Vehicle Impoundment in Jordan: Everything You Need to Know About

Traffic department in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has established many regulations to protect passengers and optimize traffic movement on the roads. Penalties, such as vehicle impoundment, are enforced for violating such regulations. What are the key elements you need to know regarding this?

Vehicle Impoundment Cases in Jordan

The official government highlighted several cases where vehicles are impounded under the new traffic law, as outlined below: 

First, the vehicle is impounded for a period ranging from 24 hours to 30 days in the following cases:

• If the vehicle is not registered according to the provisions of the law.
• If the driver is not licensed to drive.
• If a public passenger vehicle operates while its permit is suspended.
• Utilize the vehicle for purposes other than those specified and permitted by its license.
• Driving a public vehicle with a driver's license of the first, second, third or seventh category.
• Driving a vehicle recklessly on the road.
• Installation of prohibited sound alarms on a vehicle. 
• Driving a vehicle without front and rear license plates, using forged plates, or using illegal plates.
• If more than 3 months have passed since the vehicle license expired.
• Driving a vehicle that leaks oils, petroleum derivatives, or other hazardous substances onto the road, without proper warning and guidance labels, or without a permit to transport such substances.
• If the vehicle does not match the information on its license.
• Driving the vehicle at night without turning on front or rear lights, or both.
• Driving the vehicle in the opposite direction on divided roads with a median.
• Driving vehicles in procession obstructs traffic or allows passengers to protrude from vehicles, failing to stay within the designated lane.
• Using lanes designated for public transport without authorization.
• Using an unlicensed vehicle for public transportation for transporting passengers in exchange for payment.
• Transporting passengers exceeding the designated capacity, such as schools, kindergartens, and other educational institutions, contrary to the vehicle's instructions.

Second, the vehicle is impounded for no more than two weeks in these cases:

• Exceeding the legal dimensions of the vehicle and its cargo box without a permit.
• If the load extends beyond the vehicle body without proper authorization.
• Transporting passengers beyond the permitted number in public transportations or failing to comply with the established fare tariff.
• When public transport vehicles fail to follow designated routes, altering routes, not completing their routes, refusing to transport passengers, or picking them up without justification.

How to Free Impounded Cars in Jordan?

Owners or drivers of impounded vehicles can free their vehicles from impoundment after a specified period by following necessary procedures and submitting required documents to the main traffic authorities. This service is also available at traffic departments in the capital or other provinces.

Documents

To obtain this service, beneficiaries must provide the following documents:

• Personal identification
• Copy of the vehicle seizure notice

Steps

Below are the steps to follow to apply for this service:

• Obtain the role number automatically.
• Pay the violation fee.
• Complete the procedures according to impoundment reason as listed below:

If the vehicles are impounded due to acquisition completion:

• The vehicle undergoes inspection by the licensing representative
• Or have the vehicle licensed by a notary

If vehicles are impounded due to processing violations, the impoundment is released by the licensing representative attached to the department.

In the event of violations of technical equipment, the vehicle is inspected inside the seizure yard by the representative of the Licensing Department, and the violation is removed.

In the event of violations that require the driver to be referred to the administrative governor, the vehicle is seized and the driver is transferred through an official letter accompanied by one of the department’s employees.

Note: Vehicles of drivers who commit dangerous traffic violations are transferred to the Swaqa yard as a deterrent measure. A fee of 150 JD, along with winch costs, and half a dinar for each day of impoundment after the tenth day, must be paid.

Finally, we have covered all aspects related to vehicle impoundment in Jordan, including the official laws and the circumstances under which this penalty is enforced.