Motorbike seized by police - need advice please

[Upinflames]

Hi chaps,

I bought my nephew a 125cc motorbike, he hasn't passed his test but did his CBT when I bought it a couple of years ago. The V5 is in his name. All good.

He got stopped by police this morning and discovered his CBT only lasted 2 years rather than the 3 years he thought it did. The police have seized the bike. They have told him he can't collect the bike unless he has a valid CBT, he thinks they said will crush it if he hasn't collected it in 2 weeks.

My question is is that although he is the registered keeper the bike is mine. I have a bike licence. Do you think I can go to the compound and announce that I've come to collect my bike?

Help appreciated.

[Jamescrs]

I believe you have to go to the Police Station first with a seizure notice he will have been given to shoe the bike is insured and that someone with a licence is collecting it.

I would suggest taking the V5 along with the proof you are the owner and you both go to the local Police station helpdesk.

The recovery company will not release the bike without authority of the Police and yes in 14 days you loose the bike.

In addition its likely there's a daily storage fee on top of recovery to pay.

[Gareth79]

Which force? There's usually a detailed page on the force's website with full details, eg. the Met's is here:

https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-inform...

Which, if they follow the same rules, you can collect it so long as you have insurance for the vehicle with you named, and a letter and copy of documents. I suspect it will be easier if they are with you, and also named on the insurance, it seems a bit wooly. The implication is they look out for a friend buying a cheap easy-to-cancel policy for the bike, without declaring the full circumstances.

[Upinflames]

Jamescrs said:

I believe you have to go to the Police Station first

I'll do that first thing and ask them what they need, thanks

[Yabu]

Don’t suppose he’s taken a car test within the 2 years the cbt?

[Caddyshack]

Yabu said:

Don’t suppose he’s taken a car test within the 2 years the cbt?

Does that make a difference then?

[Drawweight]

As it’s a 125 motorbike is it possible to use a van to pick it up therefore not needing it to be insured?

A lot of bike policies have a clause to allow riding other bikes but I just had a quick look at mine (BeMoto) and it seems to exclude using it for the purposes of releasing from a pound.

[Saleen836]

Drawweight said:

As it’s a 125 motorbike is it possible to use a van to pick it up therefore not needing it to be insured?

A lot of bike policies have a clause to allow riding other bikes but I just had a quick look at mine (BeMoto) and it seems to exclude using it for the purposes of releasing from a pound.

I doubt it, or what is to stop you parking round the corner and riding the bike off somewhere?

[LosingGrip]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Depends on the force. Mine you go to the station first, get it stamped and then go to the recovery yard and get it back.

OP you’ll be able to collect it. You’ll need to be insured on the bike. Third party cover via your insurance doesn’t normally allow cover to get it out from police compound.

I’d attend with your nephew with the V5, your insurance details and driving licence.

[Durzel]

Dumb question but can’t you just walk a bike for as long as you want, with (or without?) insurance, without needing a license?

[BertBert]

Durzel said:

Dumb question but can’t you just walk a bike for as long as you want, with (or without?) insurance, without needing a license?

Of you could get it out of the pound, maybe yes

[Yabu]

Caddyshack said:

Yabu said:

Don’t suppose he’s taken a car test within the 2 years the cbt?

Does that make a difference then?

Cat held + Car test = Cbt doesn’t expire after 2 years providing you keep hold of dl 196(cbt cert)

Unless that changed recently

Edited by Yabu on Tuesday 15th February 22:22

[MDUBZ]

Having a CBT and passing the car test within the 2 year window applies for a bike up to 50cc, the ops bike is a 125..

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

The advice above is just plain wrong so ignore it.

There is absolutely no point in going to the compound until you have had the documents 'stamped'. It will have been seized under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act, which means that there is a defined procedure in order to reclaim the vehicle - this varies from force to force. But either which way the documents will need to be produced and checked by either the forces Vehicle Recovery Unit or the front desk at the nominated police station and the paperwork to then release the bike will be generated.

Some forces are funny about releasing seized vehicles to people other than the registered keeper so be prepared for an uphill battle and if you try to reclaim it yourself you will most likely have to produce a proper insurance policy for it in your name. They are not likely to release it on some third party cover.

If you turn up at the compound without doing any of this, you will just be turned away.

[LosingGrip]

Durzel said:

Dumb question but can’t you just walk a bike for as long as you want, with (or without?) insurance, without needing a license?

To get it released there needs to be a policy in place for that person.

[smack]

Matt_E_Mulsion said:

The advice above is just plain wrong so ignore it.

The poster you said is wrong is, or at at least was a Police Officer, and seizing vehicles part of his daily job. So I dare say he knows what he is talking about.

[bearman68]

I hire cars, that will occasionally get impounded.

I have never been to the police station. I have rocked up at the pound with insurance for the car, paperwork to show I am the owner (I am not normally the registered keeper), a pile of money, and even more patience.
You'll also need ID, and usually a license as well.

Explain this to the dumbass on the pound door. Get let into the office. Explain the situation to the dumbass behind the computer. Wait around for a bit while they check with the boss.
Pay lots of money. (£150 for a car, plus £20 a day), wait around a bit more, while dumbass 1 photocopies his scrotum. Go out to the car, drive it out of the pound. Release any possessions inside the car to the pound, as in my case they are not mine to take. Sign some more documents (dog knows what for at this stage), and hours later drive it away. Usually to the nearest fuel station, because impounded cars are never impounded with fuel in them.

Drive home.

Have a soothing cup of tea, and a moan to friends.

[Digger]

[redacted]

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Well your system down there in London must be different to the ones operated up North here in the Midlands. Are you compounds run by the police force themselves or do you use independent garages?

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Up here all of the seized vehicles are stored in the compounds of the rota recovery garage. The garage/compound have no real jurisdiction in who can claim what, they only follow instruction from the Police Force's Vehicle Recovery Unit.

Hence forth, any document checks for seized vehicles (165's) is done before the customer turns up to collect their vehicle and they are either issued with paperwork to say who it can be released to, or the ELVIS system is updated with this info.

The garages up here are literally just the middle men, they are not manned or operated by any police staff.