Impoundment of the vehicle
Verified 14 August 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Your vehicle has been impounded and you want to know how to recover it? We tell you what you need to know.
Your vehicle may be impounded if you have committed certain traffic offenses.
For example, awkward parking of your vehicle in double line.
Situation | Impound pattern |
|---|---|
Fixed asset of vehicle | Vehicle stopped for an offense that did not stop after 48 hours |
Stop or parking |
|
Non-compliance with certain traffic rules | Vehicle that hinders or prevents traffic, irregular crossing of a level crossing… |
Non-compliance with roadworthiness requirements | |
Protection of the environment |
|
Vehicle of 3.5 tons or more | Non-compliance in a tunnel of the safety distance between 2 vehicles |
Motorcycle, tricycle, motor quadricycle, moped | Non-compliance with wearing a helmet and mandatory equipment |
Moped | Use of a device to exceed the speed, cubic capacity or power limits of the engine, or moped converted for this purpose |
Offense that may result in confiscation of the vehicle | For example, driving the vehicle despite the notification of a decision of administrative suspension |
Offense serious to the traffic code |
|
Criminal liability |
|
Non-conformity of the vehicle and its equipment |
|
The person responsible for removing your vehicle:
- Designates the impound in which your vehicle is transferred
- Establishes a descriptive sheet of the vehicle before its removal. At your request, a copy of the description sheet is sent to you.
- Write a minutes or a report indicating the reasons for impoundment.
Impoundment is then carried out by the uprising or the towing of your vehicle.
Before having your vehicle removed, law enforcement is checking to see if it was stolen. You and your insurer are immediately informed. Your vehicle is impounded as a precautionary measure.
Impoundment is decided:
- By a judicial police officer (OPJ) (national police or gendarmerie)
- Or by a deputy judicial police officer (APJA), chief of the municipal police
- Or by the mayor or, in Paris, by the prefect of police, in case of infringement of the rules on the safeguarding of the aesthetics of classified sites and landscapes.
If your vehicle has been stolen, alone the judicial police officer (OPJ) is competent to decide on impoundment.
Depending on the reason for impoundment, the prior authorization of the public prosecutor or the prefect is obligatory.
The conditions are different depending on whether or not the removal of the vehicle has begun.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
If the removal of your vehicle has not begun
Removal of the vehicle towards the impound begins from the moment when at least 2 wheels of the vehicle have left the ground or from start of the move of the vehicle.
You can pick up your vehicle if you arrive before his abduction.
You must pay the advance fee impoundment if the removal vehicle is already on site:
- €15.20 for a car
- €7.60 for a 2 or 3-wheel motor
- €22.90 for a heavy truck.
If the removal of your vehicle has begun
Removal of the vehicle towards the impound begins from the moment when at least 2 wheels of the vehicle have left the ground or from start of the move of the vehicle.
If the removal of the vehicle has begun, you can pick up your vehicle if you pay the removal costs or if you agree in writing to pay them.
You must also commit to freeing up the public highway (illegal parking, double lane...).
If you are absent for several days, you receive a registered letter with AR: titleContent.
The letter is sent within 5 working days following the impoundment of your vehicle.
The notification of impoundment by registered letter with AR: titleContent must give the following information :
- Authority that decided to impound, reason for sanction, address of impound
- Classification of the vehicle (vehicle to be handed over to the Domains or vehicle to be destroyed)
- Qualified authority to give release of impoundment
- Requirement for owner or driver to present valid insurance certificate and driver's license to obtain release
- Obligation to surrender the - and penalties for non-surrender
- Formal notice to remove the vehicle before the end of a period of 7 days, 10 days or 15 days depending on its classification. This period shall run from the notification of impoundment.
- Warning that in the absence of a response to the formal notice within the specified time, the vehicle is handed over to the Domaines department to be sold or handed over to a center ELV: titleContent for destruction
- Nature and amount of costs to be reimbursed
- Possibility to request a copy of the description sheet
- Remedies.
The online service for searching for your vehicle varies depending on whether it has been impounded in Paris or another city.
General case
An online service allows you to whether the vehicle is currently impounded by grasping his registration number.
