Compare cheap impounded car insurance

No, even though you can buy impounded car cover for just 30 days, it’s not the same as short-term or temporary car insurance. Like standard car cover, short-term or temporary policies are unlikely to provide appropriate insurance for impounded cars. 

This depends on the insurer. Generally speaking, insurers will only provide you with impounded car insurance cover if you’re the registered keeper of the car. 

It’s a similar situation when it comes to retrieving your car and by law, vehicles can only be released to the registered owner. 

If you’re the registered keeper and you can’t collect the car in person, your representative will need proof of their identity and a letter confirming they have your permission to collect it. They’ll also need evidence that you (as the registered keeper) cannot collect your vehicle because you’re:

• Not in the country
• Physically unable to collect your car (for example, if you’re in hospital or immobile)
• Unable to collect your car for other extenuating circumstances (for example, compassionate grounds)

If you’re not the registered keeper, a few providers do offer cover, but your choice will be limited.

There isn’t a straightforward answer to this and it’s likely to come down to insurer discretion. Bear in mind that the outcome will also depend on the reason why your car was seized in the first place.

For instance, if you were driving dangerously and your car was seized, it’s highly likely that future premiums will rise to cover the risk of a potential future accident. Similarly, there’s a good chance insurers will take a dim view if you’ve been caught and charged for driving without insurance.

Release fees can vary depending on how long your car’s been impounded for. 

First, you’ll need to find out where your car’s been impounded. You can do this by calling your local police force on 101 or by contacting the NSL who are contracted by the DVLA to seize untaxed cars. The police or NSL will tell you how to retrieve your car and how much it will cost.

To release your car, you can expect to pay up to £200. On top of that, you’ll be charged for every day it’s been impounded (currently £21 per day). If your car isn’t taxed, you’ll also need to pay what’s called a surety fee before it’s given back to you – this can cost around £160 (more for larger vehicles).  

After your car’s released you can get a refund on the surety fee so long as you tax it and claim the refund within 15 days. 

At mustard.co.uk, you can search for car insurance from a range of leading UK insurers.

Simply fill in our online form to compare quotes or, if you prefer to pick up the phone and have a chat, you can speak to an expert on 0330 022 8814.