Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get Your Car Out of the Impound Using Release Insurance

Susan Difford - Clean Green Compare Personal Lines Insurance Expert
Written by  Susan DiffordUpdated  9 April 20252 min read

Table of Contents

Having your car impounded can be a very stressful experience. Not only do you have to pay a fee to have it released but you also have to find out where it’s impounded, be able to provide the necessary documents and also get impounded car insurance. In this guide you’ll find out everything you need to do in order to get your car back in a quick and efficient manner.

Key points

What Do I Need To Know About Impounded Car Insurance?

  • You’ll need it to get your car released: In most cases, your regular car insurance won’t cover you if your car gets impounded, so you’ll need release insurance in order to get it back.
  • It usually covers you for 30 days: A standard impounded car policy will cover you for 30 days.
  • It’s not a replacement for your regular car insurance: After you’ve got your car back from the impound, you’ll still need to get regular car insurance once your impound cover has expired.

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What steps do I have to follow to get my car back?

The main steps to getting an impounded car back are:

  • Contact your local police station: The first step is to contact your local police station so you can find out where your car has been impounded, what documentation you’ll need and any other relevant information.
  • Obtain any documentation you need: The documentation you’ll need is usually proof of identification and proof of ownership of the vehicle. If you don’t have any of this already, you’ll want to obtain it before you go to collect your car.
  • Make sure you have the money to pay the release fee: You should also have the money for the release fee as well as the original notice you were issued when your car was impounded.
  • Have impounded car insurance in place: You should also arrange to have impounded car insurance in place prior to collecting it and have the documentation to show this.

Won't my regular car insurance cover me?

No, in most cases it won’t, unless you specifically requested it as part of your policy when you first took it out, which the vast majority of people don’t.

Are there any ways to save money on impounded car insurance?

The main way to save money on impounded car insurance is by getting quotes from several insurance providers. Quotes can vary quite a lot from one provider to the next, so it’s always recommended that you do this.

In Summary

  • The first step you should take is contacting your local police station so you can find out where your car is impounded
  • You should make sure you have all the relevant documentation you need
  • Impounded car insurance isn’t a replacement for regular car insurance
  • You’re usually covered for 30 days

Compare Impounded Car Insurance Quotes!

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