Packing a vehicle
Verified 01 October 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Your vehicle was parked on a reserved spot and was impounded? Your vehicle was confiscated after speeding above 30 mph and then impounded? You wonder how to recover your vehicle and what fees you have to pay? We inform you about rules to know and steps to take.
Your vehicle may be impounded if you have committed certain traffic violations.
For example, parking inconvenience of your vehicle in double line.
The person responsible for removing your vehicle:
- Designates the pound to which your vehicle is transferred
- Establish a description of the vehicle prior to its removal. At your request, a copy of the description sheet is sent to you.
- Write minutes or report indicating reasons for impounding
The impound is then carried out by the uprising or towing your vehicle.
Before of have your vehicle removed, law enforcement check if 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
Vehicle Removal to the pound starts from the moment at least 2 wheels vehicle left the ground or from start of move vehicle.
You can reclaim your vehicle if you arrive before the abduction.
You must prepayment at the impound if the abducting vehicle is already in place:
- €15.20 for a car,
- for a 2 or 3-wheel drive
- €22.90 for a heavyweight.
If the removal of your vehicle has started
Vehicle Removal to the pound starts from the moment at least 2 wheels vehicle left the ground or from start of move vehicle.
If the vehicle removal has started, you can reclaim your vehicle if pay the removal fee or if you agree in writing to pay them.
You must also commit to liberate to the public (illegal parking, double queues...)
Please note
you can challenge the impounding decision.
If you absent for several days, you receive a recommended letter with AR: titleContent.
The letter is sent in 5 business days following the impounding of your vehicle.
General case
If you not present during removal of the vehicle, ask the police or police closest to parking space.
In Paris
You can search your vehicle through a online service.
Prepare registration number vehicle.
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Within 3 days of abduction
For recover your vehicle (and the carte grise if it has been removed from you) the insurance certificate the vehicle and your driving licence valid.
If driving prohibition decision has been taken, you have to make 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 professional you choose.
In all cases, you must pay the pound fee to the guard.
More than 3 days after
Your vehicle is listed in one of 2 Categories following:
- Vehicle to be handed over to Domains
This means that your vehicle is considered abandoned at the end of 15 days following notification for impounding. - 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, or 7 days if the vehicle was used for urban rodeo.
If the administration has heard from you before the end of the drop-out period
For recover your vehicle (and the carte grise if it has been removed from you) the insurance certificate the 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 professional you choose.
In all cases, you must pay the pound fee to the guard.
If the administration has no news from you after the drop-out period has ended
Your vehicle is considered abandoned.
The Domains department 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 pay the 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 indicated are maximum amounts.
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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).
Obstruct pitchfork of your vehicle is punishable by a maximum penalty of 3 months in prison and fine up to €3,750.
You lose too 6 points on your driving 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)
- Sentence general interest work
- Sentence 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)
- Highway Code: Sections L325-1 to L325-14Packing
- Route Code: sections R325-2 to R325-11Fixed
- Route Code: sections R325-12 to R325-46Packing
- Route Code: Items A325-12 to A325-14Packing
- Decree No. 2022-1040 of 22 July 2022 on measures in the field of road safety provided for by Law No. 2022-52 of 24 January 2022
- 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