The Buenos Aires City Police seized 12,956 cars and motorcycles for irregularities with license plates throughout 2025 and into early 2026, as part of preventive vehicle control operations at access points, exits, and strategic zones. According to an investigation by the Argentine News Agency, the City's Ministry of Security indicated that of this total, 2,444 were cars and 10,512 were motorcycles. The vehicles were seized for irregularities related to license plates, such as the total absence of the plate, its alteration, or its partial concealment. The operations are carried out by Traffic Security agents with the participation of various divisions of the Buenos Aires City Police. In this sense, they are strategically deployed at various points in the city with the objective of supervising traffic and ensuring compliance with current regulations. During the controls, agents verify the mandatory documentation for driving—driver's license, registration, insurance, and the mandatory technical inspection (VTV) when applicable—as well as the correct identification of the vehicle. This helps to reduce irregular traffic, decrease accidents associated with unregistered and uncontrolled motorcycles, and prevent crimes committed using cars and motorcycles without visible license plates. “These vehicle control checkpoints have become a key tool for maintaining public order, preventing crime, and strengthening road safety,” stated the Minister of Security for the City, Horacio Giménez. “Furthermore, the active presence of agents on public roads has a deterrent effect that contributes to reducing criminal activities linked to the use of unregistered motorcycles and vehicles.” These measures promote responsible driving and reinforce compliance with norms, favoring a safer and more orderly urban life,” added Giménez. From January 1, 2025, to the end of January 2026, more than 2,300 controls were carried out in all neighborhoods and communes of the City of Buenos Aires, as well as on its access points with the collaboration of the Access Control Patrol. Among the main interventions, the seizure of motorcycles circulating without a license plate, with an altered plate, or without the required documentation stands out. Procedure for retrieving seized vehicles When a vehicle is cited at a vehicle control post, the agent on duty prepares the corresponding report and informs the driver of the report number and the address of the General Directorate of Infractions Administration (DGAI), before which they must appear to regularize their situation. In this instance, the offender must go to the DGAI to resolve the infraction before the Infractions Controller. Once the administrative procedure is finalized and the corresponding payment or resolution is made, the owner or duly authorized person will be given the “Return Notice,” an essential document to retrieve the vehicle. Subsequently, the vehicle (which was towed to the impound lot) can be retrieved by presenting oneself at one of the following locations: Dávila Impound Lot – Dávila 1024 Lisandro de la Torre Impound Lot – Lisandro de la Torre 2346 At the time of retrieval, the owner or authorized person must present: the Return Notice issued by the DGAI; the original and a copy of the valid driver's license; the original and a copy of the vehicle's registration; the original and a copy of the valid mandatory insurance. Once these requirements are met and the corresponding documentation is verified, the vehicle will be released.
