Paying the release fee at a pound doesn’t automatically end all penalties linked to the seizure. The release charge only covers the cost of removing, storing, and handling the vehicle. Any separate fines, penalty notices, or legal actions linked to the reason for the impound may still apply afterwards — sometimes weeks later. Understanding the distinction between release fees and statutory penalties helps avoid surprises later on.

Release fees versus fines

When a vehicle is impounded, the pound collects two main charges: a removal fee and a daily storage fee. These are set by regulation to cover recovery and storage costs, not to penalise the driver. Paying them simply allows you to collect the car. They are completely separate from any fine or court penalty connected to the offence that caused the seizure.

For example, if your car was seized for being uninsured, you’ll pay the release and storage charges to the pound, but the police or courts may still issue a fixed penalty or prosecution for the underlying offence. Those penalties are handled through separate processes, often with their own payment deadlines.

Police seizures

In police cases under Section 165A of the Road Traffic Act, the release fee is distinct from any fine or penalty points. Common examples include:

• Driving without insurance: can lead to a £300 fixed penalty and 6 points, or prosecution in court.
• Driving while disqualified: may involve a higher fine and further disqualification.
• Dangerous or careless driving: can result in a court summons and potential vehicle forfeiture.

Even if you pay the pound immediately and collect your car, the offence itself doesn’t disappear. The police may still investigate or issue a penalty notice afterwards.

DVLA seizures

When a car is impounded for no tax or for breaching a SORN declaration, the DVLA imposes its own fines separate from the release process. You’ll typically have to pay:

• a surety deposit (refundable if the vehicle is taxed within a set time), and
• a late licensing penalty or backdated vehicle tax.

These are separate from the compound’s storage or removal charges. Paying one does not cancel the other.

Council and parking enforcement

If a car is removed by a local council for parking offences, paying to release it also doesn’t end liability for penalty charge notices (PCNs). You must pay the outstanding PCN(s) plus removal and storage fees before the vehicle can be collected. If you believe the removal was unlawful, you can still appeal afterwards, but you must pay the charges first before the car is released.

When the vehicle isn’t collected

If a car remains uncollected and is later sold or scrapped, any unpaid fines or penalties still belong to the registered keeper. The pound may recover its costs from the vehicle’s value, but police, DVLA, or court fines remain enforceable against the person, not the car.

Final note

Paying to release a car from the pound only covers recovery and storage costs. Police, DVLA, or council fines linked to the reason for the impound are separate and may still apply afterwards. Once the car is back in your possession, make sure you deal with any related fixed penalties, summonses, or DVLA demands promptly to avoid further enforcement or extra costs.

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.