Clamping and vehicle removal

Clamping vehicles

We have introduced clamping in the borough on the public highway, car parks and estates under the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA 04).

We will mostly use clamps for vehicles:

• with several outstanding penalty charge notices (PCN, a parking ticket)
• used by outstanding debtors (drivers that have not paid fines)
• driven by persistent offenders (drivers who often break parking rules)
• that are stolen
• that are unregistered
• displaying cloned or false plates
• parked with fraudulent or stolen blue badges.

Have a clamp removed

It is a criminal offence to try and remove the clamp from your vehicle. 

To remove a clamp, you must pay your PCN and clamp fees.

Pay online

• Pay by phone: 020 7527 1381 - using a debit or credit card (we accept VISA, Mastercard, Switch, Delta and Solo, we do not accept AMEX or Diners Club).
• Pay by cheque (with a guaranteed card) in person at the vehicle pound.

When you have paid:

• call the vehicle pound on 020 7527 1381
• a civil enforcement officer  will come and remove the clamp from the vehicle, usually within two hours of payment. 
• you must remove your vehicle once the clamp has been removed. If you do not, we may clamp your vehicle again if it's parked incorrectly.

Once a vehicle is clamped, it may also be removed to the vehicle pound at any time. This will mean more charges.

Removing or relocating vehicles

Sometimes we have to move vehicles so we can carry out works on public places. We will move these to another suitable parking place elsewhere in the street.

If a vehicle is parked dangerously or incorrectly, we may issue a PCN and remove it to our vehicle pound.

How to check if your vehicle has been removed or relocated

We tell the London Councils service TRACE about the vehicle. TRACE holds details of all vehicles that have been removed or relocated by local authorities within the London area.

• Check TRACE online.
• Call their helpline on 030 0077 0100.

Releasing a vehicle

If we have removed your vehicle, you will need to go in person to the vehicle pound at:

Unit 1
Waltham Park Way
Billet Road
E17 5DU

Phone: 020 7527 1381 (Phoneline is available at 7am – 9.30pm Monday to Saturday, 8am to 7.30pm Sunday and 8am to 3.30pm on public holidays)

The car pound opening hours are:

• Monday to Saturday: 7am to 10pm
• Sunday: 8am to 8pm
• Public Holidays: 8am to 4pm.

You will need to bring identification and ownership documents. 

One proof of personal identification: 

• valid full driving licence 
• valid passport 
• national identity card.

And one proof of vehicle ownership from the following list: 

• V5 Vehicle registration document 
• V5C registration certificate 
• valid certificate of insurance 
• bill of sale (if you have recently purchased the vehicle and do not have a V5)
• hire-purchase agreement for the vehicle.

We may need more proof if your vehicle either: 

• is unregistered with the DVLA 
• has three or more unpaid penalty charge notices issued to it.

You must pay

• PCN fee
• removal fee
• any storage fees.

Charges and fees

London Councils set the fees for clamping and removal.

Type of fee	Amount to pay (£)
PCN - higher rate contravention	£130 (only pay half if you pay within 14 days)
PCN - lower rare contravention	£80 (only pay half if you pay within 14 days)
Clamp release	£70
Removal release	£200
Daily storage	£40 per day from midnight the day after the vehicle was removed
Vehicle disposal	£70

How to challenge a PCN

If you believe that your vehicle should not have been clamped or removed or that the PCN should not have been issued, you can make an appeal by

• using our online portal
• write to Islington Parking Services, PO Box 2019, Pershore, WR10 9BN.

We can't remove clamps or release your car until you pay your PCN and any other fees. You can appeal after we have released your vehicle. We must receive your appeal within 28 days of when we remove your vehicle.