Vehicle immobilisation
Vehicle immobilisation is something the police use to stop a vehicle from moving.
Police officers have the power to immobilise your vehicle when they stop you. They also have the power to move the vehicle, or tell you to move it so they can fit an immobilisation device.
Vehicles can be immobilised for a number of reasons:
- if they are unfit for driving or overloaded (Section 69 or 70 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Section 1 Road Traffic (Foreign Vehicles) 1972)
- if there are unpaid penalty fines on your vehicle (Section 90D of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988)
- if goods vehicle drivers have broken the rules on drivers hours (Section 99A(1) of the Transport Act 1968)
The regulations do not apply in relation to a vehicle if a current disabled person’s badge or current recognised badge is displayed on that vehicle.
If your vehicle has been impounded for another reason, go to our impounded vehicles page.
Immobilisation device removal
To get an immobilisation device removed:
- You must pay any outstanding penalties or fines
- Vehicle defects will need to be repaired. The police or DVSA officer may also specify that an annual inspection of the vehicle may need to take place.
- Any prohibitions on driver hours must have expired.
Immobilisation covers the Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Police area.
You must pay for the removal of the immobilisation device. It costs £80 and you must pay through the GOV.UK Pay platform.
Please note all correspondence relating to your payment will come from gov.uk pay.
Once you've successfully submitted your online payment the final screen will show a unique reference number.
Confirmation of payment will be checked by a police officer.
Your vehicle will then be released.
Please note: It is illegal to remove an immobilisation device yourself.
Complaints about vehicle immobilisation
To appeal the decision to immobilise your vehicle, please email us quoting the 14 digit reference number.