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The Removal, Storage and Disposal of Motor Vehicles Timeframes (Amendment) Regulations 2026

S.I. 2026/704 · Made 29 June 2026

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

POLICE

ROAD TRAFFIC

Made 29th June 2026

Laid before Parliament 1st July 2026

Coming into force 22nd July 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 60 and 105 (4) of the Police Reform Act 2002f1, section 165B of the Road Traffic Act 1988f2, sections 67 (3) and 67 (5) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994f3.

In accordance with section 195 (2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, before making these Regulations the Secretary of State has consulted with such representative organisations as she thinks fit.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

2002 c. 30.

f2

1988 c. 52. Section 165B was inserted by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15).

f3

1994 c. 33.

Contents

  1. Part 1: General
  2. 1Citation, commencement and extent
  3. Part 2: Amendment of the Police (Retention and Disposal of Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2002
  4. 2Amendment of the Police (Retention and Disposal of Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2002
  5. 3Amendment of regulation 2
  6. 4Amendment of regulation 4
  7. 5Amendment of regulation 7
  8. Part 3: Amendment of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Retention and Disposal of Seized Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2005
  9. 6Amendment of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Retention and Disposal of Seized Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2005
  10. 7Amendment of regulation 2
  11. 8Amendment of regulation 4
  12. 9Amendment of regulation 7
  13. Part 4: Amendment of the Police (Retention and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1995
  14. 10Amendment of the Police (Retention and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1995
  15. 11Amendment of regulation 4
  16. 12Amendment of regulation 6
  17. Signature
  18. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement and extent

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Removal, Storage and Disposal of Motor Vehicles Timeframes (Amendment) Regulations 2026.

(2)

These Regulations come into force on 22nd July 2026, but do not apply to vehicles seized or removed before that date.

(3)

Parts 1 and 3 of these Regulations extends to England and Wales and Scotland.

(4)

Parts 2 and 4 of these Regulations extends to England and Wales only.

2Amendment of the Police (Retention and Disposal of Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2002

The Police (Retention and Disposal of Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2002f1 are amended in accordance with this Part.

3Amendment of regulation 2

In regulation 2, omit the definition of “working days”.

4Amendment of regulation 4

In regulation 4, in paragraph (3) (c), for “7 working days” substitute “7 days”.

5Amendment of regulation 7

In regulation 7—

(a)

in paragraph (2) (a), for “14 days” substitute “7 days”;

(b)

in paragraph (2) (c), for “7 working days” substitute “7 days”.

6Amendment of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Retention and Disposal of Seized Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2005

The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Retention and Disposal of Seized Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2005f1 are amended in accordance with this Part.

7Amendment of regulation 2

In regulation 2, omit the definition of “working days”.

8Amendment of regulation 4

In regulation 4, in paragraph (4)(c) for “7 working days” substitute “7 days”.

9Amendment of regulation 7

In regulation 7—

(a)

in paragraph (2) (a), for “14 days” substitute “7 days”;

(b)

in paragraph (2) (c), for “7 working days” substitute “7 days”.

10Amendment of the Police (Retention and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1995

The Police (Retention and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1995f1 are amended in accordance with this Part.

11Amendment of regulation 4

In regulation 4, in paragraph (3)(c), for “21 days” substitute “7 days”.

12Amendment of regulation 6

In regulation 6, in paragraph (5)(a), for “3 months” substitute “7 days”.

Signature

Sarah Jones

Minister of State

Home Office

29th June 2026

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend regulations 4 and 7 of the Police (Retention and Disposal of Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2002, regulations 4 and 7 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Retention and Disposal of Seized Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2005 and regulations 4 and 6 of the Police (Retention and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1995.

These Regulations shorten the time frames to enable the disposing of vehicles at the end of 7 days from seizure and/or when a notice to collect is given. Where regulations previously gave 7 working days, they now give 7 days. Where the timeframes were previously 14 days, 21 days and 3 months, each is now compressed to 7 days.

These Regulations also remove the definition of “working days” from the Police (Retention and Disposal of Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2002 and the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Retention and Disposal of Seized Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2005.

A full impact assessment has not been prepared because the effect on costs for business, the voluntary sector and the public sector is not expected to exceed the relevant threshold. An economic note detailing the effect this instrument will have on the costs of business and the public sector is published alongside this instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk and hard copies are available from the Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, SW1P 4DF.