See which offences can result in a car being impounded in France
There is also a time limit and set procedure to follow to recover a car
Authorities can remove a car if it is parked in an obstructive way
Sergii_Petruk/Shutterstock
A vehicle can be impounded in France if its owner commits certain offences with costs to pay to recover it.
What offences can lead to your vehicle being impounded?
Gendarmerie, police, municipal, or traffic officers can impound a vehicle for:
Failure of the owner/driver to comply with the Code de la route (road safety laws).
If the vehicle is disrupting public safety, peace or health; ruining the aesthetics of listed sites or the normal use of public roads.
Obstructive parking that causes a nuisance (e.g. impeding traffic flow), is abusive (e.g. parking for more than seven days), dangerous (compromising normal safety conditions, such as parking on a bridge or in a tunnel).
The owner or driver is caught speeding (exceeding the limit by more than 50 kph), driving without a licence, driving under the influence of alcohol; resisting a drug or alcohol test or arrest.
Non-compliance with a contrôle technique (CT), including failing to carry out any required repairs
Non-compliance of the vehicle, condition, or equipment in some way (e.g. too heavy, overloaded)
What is the procedure for impounding a vehicle?
A judicial police officer (officier de police judiciaire, OPJ) from the national police force or the national gendarmerie is authorised to request that a vehicle is impounded following the discovery of an offence.
An Assistant Judicial Police Officer (APJA), and head of the municipal police force can also submit a request.
The police would then:
Check that the vehicle has not been reported stolen
Designate the impound facility for the vehicle
Draw up a description of the vehicle (car, motorbike, lorry, etc.) with a copy sent to the driver/owner of the vehicle
Draw up a statement of offence or report stating the reasons for impounding the vehicle.
Enlist an approved company or impound facility manager to remove the vehicle and take it to the facility.
Can I ask for a car to be impounded?
Members of the public can ask authorities (including calling the police) to remove a vehicle if they believe the driver/owner is committing an offence.
For example:
If a vehicle is parked in front of a private garage, a building entrance or a house in an awkward position.
If the owner refuses to move the vehicle once informed of the problem.
A formal notice can be sent to the owner notifying them of the need to move their vehicle. If the situation is not resolved within eight days, the complainant can contact the police again and provide the vehicle registration number.
Can I prevent my vehicle from being impounded?
The owner of the vehicle can prevent it from being impounded under certain conditions.
Before the vehicle’s removal: If you arrange for the vehicle to be moved or collected by another service before two of its wheels have left the ground (ie when being removed by the authorities).
Before the vehicle begins its journey to the pound: If you take responsibility for moving the vehicle, even if it has already been collected ready for taking to the pound. However, the driver/owner will need to pay the costs already spent on collecting the vehicle.
After the vehicle has been taken to the pound: The owner can only recover the vehicle once they pay the collection costs (or state in writing that they will pay them), and pledge to return their vehicle to normal use (e.g. not re-committing an impoundable offence) immediately.
What if I refuse the impoundment of my vehicle?
If a driver or owner is found to be obstructing a legitimate impoundment, apart from in the cases listed above, they risk:
How do I know if my car has been impounded?
This depends on the vehicle’s original location.
If you are still unable to locate the vehicle you can contact the police station or gendarmerie to see if the vehicle was removed, and if so, when and to where.
How long can a car be impounded?
The maximum permitted period varies from 10 to 15 days, depending on the vehicle’s condition (poor condition and low-value cars are impounded for less time than those of higher value, good condition).
This time limit begins from the day that the owner has been notified of the impounding. This notification must be sent by registered letter within five working days of the vehicle’s removal.
What happens after this 10-15-day period?
Are there fees for the pound?
As well as the charge for the removal of your vehicle and its release from the pound, there are also fees for each day that the vehicle is impounded.
These are usually the responsibility of the car owner even if the vehicle has been stolen.
How much does a day at the pound cost?
Impound fee rates are set by decree in the Journal Officiel. They are set nationally, except in the cities of Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse. These cities set their own rates which reflect their particular traffic and parking issues and the extra complexity of removing vehicles in the city limits.
Everywhere else, as of March 1, 2024, the maximum impound fees for private cars are:
- Physical immobilisation (fitting of a steering or tyre lock): €7.60
- Operations prior to impoundment (e.g. moving the vehicle): €15.20
- Removal of a vehicle: €127.65
- Daily pound fee: €6.75
- Sale administration costs: €100
How can I get my impounded vehicle back?
You must first get a release from the authority (usually the police or gendarmerie) that ordered the impoundment.
You will need to present the following documents for this:
- Driving licence
- Insurance certificate
- Vehicle registration document (if it has not been withdrawn).
You will then need to take the release to the impound facility to get your vehicle back. You must also pay the full impound fee (or pledge to do so in writing).
