe, what the system checks show and the legal position at the roadside.
If the driver faces penalties, these are handled separately from the pound. The pound itself does not decide fault or guilt; it only controls release.
Keeper responsibility for how the vehicle is kept
While the driver answers for road use, the keeper answers for how the vehicle is kept. Missing tax, lack of MOT, poor maintenance or allowing someone to drive the car knowing it should not be on the road can all raise questions for the keeper. In some situations both parties may face consequences, but their roles differ.
The pound does not settle disputes between driver and keeper over who should have organised tax, insurance or repairs. They require the keeper’s identification and expect the correct documents before the car can be released, and any further issues go through normal enforcement processes.
Does fault affect the release process?
Not usually. Release depends on paperwork, fees and proof of authority, not on who caused the situation. Even if the keeper believes the driver is entirely responsible, the pound will not release the car until the registered keeper’s identity is confirmed and the required documents are produced.
If someone else wants to collect the car, the pound may apply stricter checks. Many sites insist the keeper attends in person with proper ID, especially where there is disagreement or uncertainty around the events leading up to the seizure.
Insurance decisions are separate from blame
Insurers look at liability differently. If the driver caused an offence, the insurer may treat that as a material fact when assessing future cover, but that is independent of pound rules. The pound only needs a valid certificate that satisfies their requirements.
If the driver was at fault for using the vehicle unlawfully, it does not automatically prevent the keeper from arranging insurance for release. However, the insurer decides who they consider a suitable policyholder, and this can affect who is allowed to take out the policy for the impounded vehicle.
Civil disagreements between driver and keeper
Fault often becomes an issue between the people involved rather than with the authorities. If the keeper incurs storage fees or recovery costs, they may want the driver to reimburse them. Whether they succeed depends on the facts, any agreements between them and whether the driver’s use of the car contributed to the loss.
These matters are private and fall outside the pound’s role. Staff do not adjudicate responsibility and will not delay release while a disagreement is settled.
Putting the issue into perspective
From the pound’s point of view, the concept of fault rarely affects anything. The authorities deal with legal breaches; the pound handles custody and release. Once the keeper is identified, the fees are paid and a valid removal method is agreed, the car normally leaves the site regardless of who caused the underlying problem.
If there are wider consequences, they unfold through insurance, the DVLA or the courts, not through the pound. Understanding this separation helps keep the release process straightforward, even when the events behind it are far from simple.
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.