When your neighbors have blocked your driveway, you can try the below top 7 simple ways that truly help you get the illegal parking car out of there. In the post we will help you on how to report the illegal parking or call the tow companies to move the cars away,
Table of Contents
Before you dive into the article, you can watch the video below to have a general overview of Stop Someone Parking in My Driveway, and then you can find the detailed steps in the article.
Here is the key information on what to do if someone blocks your driveway, as shown in the table below.
| Signs | No parking |
| Paint Label | TOW AWAY ZONE |
| Installations | security camera/ new gate |
| Contact | Police and Other Authorities |
Top 7 Effective Ways to Stop Someone Parking in Your Driveway
Quick navigation:
Way 1. Confront the Person Directly
Way 2. Put up ”No Parking” Signs
Way 3. Install Security Cameras
Way 4. Call the Tow Companies
Way 5. Contact the Police & Other Authorities
Way 6. Paint the Lines for Your Driveway
Way 7. Install a Gate to Lock Your Driveway
Way 1. Talk to the Person with Skills — Quickest and Simplest Way to Stop Someone Parking in Your Driveway
If your neighbors park in your driveway, you can take the step-by-step guide below:
- Step 1. Visit them and talk to them about the issue politely. Most people will actually stop doing this. A polite talk doesn't help? Take Step 2.
- Step 2. Paste a ”friendly” note on the car's window.
You can write a note like this one:
"Hey buddy, this is a PRIVATE driveway! Next time we will call the tow company to get your car towed!"
Way 2. Put up Signs & Traffic Cones to Stop Cars Blocking Your Driveway
You can use "No Parking" signs and traffic cones to stop your neighbors from parking in your drive.
In the comment below, a reader said, ”No one has blocked me in since putting the deterrent parking sign”.
Don't put up the signs randomly.
The sign needs to meet several standards when putting it in a private and non-residential driveway:
- Step 1. Set the sign up near the entrance of the parking driveway.
- Step 2. Make sure the sign is clear and visible without any barrier.
You can purchase this type of ”No Parking” signs like the picture below.
It's one of the best signs to use for people not to park in your driveway.
A lot of car or truck owners will remove their cars and would not park in your driveway again in fear of their vehicles being towed or being fined.
Traffic cones are also another deterrent to stop people from illegally parking in your business or private driveway.
With the traffic cones, you can set up the barriers for your parking space.
Way 3. Install Security Cameras to Stop Cars Blocking Your Driveway
Security cameras are really effective to stop people's cars blocking your drive, while preventing car theft and vandalism.
You can use the security camera to record the videos that people have blocked your driveway, and keep the video tapes as evidences for later investigation.
With the evidences, your neighbors or other people who have blocked your driveway cannot deny their behavior.
Also put up an obvious sticker stating ”24/7 video surveillance here”.
People would not dare to park their cars in your driveway since they don't want to be caught in the act.
You can watch the below video to see how the Reolink security camera RLC-410 catches two would-be fuel thieves in the act in a driveway (shared by a homeowner).
Way 4. Call the Tow Companies to Help Stop People Blocking Your Drive
You may have come out with an idea to call the tow company to get the illegally parked car out of your driveway.
But you would also ask: Is legal to call a tow truck to tow the illegally parked car in my private land?
The following circumstances are conditions when cars will be legally towed from your private property without a charge (under Washington State Law).
- When the car is illegally parked in residential property: it can be towed at once.
- When the car blocks your private and non-residential property with a ”No Parking” sign: you can call the tow company to remove the car immediately.
- When the car is parked in a private and non-residential driveway without a sign: it can be towed after 24 hours.
Don't forget to provide the illegally parked car's license plate and other details for dealing with the problem as soon as possible.
It would be an effective way to prevent unauthorized people's cars from blocking your private land.
Way 5. Contact the Police and Other Authorities
Car blocking my driveway in my London UK home, who do I call?
If someone parks in front of your driveway, or roadwork and construction is blocking your drive, you can get the police and other authorities involved.
For example, if someone parks in the entrance of your driveway (he or she didn't park in your private property), which blocks your car in or out, you can call the police for help.
Please note that under such a circumstance, you would not have the right to call a towing company to tow the car, since it's not your private property.