Once the vehicle is found, the online service allows you to retrieve exit permission (release) and view the impoundment record (descriptive sheet).
If you can't find your vehicle, repeat the search later. There is indeed a time lag between the removal of the vehicle and its recording in the information system of the pound.
Warning
Not all impounds are yet connected to the online service.
If your vehicle stays not found, or in case of difficulties, ask the police station or gendarmerie closest to parking place.
In Paris
If you think that the services of the City of Paris have removed or moved your vehicle, a specific online service allows you to search for it from registration number.
Find a vehicle in the impounds of Paris
If your vehicle stays not found, or in case of difficulties, ask the police station or gendarmerie closest to parking place.
One online service allows you to consult all the information concerning the impoundment of your vehicle (descriptive sheet).
It depends on how quickly you get the vehicle back.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Within 3 days of removal
To pick up your vehicle, and the Certificate of Registration () if it has been removed from you, you must get exit permission ( release).
One online service retrieves release:
If you do not wish to use the online service, you can obtain the release by contacting the law enforcement agencies that have prescribed the impoundment.
You must submit the following documents:
- Certificate of insurance of the vehicle
- Valid driving license corresponding to the vehicle category
- Circulation ticket of the vehicle if it has not been removed from you during impoundment (certificate of registration, Provisional Certificate of Registration (CPI), duly completed detachable coupon, WW CPI, CPI WW DPTC, certificate “W garage”, transit certificate or equivalent document issued by the competent authority of a European countries (EU).
With this release, you can go to the impound to pick up your vehicle.
If a travel ban decision has been taken, you must have an expertise of the vehicle carried out outside the impound. Your vehicle can leave the impound on platform vehicle provided it is insured. If you are using a qualified professional to tow your vehicle, you must present the insurance certificate and a traffic ticket. You must provide law enforcement with the name of the chosen professional.
In any case, you must pay the pound fee to the guard.
More than 3 days after
Your vehicle is classified in one of the 2 categories following:
- Vehicle to be handed over to the Domaines service. This means that your vehicle is considered abandoned at the end of 15 days from notification of impoundment
- Vehicle to be destroyed. This means that your vehicle, after estimating its market value, is considered abandoned at the end of 10 days from the notification of impoundment, or 7 days if the vehicle was used for urban rodeo.
If the administration hears from you before the end of the withdrawal period
To pick up your vehicle, and the Certificate of Registration () if it has been removed from you, you must present the following documents:
- Certificate of insurance of the vehicle
- Valid driving license
- Circulation ticket of the vehicle if it has not been removed from you during impoundment (certificate of registration, Provisional Certificate of Registration (CPI), duly completed detachable coupon, WW CPI, CPI WW DPTC, certificate “W garage”, transit certificate or equivalent document issued by the competent authority of a European countries (EU).
If a decision to prohibit movement has been taken, you must make a vehicle expertise out of the pound. Your vehicle can leave the impound on platform vehicle provided you are insured. If you are using a qualified professional to tow your vehicle, you only need to present the insurance certificate and a traffic ticket. You must indicate to law enforcement the name of the chosen professional.
In any case, you must pay the pound fee to the guard.
If the administration is without news from you after the end of the withdrawal period
Your vehicle is considered abandoned.
The vehicle is handed over to the Domaines department to be sold, or handed over to a center ELV: titleContent for destruction. If the Domains department has put your vehicle up for sale, you can still pick it up before it is sold. To do this, you must pay the sale fee to the service of the estates and the pound fee to the pound keeper.
When you pick up your vehicle, its state must correspond to that of the descriptive sheet. If your vehicle is damaged, you can request repair of the damage.
Examples: damage suffered during loading or guarding, vehicle rushed to destruction or resale.
Address your claim by registered letter with AR: titleContent to the pound authority (commune or prefecture). Attach the description sheet and supporting documents (photos…) proving that the damage occurred during the removal or during the period of custody of the vehicle.
An online service allows you to download the description sheet:
Consult the impoundment file (descriptive sheet)
In case of refusal, you can make a appeal at the administrative court of the place where the vehicle was removed.
The keeper of the impound returns your vehicle provided pay the impound charges.
