The Police (Retention and Disposal of Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2002

Release of vehicles

5.—(1) Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, if, before a relevant motor vehicle is disposed of by an authority, a person satisfies the authority that he is the owner of that vehicle and pays to the authority such a charge in respect of its removal and retention as is provided for in regulation 6, the authority shall permit him to remove the vehicle from their custody.

(2) In determining whether it is satisfied that a person who claims to be the owner of a relevant motor vehicle is in fact the owner, an authority may consider such documentary evidence as that person may supply to them.

(3) A person who would otherwise be liable to pay a charge under paragraph (1) shall not be liable to pay if—

(a) the use by reference to which the vehicle was seized under section 59 of the 2002 Act was not a use by him; and

(b) he did not know of the use of the vehicle in the manner which led to its seizure, had not consented to its use in that manner and could not, by the taking of reasonable steps, have prevented its use in that manner.