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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2026 No. 704
POLICE
ROAD TRAFFIC
The Removal, Storage and Disposal of Motor
Vehicles Timeframes (Amendment) Regulations 2026
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 2002(1), section 165B of the Road Traffic Act 1988(2), sections
67(3) and 67(5) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994(3).
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.
Part 1
General
Citation, commencement and extent
1.—(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.
(1) 2002 c. 30.
(2) 1988 c. 52. Section 165B was inserted by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15).
(3) 1994 c. 33.Document Generated: 2026-07-01
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
Part 2
Amendment of the Police (Retention and
Disposal of Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2002
Amendment of the Police (Retention and Disposal of Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2002
2. The Police (Retention and Disposal of Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2002(4) are amended in
accordance with this Part.
Amendment of regulation 2
3. In regulation 2, omit the definition of “working days”.
Amendment of regulation 4
4. In regulation 4, in paragraph (3)(c), for “7 working days” substitute “7 days”.
Amendment of regulation 7
5. 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”.
Part 3
Amendment of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Retention and
Disposal of Seized Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2005
Amendment of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Retention and Disposal of Seized Motor Vehicles)
Regulations 2005
6. The Road Traffic Act 1988 (Retention and Disposal of Seized Motor Vehicles) Regulations
2005(5) are amended in accordance with this Part.
Amendment of regulation 2
7. In regulation 2, omit the definition of “working days”.
Amendment of regulation 4
8. In regulation 4, in paragraph (4)(c) for “7 working days” substitute “7 days”.
Amendment of regulation 7
9. 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”.
(4) S.I. 2002/3049. Relevant amendments to this S.I. were made by S.I. 2005/2702.
(5) S.I. 2005/1606. Amendments have been made to this S.I. but they are not relevant to these Regulations.
2Document Generated: 2026-07-01
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
Part 4
Amendment of the Police (Retention and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1995
Amendment of the Police (Retention and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1995
10. The Police (Retention and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1995(6) are amended in
accordance with this Part.
Amendment of regulation 4
11. In regulation 4, in paragraph (3)(c), for “21 days” substitute “7 days”.
Amendment of regulation 6
12. In regulation 6, in paragraph (5)(a), for “3 months” substitute “7 days”.
Sarah Jones
Minister of State
29th June 2026 Home Office
(6) S.I. 1995/723.
3Document Generated: 2026-07-01
Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This
item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
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.
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