Map reveals UK areas cops SEIZE the most cars as 214k vehicles taken off roads – where does your home rank?

POLICE forces have seized around 214,000 vehicles from our roads in 2023, according to a report.

A recent study by the National Scrap Car collected data from 23 police forces in the UK and found which areas had the most cars seized.

Dundee had the highest concentration of vehicle seizures, with more than 23,000 taken by the police force last year.

The results revealed that uninsured/untaxed vehicles, road traffic collisions and stolen vehicles were the most common causes for the forces to take action.

The West Midlands was second with around 23,203 seized vehicles, followed by Greater Manchester with 22,317.

Dorry Potter, a car expert at National Scrap Car, explained: "There are multiple reasons why the police can take a vehicle, whether it has been used in a crime, abandoned, considered a nuisance or risk, or if the vehicle is uninsured or untaxed."

Once the car is seized by police, depending on what state the car is in, it can be returned to its owners, sold at an auction or scrapped.

The study aimed to locate which parts of the country had the highest "volume of impounded" cars and hoped to answer "why so many vehicles are kept in car pounds up and down" the UK.

The data showed that 59 per cent of reported seized vehicles were returned to their owners.

However, more than one in six of these vehicles ended up being destroyed with a further 12,939 cars sold at auction.

Road traffic collisions are the second most common reason for vehicle seizures with more than 49,000 cars possessed by police across the UK.

Dundee had the highest number of seizures due to road traffic collisions, with 8,608 cars possessed by the police at that time.

Cars are typically seized because they're no longer road-worthy following an accident, or in some cases, they are kept as evidence by the police.

The majority of vehicles sent to be impounded were due to them not having insurance or legal licenses, which means it doesn't abide by Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

In total, more than 56,700 vehicles were impounded across the UK for having no insurance or licence, with the highest volume in the West Midlands where 7,339 vehicles were seized in the 12 months.

You are required by law to hold a full, valid driving licence, with the only exception being learner drivers who hold provisional licences.

Under motoring law, anyone using a vehicle on the road or in another public place must have valid insurance against third-party risks.

This includes vehicles which are merely parked on public roads and not being driven. 

Drivers who don’t abide by these laws can face fines, driving bans and in the case here, see their vehicles seized. 

INCONSIDERATE DRIVING

It comes after police warned school-run parents in the Lytham area over "illegal" and "inconsiderate driving".

One car was seized by cops during the crackdown at drop-off times.

Officers seized the uninsured Audi from a man "who believed he could park causing an obstruction".

Following the vehicle's seizure, police now claim they will deal with bad drivers "robustly" and warned parents to "expect" regular police "action".

A Fylde Police spokesperson said: "You may have seen a recent police and traffic enforcement officer presence at both Heyhouses Primary and Lytham Hall Primary.

"This is in response to numerous reports from concerned teachers and parents regarding the safety of children.

"Your children are put in danger daily due to illegal, and inconsiderate driving and parking, by a minority of road users.

"We have had a very positive response from most of the parents and children we have encountered, and for that we thank you.

"Our intention is to educate drivers to prevent these behaviours continuing.

"However, we will be dealing with those drivers who continue to put children at risk robustly, so expect police action to be a regular occurrence."