How long can a vehicle be retrieved after being impounded for unlicensed driving?
2 Answers
After a motor vehicle is temporarily impounded, the driver, owner, or administrator of the vehicle should bring all the legal documents for the impounded vehicle to the traffic management department to apply for retrieval within 30 days. Circumstances of unlicensed driving: If the type of motor vehicle driven by the driver exceeds the scope of the vehicle types permitted by the driver's license, it will be treated as unlicensed driving (e.g., a person holding only a C license driving a vehicle requiring a B license, or a person holding only a B license driving a vehicle requiring an A license, etc.). If the driver does not carry a motor vehicle driver's license that matches the type of vehicle being driven, it should be considered as unlicensed driving. Circumstances where insurance companies will not compensate: The driver does not have a driving qualification or is drunk; the insured motor vehicle is involved in an accident during theft or robbery; the insured intentionally causes a road traffic accident.
Last time my friend was really anxious when this happened. If your car is impounded for unlicensed driving, you can actually handle it on the same day after paying the fine. But the key point is that the actual driver must first complete all penalties: pay a 2000 yuan fine and possibly face detention for up to 15 days. The vehicle owner also needs to bring their ID card, vehicle registration certificate, and compulsory traffic insurance policy to the traffic police station, and wait for the police to verify the information before the release order is issued. If the unlicensed driver was also drunk driving or caused an accident, you'll have to wait until the case investigation is completed before retrieving the car. The entire process can take as little as three to five working days, but delays exceeding 30 days are common. It's recommended to call 122 first to get the impound lot's contact information to avoid a wasted trip.
