Getting a car out of a police compound?

EddScott · 25 Jan 2017 at 13:33

If a car has been impounded for no insurance, will the police release a car to a 3rd party (if authorised by the owner) and will they accept the car being on temporary insurance of said 3rd party?

Trying to help a mate who's managed to get himself into a bit of bother.

rodenal · 25 Jan 2017 at 13:39

Most comprehensive policies exclude the 3rd party cover for release from impound

I believe you can legitimately insure it yourself for the day to release though

GhostWKD · 25 Jan 2017 at 13:42

rodenal said:
Most comprehensive policies exclude the 3rd party cover for release from impound

I believe you can legitimately insure it yourself for the day to release though

99.9% of day insurance policies won't cover being used to release an impounded vehicle iirc

That said if you were so inclined you could take out a full policy and cancel within the 14 day cooling off I'd imagine - no idea on legalities of that mind

Dis86 · 25 Jan 2017 at 13:46

Why doesn't your mate get insurance for the car he's been using?

the wopster · 25 Jan 2017 at 13:54

Dis86 said:
Why doesn't your mate get insurance for the car he's been using?

My guess he's been banned for something (d/d or the like)

Yaayuh! · 25 Jan 2017 at 14:00

I would have thought a quick phone call to the Police in question and a few insurers would be your best bet. I'd be surprised if the Police hadn't given any terms of release.

I'm hoping nobody here has been in such a situation to have experience in it

skyripper · 25 Jan 2017 at 14:04

Be very careful with the documentation you produce at the impound yard. ie. do not magically produce a freshly signed V5 to show you only just bought it or a cover note that cannot be corroborated.

If they suspect attempts to deceive or workaround the process, they can and do send cars to be crushed. Your mate needs to play by their rules if they're going to get the car back.

EddScott · 25 Jan 2017 at 15:01

Well, he got pulled as a brake light was out but I think they already knew he didn't have insurance. He thought he did but his last payment bounced and hasn't been home to read his mail for warnings etc - he may be fibbing but he's so disorganised I can well believe it.

He did obtain insurance but didn't think until afterwards - or someone pointed it out to him - that he didn't put the endorsement on the insurance. So he was worrying that the police would take a dim view on him not telling the insurance company of driving without insurance and having insurance cancelled.

I told him to go back to the new insurer and tell them and get the endorsed certificate and go get the car. It's costing him £20 a day to have it impounded.

Firestar_3x · 25 Jan 2017 at 15:03

I didn't think one bounced payment results in insurance being immediately revoked?

This is going off what was said by an officer on one of those police chase action shows.

EddScott · 25 Jan 2017 at 15:13

Firestar_3x said:
I didn't think one bounced payment results in insurance being immediately revoked?

Well, that's what I thought too. I didn't push him on the subject but I didn't really think it sounded right that the previous insurer pulled the plug so quickly after one non payment.

Gaygle · 25 Jan 2017 at 15:22

Firestar_3x said:
I didn't think one bounced payment results in insurance being immediately revoked?

It doesn't. They cancel the policy pretty sharpish if they can't take the *first* payment, but if it's not the first payment and just the Direct Debit failed, the insurance company normally give you a good couple of weeks along with barrages of emails/letters to let you know.

Semple · 25 Jan 2017 at 15:23

Firestar_3x said:
I didn't think one bounced payment results in insurance being immediately revoked?

This is going off what was said by an officer on one of those police chase action shows.

That's my understanding too. They normally write to let you know that payment is due, and give you a reasonable period (14 days i believe) before being cancelled.

Something just doesn't sound right.

Snookums · 25 Jan 2017 at 17:03

Yeah if it was a DD bounce then they give you time. I done it by accident as my insurance was still linked to a bank account I don't use much and I'd forgotten to transfer the money to it for insurance. They called me to let me know I paid it on the phone and changed the account my DD came out of the same day. I believe they did say I had up to two weeks tho to pay so it definitely wouldn't have been cancelled straight away.

Hawk Tuah · 25 Jan 2017 at 20:13

Sounds like someone I wouldn't be sticking my neck out to help.