Packing a vehicle
Verified 08 August 2022 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
Packing notification: new rules from october 2022
The decree no. 2022-1040 of 22 july 2022 amends certain rules concerning the impounding of a vehicle.
The time limit for abandonment of a vehicle increases from 15 to 7 days when the vehicle was used to commit the offence of motorised rodeos.
This text will apply from 1to October 2022.
This page remains current and will be modified on this date.
Your vehicle was parked on a reserved spot and was impounded? Your vehicle was confiscated after speeding above 30 mph and then impounded? Wondering how to recover your vehicle and what fees you have to pay? We inform you about the rules to know and the steps to take.
Your vehicle may be impounded if you have committed certain traffic violations.
For example, awkward parking of your vehicle in double line.
The person responsible for removing your vehicle:
- Designates the pound where your vehicle is transferred
- Establish description of the vehicle before its removal. At your request, a copy of the description sheet is sent to you.
- Prepare a report or report indicating the reasons for impounding
The impounding is done by lifting or towing your vehicle.
Before your vehicle is removed, law enforcement checks to see if it has been stolen.
You and your insurer are immediately informed.
Your vehicle is impounded on a precautionary basis.
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If the removal of your vehicle has not started
Removal of the vehicle to the impound begins when at least 2 wheels of the vehicle have left the ground or from the beginning of the vehicle's movement.
You can pick up your vehicle if you arrive before the abduction.
You must pay the pre-impound fee if the vehicle is already on site:
- €15.20 for a car,
- for a 2 or 3-wheel drive
- €22.90 for a heavy lorry.
If the removal of your vehicle started
Removal of the vehicle to the impound begins when at least 2 wheels of the vehicle have left the ground or from the beginning of the vehicle's movement.
If the vehicle removal has started, you can recover your vehicle if you pay for it removal fee or if you agree in writing to pay them.
You must also commit to release to the public (illegal parking, double queues...)
Please note
If you are away for several days, you receive a recommended letter AR: titleContent.
Letter sent in 5 business days following the impounding of your vehicle.
General case
If you are not present when the vehicle is removed, ask the police station or police station nearest to the parking place.
In Paris
You can search your vehicle through an online service.
Prepare the vehicle registration number.
Within 3 days of abduction
To recover your vehicle (and the carte grise if it has been removed), you must present insurance certificate vehicle and your driving licence valid.
If a driving ban decision has been made, you must have a vehicle expertise out of the pound.
Your vehicle can leave the pound on tray vehicle provided that insured.
If you use a qualified professional to tow your vehicle, you must only present the insurance certificate.
You must tell law enforcement the name of the chosen professional.
In all cases, you must pay pound fees to the guard.
More than 3 days after
Your vehicle is classified in one of the following 2 categories:
- Vehicle to be handed over to Domains
This means your vehicle is considered abandoned at the end of 15 days following notification impound. - Vehicle to be destroyed
This means that your vehicle, after estimating its market value, is considered abandoned at the end of 10 days following the impound notification.
If the administration has heard from you before the end of the drop-out period
To recover your vehicle (and the carte grise if it has been removed), you must present insurance certificate vehicle and your driving licence valid.
If a driving ban decision has been made, you must have the vehicle tested out of the pound.
Your vehicle can leave the pound on tray vehicle provided that insured.
If you use a qualified professional to tow your vehicle, you must only present the insurance certificate.
You must tell law enforcement the name of the chosen professional.
In all cases, you must pay pound fees to the guard.
If the administration has no news from you after the drop-out period has ended
Your vehicle is considered abandoned.
The Domain Service sell or destroy your vehicle.
If the Domains department has put your vehicle on sale, you can still recover it before it is sold.
To do this, you have to pay the listing fees to the domain department and the pound fees to the pound keeper.
The guardian of the pound returns your vehicle on condition that you pay pound charge.
If you want to get your vehicle back when the Domaines department has put your vehicle up for sale, you must also pay selling fee at the Domaines department.
The prices are maximum amounts.
Private car
General case
Hardware Asset: €7.60
Prerequisites: €15.20
Removal: €121.27
Daily Guard: €6.42
Listing: €100
Paris
Hardware Asset: €7.60
Prerequisites: €15.20
Removal: €150
Daily Guard: €29
Listing: €100
Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse
Hardware Asset: €7.60
Prerequisites: €15.20
Removal: €126
Daily Guard: €10
Listing: €61
2 or 3 wheels
General case
Hardware Asset: €7.60
Prerequisites: €7.60
Removal: €45.70
Daily Guard: €3
Listing: €50
Paris
Hardware Asset: €7.60
Prerequisites: €7.60
Removal: €49
Daily Guard: €10
Listing: €50
Heavy Weight
Amounts vary by PTAC vehicle.
Between 19 and 44 tons (inclusive)
Hardware Asset: €7.60
Prerequisites: €22.90
Removal: €274.40
Daily Guard: €9.20
Listing: €120
Between 7,5 and 19 tons (inclusive)
Hardware Asset: €7.60
Prerequisites: €22.90
Removal: €213.40
Daily Guard: €9.20
Expertise: €120
Between 3.5 and 7.5 tons (inclusive)
Hardware Asset: €7.60
Prerequisites: €22.90
Removal: €122
Daily Guard: €9.20
Listing: €120
Other registered vehicle
Hardware Asset: €7.60
Prerequisites: €7.60
Removal: €45.70
Daily Guard: €3
Listing: €50
Example :
Charges are €200.1 for a car impounded in Paris recovered on the same day (€7.60 + €15.2 + €150 + €29).
Obstructing the impounding of your vehicle is punishable by up to 3 months in prison and a fine of up to €3,750.
You lose too 6 points on your driver's licence.
You may also additional penalties following:
- Suspension of the licence for a period of up to 3 years (possible accommodation outside the professional activity)
- Penalty work of general interest
- Penalty fine days
- Act No. 2017-257 of 28 February 2017 on the status of Paris and metropolitan planningJurisdiction of the City of Paris for the management of forages (Article 36)
- Route Code: Articles L325-1 to L325-14Packing
- Route Code: items R325-2 to R325-11Fixed
- Route Code: items R325-12 to R325-46Packing
- Route Code: Items A325-12 to A325-14Packing
- Decree No. 72-823 of 6 September 1972 laying down the conditions for delivery to the authority responsible for the areas of vehicles not removed from the pound by their owners
- Order of 4 November 2020 fixing the dates of entry into force by department of the new rules relating to motor vehicle forages (Order No 2020-773 of 24 June 2020)
- Order of November 4, 2020 amending the Order of November 14, 2001 fixing the maximum rates for motor vehicle impoundment charges and indicating the date of entry into force by department
- Order of 29 April 2009 concerning damaged vehicles for passenger cars and vans
- Order of 28 November 2003 fixing the maximum fares for vehicle impoundments in the most important municipalities
- Order of 14 November 2001 fixing the maximum rates for motor vehicle impoundment charges
- Search for a vehicle removed or moved to Paris
Online service
- Immobilisation of a vehicleService-Public.fr
- Vehicle ConfiscationService-Public.fr
- Moving or impounding a vehicle in ParisCity of Paris