How much does it cost to release a seized car?

On this page:

• Call waiting times are currently longer than usual
• Collecting your vehicle
• Identification
• Payment methods
• Collecting vehicles not registered in your name
• Personal property collection
• Seeking legal advice
• Damaged vehicles
• Surrendering your vehicle
• Vehicles overdue for collection and uncollected vehicles

Based on the driver of the motor vehicle having committing an impoundable offence, and in accordance with the Road Safety Act 1986, Victoria Police can:

• immediately impound your vehicle for 30 days
• impound a vehicle up to 48 hours from time of intercept
• serve a ‘Notice to Surrender’ for a 30-day impoundment
• apply to the court for a motor vehicle to be impounded, further impounded, immobilised and or forfeited

We do not hold vehicles that have been impounded by the local council. For full details on impoundment, immobilisation or forfeiture of vehicles, please read the Road Safety Act (Vic) 1986. External Link

Collecting your vehicle

To collect your vehicle you will need:

• 100 points of identification (go to the ‘Identification’ section below for information on how many points identification documents are worth)

Depending on who the car is registered to you will also need to bring one of the following documents:

• an ASIC document “company current extract” (if vehicle is registered in a company name)
• a Third Party Authority form (if you are collecting the vehicle on behalf of the registered operator)
• the proof of ownership documents (if you own the vehicle but it is not registered in your name at VicRoads)

Please ensure you have your documentation ready when you arrive. This will save you time at reception.

• You can have someone else collect your vehicle by filling out the ‘Release of a Motor Vehicle to an Authorised Third Party’ form. This form would have been sent to the registered operator of the vehicle within the first week of impoundment.

  On the ‘Release of a Motor Vehicle to an Authorised Third Party’ form you will need to nominate the person you have chosen to collect the vehicle. You and the person who you have chosen to collect the vehicle will both need to sign the form.

  If you require another copy of the Authorised Third Party form you may request by emailing your request with your 100 points of ID (see the identification section below for more information) and include your motor vehicle registration or hoon reference number. Your hoon reference number starts with the letter H and is located on the top right of your impound notice.

  When the person you have chosen to collect your vehicle goes to collect it, please make sure they bring both of the following:

  • the signed ‘Release of a Motor Vehicle to an Authorised Third Party’ form
  • their driver’s licence and/or other documentation making up 100 points of identification (see the identification section below for more information)

  Your impoundment form will tell you the impound storage location of your vehicle. This is where you will need to collect your vehicle. You can find out the contact details for the impound location where your car is stored on our Vehicle collection location page.

  If you do not collect your vehicle within 3 days of it becoming eligible for release, it may be transferred to the metropolitan storage facility at 55 Raglan Street, Preston.

Identification

There are a wide range of identification documents you can provide to prove your identity. Different types of document are worth different points based on the reliability of the document and the information it provides.

You need to provide a total of 100 points of identification to collect an impounded vehicle or your property.

• For 100 points of identification we need you to provide one of the following licences so we can verify your name.

  These licences include:

  • your current licence
  • your expired licence (must not have been expired for more than two years)

• For 70 points of identification we need you to provide one of the following items so we can verify your name.

  These items include:

  • your full birth certificate
  • your change of name certificate
  • your citizenship certificate
  • your current passport (must not have been cancelled and must not have been expired for more than two years)
  • a document of identity that has the same characteristics as a passport (including some diplomatic documents and some documents issued to refugees)

• For 40 points of identification we need you to provide one of the following items so we can verify your name.

  These items include:

  • your international driver’s licence, gun licence, or boat licence from any state
  • your identification card that was issued to you as a public service employee
  • your identification card that was issued to you as a student at a tertiary education institution
  • your identification card that was issued to you by the Commonwealth or a State or Territory as evidence of your entitlement to a financial benefit
  • your proof of age card, key pass, or working with children check card
  • your expired licence or passport that has been expired for more than two years (including hole punched licences/passports)

• For 35 points of identification we need you to provide one of the following items so we can verify your name and address.

  These items include:

  • land title office records in your name
  • a mortgage document in your name
  • a report in your name from the Credit Reference Association of Australia (subject to the Privacy Act 1988)

• For 25 points of identification we need you to provide one of the following items so we can verify your name, address and date of birth.

