The constabulary has imposed what appears to be a particularly onerous charging practice upon those whose vehicles it recovers – storage will run from the day the vehicle is stored, whether or not it has been released. If, for example, the constabulary does not release (make the car available for recovery) the vehicle for two weeks, the owner will be charged irrespective, will pay the daily storage rate for those two weeks.
In 09/2024, Warwickshire police had just one vehicle examiner. This person was on holiday for two weeks i.e. every vehicle held for examination would attract a charge of 14 days @ £26/day = £364.
Likely when the examiner returned from their break they were faced with a backlog of examination requests … each day adding a further £26 to the storage bill.
We understand the letter is posted to the keeper i.e. this will added a day or more to the retention (at £26/day), a opposed to making a call or messaging via SMS or email.
Warwickshire explained they have a County Court Judgment supporting the Charging of Storage Costs while vehicle remains unavailable for collection. This gives an option to pay the statutory fees early to freeze the amount of storage paid while the vehicle remains unavailable for collection. Payment of fees is made by contacting the Recovery Agent (Crouch).
HOW TO AVOID FURTHER FEES:
A means by which to avoid this accumulating charge is described in Warwickshire constabulary’s standard letter to keeper (below).
Letter to victim:
Stolen Vehicle [VRM] & [Make / Model]
Whilst we are regretfully writing to you in these circumstances, please be advised that your vehicle has been recovered to prevent its further theft and/or damage and is currently being held for safe keeping at the premises of:
CROUCH RECOVERY WOLVEY DEPOT, FIVEWAYS, WOLVEY, LE10 3HG, 0116 279 2245.
Your vehicle has been recovered under the S99 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984* and the Removal, Storage and Disposal of Vehicles Regulation 1986, set statutory fees under statue 2095 of 2008.
The recovery charge is £[x] and £26.00 per day for storage. Storage charges apply to each 24 hour period (or part thereof) calculated from noon on the first day of recovery.
Please be advised that it may be necessary for the police to retain your vehicle for the purpose of forensic examination relating to the investigation of your stolen vehicle, which most owners will agree with as this assists the police in their efforts to bring the thief to justice.
If your vehicle is retained for forensic examination, the storage costs on this will continue to accrue, unless early payment is made to freeze the fees.
Should the statutory fees be paid immediately, you will only be liable for the recovery fee and any storage until the date/time of payment, which is made to the recovering garage.
These storage charges then begin again at 12 noon the day after its release from police retention as we no longer require your vehicle for evidential purposes and it is ready for collection. The Recovery Operator is unable to release the vehicle until the charges are paid. You may do this by BACS, credit card/debit card over the phone or by sending a cheque with at least three days extra storage to cover the delay between sending and receiving the cheque. The garage will then notify either yourself or insurance claims or salvage yard/relevant department when the vehicle is released by phone. Statutory storage will restart 24 hours following the collection notification. Failure to pay these initial storage charges to date will result in defaulting to the force policy of a maximum of 30 days storage being due on collection.
The Recovery Operator is unable to release the vehicle until the charges are paid.
Whilst this can sound worrying, we recommend that you;
- Firstly contact the recovery garage to find out whether your vehicle has been retained for forensic examination and also whether the garage need keys for the forensic team to access your vehicle. If the vehicle is locked and you have spare keys, these can then be sent to the garage to speed up the forensic process. Also inform the garage at this point if you are going to make an insurance claim (we recommend you do due to the uncertainty surrounding the condition of your vehicle whilst out of your possession) or not.
- If you are choosing not to go through your insurance (or you have no insurance), then you can also make payment at this point to the garage to keep the statutory fees at a minimum.
- Next, contact your insurance company, if you are insured against loss through theft. Inform them of where your vehicle is located (found at the top of this letter) and if a claim is made through your insurance company, then they will deal with the matter on your behalf and will also pay the statutory fees relating to your vehicle as part of your insurance claim. Further, if the offender is known, it is also possible that the charges may be recoverable from the offender or through the Criminal Courts.
As the registered keeper/insured or agent of this vehicle, you are the responsible person defined in s102(8) RTRA. If you dispute this, you must contact the Vehicle Recovery Scheme immediately.
Yours faithfully
Vehicle Recovery Scheme
*Section 99 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 provides for the removal of vehicles which have been illegally, obstructively or dangerously parked, or abandoned or broken down. The Secretary of State may make regulations for the removal of vehicles which have been permitted to remain at rest on a road in contravention of any statutory prohibition or restriction.
