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Why moving house complicates things
When a vehicle is seized, the police or council normally send notices to the address held by the DVLA. If you have moved and the V5C was not updated in time, those letters can go to the old address, leaving you unaware of the deadlines. Pounds usually work with the information they have, so your task is to prove who you are, show your link to the vehicle and confirm that the new address is genuine.
Because the clock does not pause when mail goes to the wrong address, it is important to act quickly once you discover the seizure. The usual pattern still applies: the keeper normally has around seven days to claim the vehicle and roughly fourteen days to collect it, although timings vary between authorities.
Proving you are the registered keeper
Pounds rely on clear identification. When your address has recently changed, staff usually need stronger evidence because the DVLA record may not match the documents you bring. Photographic ID is still essential. To support it, bring anything that confirms your link to the vehicle, such as:
- The V5C, even if it still shows the old address.
- A bill of sale or transfer record, if relevant.
- Recent insurance documents showing the vehicle and your name.
- Evidence of the address change, such as a tenancy agreement or council tax bill.
Pounds normally accept the old address on the V5C as long as your ID matches your name and the rest of the evidence fits. They are looking for proof of control, not a perfect address match.
What to tell the pound before travelling
It helps to contact the pound early and explain that you have moved. Staff can tell you what documents they usually accept in this situation and whether they need anything checked before you arrive.
If the gap between the old address and your current one is large, or if the DVLA record is unclear, pounds may ask for extra evidence. They do this to prevent release to someone who is not genuinely connected to the vehicle.
Insurance and MOT checks still apply
Even with an address mismatch, the release rules remain the same. If you plan to drive the vehicle away, insurance normally needs to be in place, and it must clearly support impound release. If the MOT has expired, some pounds allow a direct drive to a pre booked test, while others insist on recovery instead.
Nothing in the process is relaxed because you moved; pounds still follow their usual procedures. If the vehicle is untaxed, some sites may ask for a tax deposit for a road release or tell you to use a recovery truck instead.
When you can’t get to your old address
Some keepers only discover the seizure when a neighbour or the new occupant forwards the letter. If you cannot safely access your old address, the pound will not treat that as a reason to extend deadlines. They still rely on the statutory timeframe.
If deadlines are tight, the fastest solution is often to arrange recovery rather than trying to organise insurance and MOT arrangements for driving away. Once the vehicle is off-site, you can sort out the paperwork at your own pace.
If the vehicle was disposed of before you found out
If the statutory deadlines passed before you became aware of the situation, the pound may confirm that the vehicle has entered the disposal route. Once that happens, reclaiming the vehicle is normally not possible.
Disposal does not remove liability for removal or storage charges, and those costs may still be pursued separately. If you believe the delay was caused by DVLA record issues, the dispute must be raised with the authority that authorised the seizure.
A practical plan if you’ve moved house
Gather every relevant document, contact the pound immediately and be ready to prove both your identity and your link to the vehicle. If road release is likely to be difficult, arrange a recovery truck to avoid wasting time and risking disposal.
Moving house can make impound situations more awkward, but if you act within the usual deadlines and bring solid evidence, release is usually still 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.