  Secondary identification documents that can verify your name include:

  • your marriage certificate (for your maiden name only)
  • your records of public utility (such as gas/electricity/phone/internet account records or bills)
  • your credit card statement (such as visa card, mastercard etc.)
  • your Medicare card or health care card
  • your bank card (you can provide multiple bank cards if they are from different banks)

  Items that can verify your name and address include:

  • a document showing your name on the electoral roll compiled by the Australian Electoral Commission
  • your records of public utility (such as gas/electricity/phone/internet account records or bills)
  • a copy of your lease or rental agreement
  • the records of a financial body of which you are a known customer

  Items that can verify your name and date of birth include:

  • the records from a professional or a trade association that you are a member of (such as a club, school, union etc.) and that includes your name and address
  • the records of a primary, secondary, or tertiary educational institution that you attended in the last 10 years, and that includes your name and address

Before you collect your vehicle you should find out the requirements for vehicle collection and the contact information of the impound location you will be visiting. You can find out the details of your collection location on our vehicle collection locations page.

Payment methods

Please note that we do not offer payment plans and require full payment upon collection of the vehicle.

If you are experiencing financial difficulties, you may seek legal advice. Our Vehicle Impoundment Support Unit (VISU) and staff at impound locations do not provide legal advice.

• If you are collecting your vehicle in Metropolitan Melbourne you need to make your payment by:

  • eftpos
  • bank cheque or money order made out to Victoria Police

  We do not accept cash.

  If your motor vehicle is overdue for collection, there will be additional storage costs added to your payment amount. These additional costs are $13.50 per day after the vehicle’s eligible release date.

• If you are collecting your vehicle from a regional collection location you should contact the contractor where your motor vehicle is being held. The contractor will be able to tell you your payment amount and the payment methods they accept.

  You can find the contact details for our regional collection locations on our vehicle collection locations page.

Collecting vehicles not registered in your name

• If a motor vehicle has been impounded and it is registered to a company, then we can only release the vehicle and/or property to the director of the company.

  The director of the company must provide a copy of the current company extract from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to prove that they are the director of the company. If the director is unable to attend to collect the vehicle they are able to use the Third Party Authority form to allow someone else to collect the vehicle, however they will still need to provide the current company extract from ASIC.

• If you claim to own an impounded motor vehicle but it is not registered in your name, you will need to email your proof of ownership documents. This email needs to include the reference number for your impounded vehicle.

  To claim an impounded motor vehicle that it is not registered in your name, you need to provide all of the following proof of ownership documents:

  • your signed copy of the VicRoads application for transfer of registration
  • your sales receipt for the vehicle
  • 100 points of identification (see the identification section above for more information)

• If your vehicle has been impounded and it is unregistered you will need to organise a tow truck, trailer or supply a copy of your unregistered permit in order to pay and collect the vehicle.

  If you have received a defect notice during the time the vehicle has been impounded, you need to follow the “conditions of use” listed on the defect when you collect the vehicle.

  These “conditions of use” can include:

  • a major grounded defect (you need to organise the vehicle to be collected by tow truck or trailer)
  • a minor defect (you need to follow the “conditions of use” on the defect notice)

  If your vehicle has a major grounded defect we will not accept a VicRoads unregistered permit when you come to collect the vehicle. You need to organise a tow truck or trailer to collect the vehicle.

Personal property collection

Personal property that has been collected with an impounded vehicle can only be collected by the registered operator or an authorised third party. You will need to make an appointment to collect these items. Anything fixed or bolted to the vehicle can not be collected.

• You need to make an appointment to collect personal belongings from inside the vehicle or from the vehicle. You do not need an appointment to collect the vehicle itself.

  If your vehicle is at 55 Raglan Street Preston, you can make an appointment by calling (03) 8480 1600.

  Appointments are available between 10am to 3pm, Tuesday to Thursday.

• You need to book an appointment to collect property from a regional impound location. You can call the regional impound location where your vehicle is being stored to organise a collection time.

  You can find the contact details for our regional collection locations on our vehicle collection locations page.

Seeking legal advice

You may seek legal advice about the impound of a vehicle if you feel it is necessary. Our Vehicle Impoundment Support Unit (VISU) does not offer legal advice.

If you would like to query an offence please contact the police officer who issued the impoundment notice and or surrender notice at the time of the offence. The police officer’s details can be found on your impoundment or your copy of the surrender notice.

Damaged vehicles

If you would like to submit a damage claim, please send your contact details and the following:

• a written description of the damage being claimed
• images of the damage being claimed
• the impound reference number or motor vehicle registration for the vehicle that you are claiming to be damaged

Surrendering your vehicle

• If you have been issued a ‘Notice to Surrender’ by a Victorian Police Officer and you are unable to drop off your motor vehicle on the specified date and time, please contact the Victoria police officer who issued you the notice. The police officer’s details can be found on your copy of the surrender notice.

• If you are required to surrender your motor vehicle based on a court order from a Magistrate, you must do so by the time and date specified on the court order.

Vehicles overdue for collection and uncollected vehicles

New legislation

New legislation has been put in place regarding vehicles overdue for collection and uncollected vehicles.

