Vehicle immobilisation
Vehicle immobilisation is something the police use to stop a vehicle from moving.
Police officers have the power to immobilise your vehicle when they stop you. They also have the power to move the vehicle, or tell you to move it so they can fit an immobilisation device.
Vehicles can be immobilised for a number of reasons:
- if they are unfit for driving or overloaded (Section 69 or 70 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Section 1 Road Traffic (Foreign Vehicles) 1972)
- if there are unpaid penalty fines on your vehicle (Section 90D of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988)
- if goods vehicle drivers have broken the rules on drivers hours (Section 99A(1) of the Transport Act 1968)
The regulations do not apply in relation to a vehicle if a current disabled person’s badge or current recognised badge is displayed on that vehicle.
If your vehicle has been impounded for another reason, go to our impounded vehicles page.
Immobilisation device removal
To get an immobilisation device removed:
- You must pay any outstanding penalties or fines.
- Vehicle defects will need to be repaired or the police or DVSA officer may specify that an annual inspection (MOT) of the vehicle may need to take place, in which case the vehicle will need to be removed from the immobilisation location on a full lift recovery.
- Any excessive load must be removed.
- Any prohibitions on driver hours must have expired.
Our immobilisation covers the West Mercia Police area (Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire) although similar schemes operate in other police areas.
Payment
You must pay the fixed fee of £80 for the removal of the immobilisation device through the Gov.UK Pay platform.
Please note all correspondence relating to your payment will come from gov.uk pay and will show a receipt from West Mercia Police.
Once you've successfully submitted your online payment the final screen will show a unique reference number.
Confirmation of payment will be checked by a police officer.
You can the contact the immobilising officer via the contact details provided at the time of vehicle immobilisation or by phoning 101 and arranging for the vehicle to be released.
Please note: It's illegal to remove or interfere with an immobilisation device, make a false or misleading declaration which would allow a person to recover the vehicle, or to drive a prohibited vehicle.
If payment to release the vehicle is not received within seven days, the police may consider it abandoned and it may be removed to an authorised recovery agent. The registered keeper will be informed. The £80 release fee will remain, and further statutory recovery and storage charges incurred.
Please see our impounded vehicle page for further information.
If the vehicle is not recovered from the operator after a further seven days it may be destroyed, sold or otherwise disposed of.
Please note: It is illegal to remove an immobilisation device yourself.
Complaints about vehicle immobilisation
To appeal the decision to immobilise or remove your immobilised vehicle, please email us quoting the vehicle’s registration plate and the date the vehicle was immobilised or removed.