Police will immediately impound a vehicle if you drive a vehicle without a valid driver’s licence for certain unauthorised driving offences, including:
- driving contrary to a Disqualification Notice
- driving recklessly, commonly referred to as a hoon type offence (e.g., speeding 45km/h over the limit).
You may be issued with a surrender notice if it is impractical to impound a vehicle immediately.
Collecting an impounded vehicle
At the completion of the impound period:
Complete the vehicle release form (PDF, 251KB)
In some circumstances you may be able to collect your vehicle before the scheduled release date - complete the form relevant to your circumstance:
- exceptional hardship (PDF, 384KB)
- hire vehicle (PDF, 342KB)
- incorrect impound (PDF, 344KB)
- stolen vehicle (PDF, 343KB)
- substitute vehicle (PDF, 126KB)
- claim of rights to possession under section 80S (PDF, 332KB) – if the vehicle was driven without the owner’s knowledge.
If an impounded vehicle is confiscated or left uncollected, it may be disposed of 21 days after the expiration of the impoundment period.
If you do not wish to have the vehicle returned you can complete the disposal of vehicles form (80JA) application (PDF, 390KB) to have it disposed of. You will still be liable for all towage and storage costs.
Property
Complete the release of property application (PDF, 295 KB) if you are the owner of the vehicle and wish for WA Police Force to release property from an impounded vehicle.
Payment, refund and compensation
Show morePayment
The owner of the vehicle is responsible for paying all towage and storage costs even if they were not the driver.
Full payment is required on the day the vehicle is collected unless you have an approved payment plan (PDF, 347 KB).
If you were not the driver you can:
- authorise another person to collect the vehicle on your behalf, who must pay all costs associated with the impounded vehicle
- pay to collect the vehicle and recover the costs from the driver through civil proceedings at a later date.
Refunds
The person responsible for paying the towage and storage costs of the impounded vehicle may be entitled to a refund if the person is acquitted of the impounding offence (and no other person is convicted for the offence), the charge is withdrawn, amended, dismissed or no charge is laid.
Complete the refund form (PDF, 280 KB) and email to vehicle.impoundments@police.wa.gov.au.
Any attached emails and scans must be titled with the claimants’ name and the VI number. Refunds may take up to eight weeks for the funds to be available.
Compensation
Complete the compensation for disposed vehicles & items (80S) application (PDF, 332KB) if your vehicle or items were disposed of before a court outcome and you have since been acquitted or not charged with committing the offence.
Impound period
Show moreYou will be notified by police of the length of time your car will be impounded for your offence(s) or if there have been any changes.
First and second offences (roadside impoundment)
Offence | 1st offence | 2nd or subsequent offence |
| Driver's licence convictions | 28 days | 28 days |
| Reckless driving charges | 28 days | 3 months |
Court ordered impoundment or confiscation
Upon conviction for a third or subsequent offence, as well as the normal penalties for the offence, a Court may also order:
1st conviction | 2nd or subsequent conviction | 3rd or subsequent conviction | Notes |
| Impounding Offence (driving) | N/A | N/A | Confiscation order must be granted unless hardship applies to a person other than the driver or alternatively 6 months impoundment |
| Impounding Offence (driver’s licence) | N/A | 3 months impoundment | 6 months impoundment or confiscation order may apply |
| Road rage | 6 months impoundment or confiscation order may apply | 6 months impoundment or confiscation order may apply | 6 months impoundment or confiscation may apply |
Contact Vehicle Impound Unit
Show moreContact option | Contact details |
| Email: | viu@police.wa.gov.au |
| Address: | PO Box 6119 East Perth WA 6984 |
| Office hours: | 7am to 3pm Monday to Friday Closed public holidays and weekends |
| General enquiries: | 9373 2440 |
| Property and vehicle release: | 6319 4530 |
| Early release: | 6319 4531 |
| Payment plans: | 6319 4532 |
| Disposals and uncollected vehicles: | 6319 4533 |
| Surrender notice: | 6319 4534 |
| Finance: | 6319 4535 |
| Other: | 6319 4536 |
