Background
The cost of impounding is regulated by the State: maximum amounts are fixed for immobilization, pre-operations, removal, daily guarding and sale of a vehicle. The scales depend on the size of the municipalities, and Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse have special rates due to traffic and parking problems and difficulties in removing and guarding vehicles. From 2027 onwards, the ceilings will change each year according to the removal tariff and the evolution of fuel, labour, insurance and vehicle costs.
Why it's important
If your car is immobilized by hooves or impounded, the amount to be paid depends directly on these official ceilings: knowing them avoids paying more than the legal maximum and allows to react quickly. For the inhabitants of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, it is important to note that Lyon is one of the cities subject to a separate scale, with a higher daily guard (10 € per day).
What Changes
From 1 October 2026, the removal of a private car will cost a maximum of €135 instead of €127.65, and the daily guard €7.15 instead of €6.75 according to the national scale. In Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse, the abduction is also 135 € and the daily guard is 10 €. In Paris, nothing changes: 150 € for the kidnapping, 29 € for the daily guard and 100 € for sale.
Useful details
- National ceilings at 1st October 2026 (private cars): physical immobilization (sabot deposit): 7,60 €; operations prior to impounding (moving the vehicle): 15,20 €; removal: 135 € (instead of 127,65 €); daily guard: 7,15 € (instead of 6,75 €); put on sale: 100 €.
- Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse as early as October 2026: material immobilization: 7,60 €; pre-operations: 15,20 €; abduction: 135 € (instead of 127,65 €); daily guard: 10 €; put on sale: 61 €.
- Paris: nothing changes — abduction 150 €, daily guard 29 €, put on sale 100 €.
- The scales are fixed taking into account the size of the communes; the large cities have separate rates due to traffic and parking problems and difficulties of removal and custody.
- By 2027, the ceilings will change every year, taking into account the removal tariff and the evolution of the cost of fuel, labour, insurance and vehicles.
- References: Order of 13 September 2026 amending the Order of 14 November 2001 and the Order of 28 November 2003 fixing the maximum rates for impoundment costs.
Terms to know
- Fourrière
- guarded place where a vehicle is removed or immobilized by the authorities
- Immobilisation matérielle (pose de sabot)
- locking a wheel by a device, without removing the vehicle
- Mise en vente
- Formality leading to the possible sale of an abandoned or unclaimed vehicle
- Plafond
- maximum legal amount that the impoundment can charge for each benefit
