If your vehicle has been clamped or has been impounded because it is not taxed you will first need to tax your vehicle and then make payment of the relevant fees.
You must pay a ‘surety fee’ (deposit) if you don’t tax the vehicle before you get it released. You may be able to claim this fee back.
| Release fee within 24 hours of offence (from clamp or pound) | Release: £100 |
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| Release fee after 24 hours from offence (from pound) | Release: £200
Storage: £21 per day or part day at the pound |
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| Motorcycles, cars, light passenger and light goods vehicles | £160 |
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| Buses, recover, haulage and goods vehicles | £330 |
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| Exceptional vehicles such as large lorries or coaches | £700 |
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You will need to call 029 2233 0952 to make a payment between 8am - 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Bank Holidays and Christmas excluded.
Please note: Only credit or debit cards are accepted.
If you have paid a surety fee, you can claim it back from the Council by producing a valid tax receipt within 15 days from the vehicles release. A surety refund is paid back to the payee only. Declaring a vehicle SORN does not entitle you to a refund.
To claim a refund you will need to send a copy of your tax receipt and a covering letter to:
Cardiff Council
Untaxed Vehicles
Room 301
County Hall
CF10 4UW
Please include your name, return address and vehicle registration on any correspondence sent to us.
If you believe that your vehicle may have been removed you should call the Council on 029 2233 0952 between 8am –
4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Bank Holidays and Christmas excluded.
We will then inform you of which pound the vehicle has been taken to and how to make payment.
Do not call 999 as this is for emergency services only.
Once you have made a payment of the relevant fees you will receive an email receipt or transaction code that you will need to take to the pound to confirm to them that payment has been made.
You will also need to take with you:
- A current V5C vehicle registration document
- Valid photographic ID showing your current address such as a driving licence or passport
- Confirmation that you have either now taxed the vehicle or that you have paid the surety fee.
The name and address on the photographic ID must match the name and address on the vehicle registration document.
If the name and address does not match, you may be required to provide additional proof such as a utility statement from within the last 3 months to show the change of address.
If you cannot produce a V5C then you must also provide documentation linking you to the vehicle, such as a bill of sale or lease agreement. You will also be required to fill out a “V62 Application for a Registration Certificate” and pay the appropriate fee by cheque or postal order. The vehicle pound will then send this application to the DVLA.
The vehicle will not be released under any circumstance if you do not comply with the above.
If you do not claim your vehicle within the permitted timeframes then it may be destroyed or sold at auction. Any possessions in the vehicle at this time will be held for a further 14 days to be collected from the pound. If they are not collected then they will be destroyed.
The only time that you may challenge this action is when your vehicle was correctly taxed when enforcement action started, or if we have not followed the correct procedures as set by the Excise Duty (Immobilisation, Removal and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1997. There is no other right to appeal.
If you believe the above applies, please write to:
Cardiff Council
Untaxed Vehicles
Room 301
County Hall
CF10 4UW.
Please include your name, return address and vehicle registration or number plate on any correspondence sent to us.
If the grounds for appeal are not met then we will write to you explaining why. If they are met then we will provide a refund for the appropriate amount.