If your motor vehicle was impounded on or before 24 August 2021, we will store your vehicle for an additional 30 days. These additional 30 days will be counted from the day the ‘Notice of Intention to Deem a Motor Vehicle Abandoned’ was issued.

If your motor vehicle was impounded on or after 25 August 2021, we will store your vehicle for an additional 14 days from the day the ‘Notice of Intention to Deem a Motor Vehicle Abandoned’ was issued.

• If your impounded motor vehicle remains uncollected after its release date, you will receive a ‘Notice of Intention to Deem a Motor Vehicle Abandoned’.

  You will have an additional 30 or 14 days (depending on when the notice was issued – see new legislation above) from the date listed on the notice to collect your motor vehicle from the impound location.

  If you do not collect your vehicle by the close of business on the final date of collection, the vehicle will become the property of the State Government (vest in the crown). You will no longer be able to collect your vehicle after this date.

• No.

  In order for your motor vehicle not to be deemed to have been ‘abandoned’ it must be collected before the final day on the ‘Notice of Intention to Deem a Motor Vehicle Abandoned’.

  You will have an additional 30 or 14 days (depending on when the notice was issued – see new legislation above) from the date listed on the notice to collect your motor vehicle from the impound location.

  You can organise for someone to collect the vehicle on your behalf by using the ‘Release of a Motor Vehicle to an Authorised Third Party’ form. This form would have been sent to the registered operator of the vehicle within the first week of impoundment.

• If you choose to abandon your motor vehicle it will become the property of the State Government (vest in the crown) and will be disposed of.

• You will not be required to pay for a motor vehicle that is left at an impound location. However, when the driver of the vehicle goes to court for the alleged offence that led to the vehicle being impounded, Victoria Police may pursue the driver at court to pay the impoundment costs.

• No.

  You only have an additional 30 or 14 days (depending on when the notice was issued – see new legislation above) from the date listed on the notice to collect your motor vehicle from the impound location.

  If you do not collect your vehicle by the close of business on the final date, the vehicle becomes property of the State Government (vests in the crown). You will no longer be able to collect your vehicle after this date.

• A vehicle that ‘vests in the crown’ becomes the property of the State Government. It will be disposed of through a public auction or it will be crushed.

  Victoria Police do not disclose information about where vehicles are sold or crushed to any parties.

• If you have received a ‘Disbursement of the Proceeds of Sale Letter’ this means that your motor vehicle has been sold at public auction and there are funds remaining which will be paid to you.

  In order to receive the funds you will need to send an email within 14 days of the date of the letter to and quote the H reference number listed in the letter. You will also need to put in the email:

  • your full name
  • your address
  • your bank details
  • a copy of your current Victorian Driver's Licence or another form of photo ID

  Once we receive this email, Victoria Police will pay you the remaining funds. Please note that this can take 4 to 6 weeks.

• The motor vehicle is available for collection up to 30 or 14 days (depending on when the notice was issued – see new legislation above) from the date listed on the ‘Notice of Intention to Deem a Motor Vehicle Abandoned’.

  The vehicle can only be released to the registered operator. The registered operator is the person who the vehicle is registered to according to VicRoads.

  In order for an ‘interested party’ or a third party to collect the vehicle, they would need the registered operator to sign a Third Party Authorisation form. Alternatively a court order could also allow them to collect the vehicle.

• Victoria Police can apply in court to have a motor vehicle impounded, immobilised or forfeited based on a driver’s prior impoundable offence history. If they do so they will send out a Notice of Application for an impoundment or immobilisation order/forfeiture order.

  Please see the headings below to determine the situation that the Notice of Application for an impoundment or immobilisation order/forfeiture order is based on.

  Result of your driving offence history

  You are receiving a ‘Notice of Application for an impoundment or immobilisation order/forfeiture order’as records show you have a driving offence history that qualifies for an application to further impound, immobilise or forfeit your motor vehicle.

  Result of a recent incident

  You are receiving ‘Notice of Application for an impoundment or immobilisation order/forfeiture order’ because either your vehicle or the vehicle you were driving has been previously intercepted.

  As a result, Victoria Police is applying through the courts to impound, forfeit or immobilise the vehicle mentioned. The notice is a legal document regarding this application which is scheduled to be heard in court. It stipulates the hearing court date and venue where the matter will be heard. The Magistrate will decide whether the motor vehicle is impounded, forfeited or immobilised.

  If you receive this notice, you must not sell, transfer or dispose of your interest in the motor vehicle until the matter is finalised at court. To support this, a block has been placed on the motor vehicle to stop transfer of ownership through VicRoads or other roads corporations.

  If you are the registered operator of the vehicle, but do not have a prior impoundable offence history, the application would, therefore, be as a result of the driver’s prior driving history.

Reviewed 09 September 2022

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