A recent report has disclosed that UK police forces seized around 214,051 vehicles from the roads in 2023.
The city with the highest number of vehicle seizures was Dundee, where the police force impounded 23,344 vehicles last year.
National Scrap Car submitted a Freedom of Information request to all 45 police forces in the UK and compiled the data from the 23 responses received.
The examination revealed that the most common reasons for vehicle seizures were uninsured/untaxed vehicles, road traffic collisions, and stolen vehicles.
Following Dundee, the West Midlands saw 23,203 seized vehicles, and Greater Manchester had 22,317 vehicles seized.
Dorry Potter, a car expert at National Scrap Car, stated:
“There are various reasons why the police impound a vehicle, such as it being involved in a crime, abandoned, deemed a nuisance or risk, or being uninsured or untaxed.
“Once a vehicle is seized by the police, some are returned to their owners, while others are auctioned or scrapped depending on the vehicle’s condition and the ability to contact the original owner.
“Through this study, we aimed to identify regions with high volumes of impounded vehicles and understand the primary reasons behind the large number of vehicles stored in car pounds across the country.”
The data showed that 59% of the impounded vehicles were eventually returned to their owners, while 1 in 6 vehicles were destroyed, and 12,939 (6%) vehicles were auctioned.
The most prevalent reason for vehicle impoundment in the UK was lack of insurance or a valid license, violating Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Drivers must have a proper driving license unless they hold a provisional license as a learner driver. Additionally, all vehicles used on the road or in public spaces must have valid insurance against third-party risks, including parked vehicles.
Drivers who fail to comply with these regulations may face fines, driving bans, and vehicle seizures.
A total of 56,707 vehicles were impounded for lack of insurance or license, with the highest number in the West Midlands, where 7,339 vehicles were seized in the given year.
The second most common reason for vehicle seizures was road traffic collisions, with 49,278 incidents resulting in impounded vehicles. Dundee recorded the highest number of incidents, with 8,608 vehicles seized by the police during that period.
In these scenarios, vehicles are often seized due to being unfit for the road after an accident or as evidence in police investigations. An additional 1,978 vehicles were seized in that period due to serious or fatal accidents.