What is the procedure when a vehicle is impounded?

What happens to an impounded vehicle?

If the police have seized something of yours, you will receive a receipt. The receipt states exactly what was seized and the date it was seized. The police do not decide what happens to the items. Ultimately, the prosecutor ' s office will decide. The prosecutor can make four decisions:

1. Return
   If the prosecution believes the police should not have seized your belongings.
2. Storing as evidence
   If the items are needed as evidence in a lawsuit.
3. Sell
   Items purchased with criminal money or rapidly depreciating in value are often put up for sale immediately by order of the prosecutor's office.
4. Destroy
   If they are prohibited items that should not be returned to society or items of very low value.

The custody of impounded vehicles or other items is usually done by Domeinen Roerende Zaken (DRZ). When your belongings are returned, you will receive a letter from Domeinen Roerende Zaken telling you that you can come and pick them up. If the public prosecutor decides that items may be sold, DRZ organizes that as well.

Your impounded vehicle has been sold

After the seizure, the prosecution may sell the items subject to depreciation immediately. Thus, when it is later determined by the court that the items must be returned, they may have already been sold. In that case, you will be paid the sale proceeds as damages. Has your vehicle been destroyed? Then the assessed value will be paid out.

What about the insurance of an impounded vehicle?

Every owner of a vehicle has an insurance obligation. Even if your vehicle is impounded, you remain responsible for the obligations as an owner. That is, insurance, MOT and motor vehicle taxes. These obligations can be stopped by suspending the insurance. This is the temporary stopping of the insurance. You can arrange the suspension of a vehicle both online through the RDW and at a PostNL post office.

Questions?

More than 200,000 items are seized by police or investigative agencies each year. If you have questions about your belongings being seized, contact "the seizure desk. They can be reached Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at telephone number 088-1524200 or by e-mail: [email protected].