What happens if my car is impounded and I cannot get it back straight away?

Under the Land Transport Act 1998, police can impound vehicles in certain circumstances, including for specified driving offences such as reckless or dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, excess breath or blood alcohol offences, or illegal street racing, and impoundment periods vary depending on the offence and whether it is a repeat offence, commonly ranging from a set number of days up to longer periods for repeat breaches. You will usually need to pay towage and storage costs before the vehicle is released, and if fees remain unpaid for a lengthy period, the vehicle can eventually be sold to recover costs. If you believe the impoundment was not lawfully applied, or the vehicle belongs to someone other than the offender who was unaware of the risk, there are limited grounds to apply to the court for early release. Contact the police unit responsible and get legal advice quickly, especially if you rely on the vehicle for work.