Named drivers often want to help when a car has been impounded, especially if the main policyholder can’t attend in person. However, insuring an impounded car as a named driver is rarely possible. Most insurers require the person arranging the policy — the policyholder — to be the registered keeper or someone with a clear financial interest in the vehicle. Without that connection, the policy may not be valid for release, even if it looks official on paper.

Why the main policyholder matters

Impound insurance is treated differently from ordinary car insurance. When a car is held by the police or a local authority, the insurer needs to know exactly who owns and controls the vehicle. A named driver does not normally have that level of responsibility or “insurable interest.” In legal terms, they can’t insure something they don’t own or control. That’s why policies bought in a named driver’s name are almost always rejected at the pound.

When a named driver may be accepted

In limited circumstances, a named driver may be allowed to arrange cover, but only with written permission from the registered keeper or owner. The insurer would need to note this permission in writing on the policy or certificate. Even then, some pounds may still refuse release unless the policyholder’s name matches the keeper’s records. Because every pound and insurer interprets these rules differently, confirmation in writing before paying for the policy is essential.

Why many insurers reject these policies

From a risk perspective, insurers are cautious about impound cases. The vehicle may have been seized for being uninsured, used illegally, or driven by someone not entitled to drive it. A named driver without ownership rights can’t easily prove they’re entitled to arrange cover, and that uncertainty can make the entire policy void from the start. For this reason, insurers offering impound-specific cover usually restrict applications to registered keepers, owners, or finance companies.

Insurance proof required by the pound

Release staff look for a certificate showing the same name and address as those recorded on the vehicle’s documents. The policy must also state the vehicle’s registration number and confirm that it includes release from a police or authority pound. If those details don’t align, the certificate may be refused and storage fees may continue to accumulate until the correct policy is provided.

Best approach when the named driver is the only available person

If the main policyholder is unavailable — for example, abroad or unwell — the simplest route is usually for them to authorise the named driver in writing to collect the car, while the insurance remains in the main policyholder’s name. Some insurers will issue an endorsement or temporary amendment to allow that driver to be covered for the journey home. The authorisation letter, insurance certificate, and photo ID should then all be presented together at the pound.

Practical steps before buying cover

• Confirm who appears as the registered keeper on the V5C logbook.
• Contact the pound in advance to ask whether they accept release by a named driver.
• Check with the insurer that the policy clearly covers impound release and that the named driver is permitted to drive the vehicle.
• Keep every confirmation email and printed copy for reference at the gate.

Final note

A named driver may help collect an impounded vehicle, but they usually can’t take out insurance in their own name to release it. The safest and most reliable route is for the registered keeper or owner to arrange the policy, even if someone else will drive the car home. Clear written permission, accurate paperwork, and insurer confirmation prevent wasted trips and rejected certificates.

Check here for more useful information about impounded cars!

Please note: impound rules, collection windows and fee structures are set locally and can change at any time. Details on this site offer a broad outline only and are not guaranteed to match the requirements of any individual pound or authority.