Collect an impounded vehicle and impounded vehicle information

Under the Road traffic Act 1974 (WA) police officers are authorised to impound vehicles involved in hoon and driver's license offences as stipulated in Section 79 and Section 80.

In cases where immediate impoundment is impractical, a surrender notice may be issued as per Section 79BA.

Read the Road Traffic Act 1974 (WA)

Impound period

You 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)

Prior convictions or charges will be considered when determining the impoundment period for hoon offences:

Unlicensed motorcycles seized under Section 80O (Roadside Impoundment)

Court ordered impoundment or confiscation

Upon conviction the court may issue additional penalties as per Section 80G (Court orders for impoundment or confiscation):

Collecting your impounded vehicle

Upon the conclusion of, or during, the impoundment period complete the:

Release of a motor vehicle impounded application (PDF, 251KB)

Early release

Under certain conditions, you may be eligible to collect your vehicle prior to the scheduled release date. The decision regarding early release is at the discretion of a senior officer at the Vehicle Impound Unit. If early release is granted, you will receive notification outlining the process and any specific instructions for collection.

Complete the appropriate form based on your situation to begin the process. All applications must be submitted with supporting documentation (e.g., medical reports, employment details, lease agreement) for your application to be considered:

Exceptional hardship (PDF, 384KB)

You are encouraged to provide comprehensive and compelling evidence to support your request in the form of a detailed statement outlining the nature of hardship.

Substitute vehicle (PDF, 126KB)

A substitute vehicle application must be accompanied by photos of the vehicle as well as reasoning for the substitution. All vehicles subject to approval must be registered, in working order, and of similar or equal value to the impounded vehicle. 

Claim of rights to possession under section 80S (PDF, 332KB)

The applicant must be the registered owner or responsible person of the vehicle and provide the following:

• proof of their right to possession (e.g., ownership documents, contract of sale, statutory declarations)
• provide proof that the circumstances of the impoundment do not justify continued seizure (e.g., they did not have knowledge of acquiescence, theft)
• applications where the responsible person or a direct member of the responsible persons family was riding will not be eligible.

Hire vehicle (PDF, 342KB)

Applicants must be registered hire companies. Short term hire agreements only (up to 4 weeks). Long term agreements will not be considered.

Taxi (PDF, 514KB)

The applicant must prove that the impounded vehicle is a registered taxi. All documentation must be provided upon initial submission.

Stolen vehicle (PDF, 343KB)

Please supply incident report number and any other relevant details.

Incorrect impound (PDF, 344KB)

Disposal of vehicle

It is important to note that if an impounded vehicle is left uncollected, it will be disposed of 21 days after the expiration of the impoundment period, in accordance with Section 80J (Disposal of Impounded Vehicles).

If you decide not to retrieve the vehicle, you may complete a disposal of vehicles form (80JA) application requesting the Commissioner of Police to sell or dispose of an impounded vehicle to facilitate its disposal. The driver will be liable for all associated towage and storage costs.

Vehicles under finance will not be considered.

Disposal of vehicles form (80JA) application (PDF, 390KB)

Property release

Complete the release of property application if you are the registered owner of the vehicle and wish to have property released from the impounded vehicle

You are required to submit 100 points of identification for this request to be approved, in line with the 100 points of identification requirement. 

Release of property application (PDF, 295 KB)

Payment, refund and compensation

Payment

• The vehicle owner is responsible for all towage and storage costs incurred, irrespective of whether they were the driver at the time of the offence.
• Full payment is required on the day the vehicle is collected unless an approved payment plan is in place.
• The owner may authorise another individual to collect the vehicle on their behalf; this person must cover all associated costs.

Approved payment plan application (PDF, 347 KB)

Refunds

• The individual who pays towage and storage costs may be entitled to a refund if the driver is acquitted of the impounding offence (provided no other individual is convicted), or if the charge is withdrawn, dismissed, or no charge is laid.
• Complete the Refund of towage and storage costs application and email to vehicle.impoundments@police.wa.gov.au to request a refund. All attached correspondence must be clearly titled with the claimant’s name and the vehicle impoundment (VI) number. Refunds may take up to eight weeks to process.

Refund of towage and storage costs application (PDF, 280 KB)

Compensation

• If your vehicle or items were disposed of before a court outcome and you have since been acquitted or not charged with the offence, the owner may complete a compensation for disposed vehicles & items (80M) application. Please note: this only applies to vehicles impounded under Section 79B of the Road Traffic Act 1974.

Disposed vehicles & items (80M) application (PDF, 332KB)