If you wish to collect your vehicle when the Domaines department has put your vehicle up for sale, you must also pay the listing fees at the service of the Domains.
The prices indicated are: maximum amounts.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Private car
General case
Hardware asset: €7.60
Pre-Operations: €15.20
Removal: €127.65
Daily care: €6.75
Listing: €100
Paris
Hardware asset: €7.60
Pre-Operations: €15.20
Removal: €150
Daily care: €29
Listing: €100
Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse
Hardware asset: €7.60
Pre-Operations: €15.20
Removal: €127.65
Daily care: €10
Listing: €61
2 or 3 wheels
General case
Hardware asset: €7.60
Pre-Operations: €7.60
Removal: €45.70
Daily care: €3
Listing: €50
Paris
Hardware asset: €7.60
Pre-Operations: €7.60
Removal: €49
Daily care: €10
Listing: €50
Heavy weight
Amounts vary by PTAC of the vehicle.
Between 19 and 44 tons (inclusive)
Hardware asset: €7.60
Pre-Operations: €22.90
Removal: €274.40
Daily care: €9.20
Listing: €120
Between 7.5 and 19 tons (inclusive)
Hardware asset: €7.60
Pre-Operations: €22.90
Removal: €213.40
Daily care: €9.20
Listing: €120
Between 3.5 and 7.5 tons (inclusive)
Hardware asset: €7.60
Pre-Operations: €22.90
Removal: €122
Daily care: €9.20
Listing: €120
Other registered vehicle
Hardware asset: €7.60
Pre-Operations: €7.60
Removal: €45.70
Daily care: €3
Listing: €50
Example :
The fee is €179 for a car impounded in Paris recovered the same day (€150 + €29) to which may be added €7.60 charges if your vehicle has been physically immobilized.
Obstructing the impoundment of your vehicle is punishable by a maximum penalty of 3 months in prison and a fine of up to €3,750.
You also lose 6 points on your driver's license.
You also risk additional penalties following:
- Suspension of the license for a maximum of 3 years (possible development outside the professional activity)
- Sentence of community service
- Sentence of fine days.
To find out how to challenge the impoundment of your vehicle, see the notification the decision to impound. The notification shall indicate to which authority to address your appeal: public prosecutor the place where the vehicle was removed, or the prefect of the place where the vehicle was removed.
Within 5 years working days following your appeal, the competent authority confirms or orders the impoundment of your vehicle release.
For get the cancelation from impoundment, you must enter the court of the place where your vehicle was removed. If the judge cancels the procedure, you can ask the pound authority (prefecture or commune) to reimburse the pound costs.
Who shall I contact
The court having jurisdiction depends on the gravity of the offense that led to the impoundment of the vehicle:
- Local court for an offense of the first 4 classes;
- Police Court for an offense under Section 5e class;
- Correctional Tribunal for a offense.
Local, police and correctional courts sit on the judicial court.
When a offense or a contravention of section 5e Class are established, the decision to impound the vehicle must be authorized by the public prosecutor.
In case of decision to release as it is final, you can claim the reimbursement of impound costs for legal costs. You must make the request in a 6 months delay following the decision to release. The request is made by declaration to the graft against receipt or by registered letter with AR: titleContent. Attach the following documents to your application:
- Copy of the discharge decision
- Proof of payment of the removal and impoundment costs.
The amount of the refund is calculated according to the rates for collection fees and childcare fees. Reimbursement of costs is limited to the period prior to the decision to release the animal from impoundment.
An impoundment decided by the prefect provisionally must be authorized by the public prosecutor in a 7 days delay.
If the judge cancels the impoundment, there are 2 possible situations:
- If the public prosecutor has not extended the impoundment at the end of the 7-day period, you can request reimbursement of the costs of removal and the first 7 days of custody to the impound authority (commune or prefecture).
- If the public prosecutor has extended the impoundment, the Ministry of Justice covers the costs of custody from 8e day.
On the same subject
Competence of the City of Paris for the management of pounds (Article 36)
Impoundment
Fixed asset
Impoundment
Impoundment
Online service
Online service
Online service
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr
City of Paris