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Lost or stolen vehicles
Here you'll find details on how the police deal with the lost or stolen vehicles we find.
If we find a vehicle that's been reported lost or stolen we move it to a police pound for safekeeping. This includes vehicles reported stolen in any part of the UK or in EU member states that are part of the Schengen Information System.
We treat all lost or stolen vehicles we find as abandoned vehicles and remove them to:
- protect the vehicle from damage or arson
- prevent the vehicle from being stolen again
- prevent the vehicle from being used in a crime or anti-social behaviour
- make sure it isn’t an obstruction or danger to other road users
Following the recovery of your vehicle, we'll take the opportunity to carry out a forensic examination.
The vehicle recovery operator will be in contact with you as soon as your vehicle is available for collection.
If your vehicle was stolen we strongly recommend that you take it to a garage for an inspection before you drive it yourself. It may have been damaged while it was being driven by the thief.
Statutory charges
You, or your agent, are liable for the statutory removal and storage charges.
The statutory charges are set by the Home Office in The Removal, Storage and Disposal of Vehicles (Prescribed Sums and Charges) Regulations 2008.
Insurance claims
If you've made an insurance claim for a stolen vehicle, you must speak to your insurer before arranging collection. The insurance company may have a claim to the vehicle and want to pay the charges and collect it themselves.
Contact us
If you need extra information, please call the Vehicle Recovery Unit on 101 Surrey Police, extension 39796.