Uninsured car impounded - help with recovery please?

Aretnap

lazer wrote: »

Alternatively - contact local garages and see if any of them can transport the car for you (without being driven)

He won't get it released without an insurance certificate, even if he isn't planning to drive it.

lazer

Aretnap wrote: »

He won't get it released without an insurance certificate, even if he isn't planning to drive it.

I think the legality of that could be challenged

As far as i can see the requirement is for

"A valid certificate of insurance authorising the relevant

party to drive the seized vehicle"

Therefore if no-one is driving it no insurance is needed

But it would probably be easier to sort insurance than go to the bother of arguing this, but I do not understand how they are allowed to keep your car simply because you don't have insurance if you are not intending on driving it. You should be allowed to collect a SORN uninsured car by transporter.

dshart

Here is a useful link which will help explain your options.

https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q362.htm

spacey2012

The people spouting legal options and solicitors need a reality check
What the law says these places must do and what they really do are two separate things.
If you do not have a valid certificate of insurance bearing that registration mark, most if not all pounds will not let you or anyone else recover the car.

You could sue, but who has that kind of money.
As I pointed out most temporary or short term will not cover to release the car and many full time policies now also exclude it.

They wont accept electronic certificates either, only signed printed certificates of insurance.
Your options are something like a Direct Line policy and wait for the certificate in the post and pay the storage as they specifically list can be used to secure release of the vehicle listed .

You would have had to insure anyway so I do not see the relevance of the cost argument unless you had no intention to insure.
The ones I know that give instant certificates you can self print specifically exclude the release of a impounded vehicle.

Anyone else reading this who is thinking they have cover on driveway insurance, unless you have a real genuine cover note or insurance policy document in in a hard copy in your hand, then you should assume you have NO insurance.
There is no confusion.
You can check if your car is shown as insured here:
http://ownvehicle.askmid.com/
If your vehicle does not show up on MID, call your insurance immediately and do not drive unless you have a hard copy of your insurance certificate on you at all times and it keep it on you until it does show up on MID.

The police will stop and take the car if it shows as uninsured and you have no proof otherwise, they do not do excuses or explanations, the argument over this been legal can be had out down the court if you can afford it, but your car is still going to the pound.

dshart

The police will accept a faxed copy of the insurance, so you do not have to wait for the post. My BiL had the insurance company fax a copy direct to a fax number provided by the police.

jamhun

Just get a trailer or low loader and collect the vehicle, this way you don't have to worry about insurance.

skitler

its a good thing that you didn't have a accident while driving uninsured, or you would be in a lot more trouble.:eek:

as the driver of a vehicle it is only your responsibility to ensure the said vehicle is road legal.

if you do recover the car, sell it and get a bus pass or push bike as it sounds like you will be banned and have insurance loading for many years:eek:

I know that may sound harsh now, but think of what could have happened.

when I 1st started driving (1979) and sent for my provisional licence for a motorbike I put the wrong start date on the form submitted and then was prosecuted for no licence and no insurance even though my insurance was up to date. however now many years later ive got a clean licence and over 20 years no claims or penalties. I know this dosnt help your case now but please be careful in your recovery attempts as deception is taken seriously.

I wish you the very best of luck.

dshart

jamhun wrote: »

Just get a trailer or low loader and collect the vehicle, this way you don't have to worry about insurance.

It is not as straightforward as that as you have to produce insurance to get the car released. See the link I provided above, the police may not accept such an arrangement. But it may be worthwhile checking with the police force involved as this may be a cheap option if you are going to SORN the car.

thenudeone

jamhun wrote: »

Just get a trailer or low loader and collect the vehicle, this way you don't have to worry about insurance.

Not true.

The car will only be released if the driver / keeper or someone authorised by them produces both a valid driving licence AND a certificate covering their use of the vehicle.

It's unlikely that the garage or recovery company has insurance which covers the release of seized vehicles. The insurance companies found out that motor trade policies were sometimes being used excessively for this purpose and they now usually exclude this use.

The regulations are here:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1606/regulation/5/made

ruggedtoast

I know. Why don't you just call the car prison and ask them what they will need to release it?