- Find a driver licensing office
- Getting licensed
- Book a road test
- Renew or replace a licence
- Driver training
- Driving record
- Moving
- Tickets and penalties
- B.C. identification card
- Driver re-examination
- Tips for senior drivers
- Required ID
- Fees
- Your privacy
Vehicle impoundment for other reasons
Besides impaired driving, police may impound a vehicle for other reasons, including
- driving while unlicensed or improperly licensed
- driving while suspended or prohibited
- excessive speeding (40km/hr or more over the posted limit)
- street racing or performing a stunt, and
- being improperly seated on a motorcycle (effective June 1, 2012).
The impoundment period for these offences is seven days. For repeat offences, this can increase to 30 or 60 days.
Vehicle towing and storage charges must be paid, too.
How to get your vehicle back »
Appealing a vehicle impoundment
ICBC administers the filing of appeals on behalf of the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles (OSMV) for vehicle impoundments that are 30 days or longer.
Important: You cannot appeal a three or a seven-day impoundment for impaired driving.
To file an appeal for impoundments 30 days or longer, go to any driver licensing office. Be sure to bring your Notice of Impoundment with you.
More information
For more information on B.C.’s impaired driving laws including the appeal process for impoundments 30 days and longer, see the OSMV website .
-
For the purposes of vehicle registration, a motor vehicle means a vehicle, not run on rails, that is designed to be self-propelled or propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but does not include a motor assisted cycle. A motor vehicle has an engine, frame and body, and is recognizable as a car, truck, bus, or motorcycle.
-
An illegal act; a violation of law.
Learn more about B.C.'s vehicle impoundment program on the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles website.