Statutory charges for removing and storing vehicles seized for uninsured driving in Northern Ireland will increase by 28% from Monday 10 November 2025. The Department of Justice has made the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (Retention and Disposal of Seized Motor Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (S.R. 2025 No. 168), updating the charge schedules in law for the first time since 2008 and bringing Northern Ireland back into line with England and Wales.
The power to set fees for the removal, retention and disposal of seized vehicles is contained in Article 180C of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. Detailed procedures, including seizure notices, release conditions and charging structures, are found in the 2008 Regulations made under that Order; those 2008 provisions remain in place but with the charge tables now uprated.
For cars and light vans up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass (MAM), the standard on‑road, upright removal charge rises to £192. If the vehicle is on road but not upright or is substantially damaged, the removal charge becomes £320. Where the vehicle is off road and upright the charge becomes £256, and if off road and either not upright or substantially damaged it becomes £384. Two‑wheeled vehicles are charged at the standard £192 rate regardless of condition or position.
For vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not more than 7.5 tonnes MAM, the standard on‑road, upright removal charge rises to £256. Where a vehicle is on road but not upright or substantially damaged the removal charge becomes £832; off road and upright becomes £512; and off road where either not upright or substantially damaged becomes £1,088.
For heavy goods vehicles above 7.5 tonnes and below 18 tonnes MAM, the on‑road rate where the vehicle is not upright or is substantially damaged is £2,561 if unladen and £3,842 if laden. If off road and upright the charges are £1,281 (unladen) and £1,921 (laden). Where off road and either not upright or substantially damaged, the charges are £3,842 (unladen) and £5,763 (laden). The standard on‑road, upright rate for this weight band is £448.
For vehicles exceeding 18 tonnes MAM, the on‑road rate where the vehicle is not upright or is substantially damaged is £3,842 if unladen and £5,763 if laden. If off road and upright the charges are £1,921 (unladen) and £2,561 (laden). Where off road and either not upright or substantially damaged, the charges are £5,763 (unladen) and £7,684 (laden). The standard on‑road, upright rate for this weight band is £448.
Storage charges are now £13 per 24‑hour period (or part) for two‑wheeled vehicles; £26 for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM; £32 for 3.5–7.5 tonnes; £38 for 7.5–18 tonnes; and £45 for vehicles over 18 tonnes. Under the 2008 Regulations the 24‑hour periods are reckoned from noon on the first day after removal when the storage site is open, and the definition of MAM includes any attached trailer; those provisions are unchanged.
Liability for fees remains with the registered keeper, owner or driver, subject to statutory protections. A person who was not driving, did not know or consent to the vehicle being driven, and could not reasonably have prevented it being driven is not liable. To secure release, the claimant must satisfy identity as keeper or owner, pay the prescribed charges and arrange for the production of a valid insurance certificate and driving licence at the specified police station.
The Department’s January 2025 summary confirmed the 28% uplift and signalled parallel amendments to related schemes for careless or off‑road driving and for vehicle seizure orders linked to unpaid fines. Operationally, the Department notes that statutory fees do not include a mileage element; the Police Service of Northern Ireland may pay mileage beyond 30 miles under local arrangements.
Transitional wording in the amending instrument provides that the revised removal and storage charges apply only where the vehicle is seized on or after 10 November 2025; vehicles seized before that date remain subject to the previous schedule for both removal and ongoing storage. The uplift mirrors the 2023 adjustments introduced in England and Wales, supporting parity across the UK for recovery operators and those liable for charges.