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When you’re dealing with a car held in someone else’s name
It feels awkward when a car ends up in a pound and the paperwork belongs to somebody else. It happens with borrowed cars, shared family vehicles and the occasional purchase that has not yet been registered. Pounds work on one principle: only the person who can legally prove control of the vehicle may collect it. That person is usually the registered keeper, and the rules tend to be tighter than people expect.
Some situations resolve easily, others not so much. If the keeper can come with the right documents, the process tends to move quickly. If they cannot, the pound may apply stricter checks or decline release altogether until they appear in person.
Expect the pound to prefer the keeper’s physical attendance
A written permission note or email sometimes helps, but it is rarely enough on its own. Pounds deal with false claims and identity disputes, so many insist on seeing the registered keeper face to face with valid photo ID. A short message authorising you to collect the vehicle might support the conversation, but it is not treated as proof in the way many drivers assume.
Some pounds accept a third party collector if the keeper cannot attend, but only when the keeper has already verified their identity with the staff by phone or email and provided any documents the pound requests in advance. It varies widely across forces, so phoning ahead avoids wasted journeys.
Documents the pound is likely to ask for
You can expect the registered keeper to bring their photographic ID, something showing their address and any documents linked to the seizure, such as the seizure notice. If you are the person collecting on their behalf, you will usually need your own ID too, plus whatever supporting evidence the pound asks for.
If the vehicle has recently changed hands, a bill of sale or similar proof may help establish that the transfer was genuine. Company vehicles often require a letter on headed paper naming the employee who will collect the car, and some pounds confirm this directly with the company.
Insurance requirements when the vehicle is not yours
A pound will expect insurance to be in place before the car leaves. Policies differ, and the insurer decides whether they accept a non keeper as the policyholder. Many insurers restrict who can take out a policy on a car they do not own or control, so the keeper or owner usually arranges the cover themselves.
Relying on a “driving other cars” extension often fails because these extensions are limited and frequently exclude impounded vehicles. Pounds typically want to see a certificate showing the correct registration mark, valid dates and adequate cover for release.
Fees, tax status and MOT considerations
Release fees and storage charges vary between pounds, so the amounts printed on the seizure notice or quoted on the day take priority. If the tax has expired, some pounds require a tax deposit before allowing the car to be driven directly to a pre booked MOT test.
Where the vehicle has no MOT, some pounds permit a direct drive to a testing station, but only if tax is sorted, insurance is valid, the booking can be shown and all fees have been paid. Each pound applies its own interpretation of the rules, so staff instructions always override general guidance.
Collecting the vehicle when the keeper cannot attend
If the keeper is genuinely unable to visit the site, the pound might allow a third party to collect the car, but the bar is high. They may ask the keeper to provide identity documents in advance, confirm their authority directly, and satisfy whatever checks the pound uses to prevent fraudulent release. Even then, some pounds refuse third party collection outright unless the vehicle is leaving on a recovery truck.
A recovery operator sometimes simplifies matters because the pound is handing the car to a professional rather than releasing it to be driven. Even so, the keeper may still need to provide documents beforehand and confirm identity through the pound’s preferred method.
Bringing everything together
The safest way to approach the process is to assume the pound will want to deal with the registered keeper directly. If the keeper can come with proper ID, a valid insurance certificate and payment for the fees, things tend to run smoothly. If someone else is collecting, expect extra checks and be prepared for the pound to insist on more evidence or decline the request until the keeper gets involved. Clear communication with the pound before travelling saves a lot of frustration and avoids being turned away at the gate.
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.