The police will ticket the car and tow it, which can help you prevent people's vehicles from blocking your drive.
If you live near the church or school, you can contact the church and school administrators when there are cars parking in your driveway without your permission.
You can check the below table to see who to call in your local country when someone blocks your driveway, and how to report the illegal parking.
| Country/Region | Ways to Contact Local Authority |
| UK | Call 07718 130 962, or fill out the form to report an illegally parked car. |
| Toronto | Call 416-808-2222 directly, or fill out the online form to report the vehicle blocking issue. |
| San Francisco US | Call 311 |
| Outside San Francisco | Call (415) 701-2311 |
| Malaysia | Call the direct line: 03 2283 8822 |
| Singapore | Call the Enforcement Hotline at 1800-2721409 |
Way 6. Paint a Line for Your Driveway
If you find someone is blocking your driveway constantly, paint an obvious line for your driveway to remind people that this is a private drive.
Please take the below 3 steps to paint a line for your personal drive:
- Step 1. Contact the city building department to survey the driveway is your private property. The department will issue a letter that it's a valid drive.
- Step 2. Send a copy of the letter to the parking authority who will paint the lines.
- Step 3. Get the yellow street paint, and paint a marked-off section that is labeled "TOW AWAY ZONE" in the middle.
People will get the hint that it's not allowed to park there.
This way can help stop someone parking or blocking your driveway. (A poster on Reddit forum said this way helped cut down the issue by about 80%.)
Way 7. Install a Gate to Prevent Someone Parking in Your Driveway
You can stop somebody's vans blocking your driveway via locking your private drive.
Have a gate installed at the end of your drive and lock the door with a padlock.
If someone breaks into your driveway and parks his or her car thereafter you've locked your private driveway, that's a type of crime.
You can call the police and hand over the videotapes recorded by your security cameras (if you've installed one).
Infographic – How to Stop Someone from Parking in Your Driveway
You can share this infographic to spread the 7 effective ways with your family and friends!
Someone is parking in my driveway, what do I do? Neighbor's car is blocking my driveway! Could anyone do me a favor?
Why not try the above top 7 solutions can truly help you stop cars partially or totally blocking your driveway?
If you have other tips, please share with us in the comment below.
We've also made a Q&A list so that you can learn more details in ”Cars Parking in My Driveway” topic.
”Cars Parking in My Driveway” Hottest Questions
There are several frequently asked questions about cars parking in the private driveway. You can add more Q&As to this list!
Q 1: Can I Park an RV, Commercial Vehicle, Boat, Trailer, Motorhome, etc. in Front of My Own Driveway
Can I park my truck and caravan or limo in my driveway? Is it illegal to park in my own driveway?
A 1: It depends. In some states, you can park your devices across your own driveway as long as they are less than 20 feet long without blocking the sidewalk or the street.
Below we list some regions you can park in your private driveway.
| UK (England) | London | Wembley | Gatwick | Stanmore |
| Oxford | Luton | Twickenham | Southampton | |
| Brighton | Stansted | Wimbledon | Heathrow | |
| Canada | Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto | |||
| US | NSW, Los Angeles, San Francisco | |||
In some areas, it is against the law to park in front of a private driveway, even if it's your own driveway. Violators can face a $35 fine.
Q 2. How to Report a Car Blocking My Driveway?
Can police officers or builders block my driveway? Can someone park in front of my driveway?
A 2: No one can park in your own driveway without your permission, unless there is any emergency. If someone's car is blocking your driveway, you can report it to the local police, providing details such as the type of violation, street address, and cross street, etc.
You can also call 311 to report the vehicle blocking your driveway.
No matter where you live, Los Angeles, NYC, New Jose (SJ), San Diego, Oakland in San Francisco (SF), Sacramento in California, Enfield, NZ, Scotland, Essex, Calgary, North Ireland, Toronto, etc. you can use the above tips to report the cars illegally parking over your driveway.
You may also file a complaint online to report the unknown car parked on your driveway, using this online form. Click Start to fill in the necessary information and then someone in charge will see into the blocking driveway issue.
Q 3. ”Parking on Private Driveway” Laws
What are some blocking private driveway laws?
A 3: Parking on someone's driveway counts as trespassing. You can contact the local authority for help. The police can get involved if the driver threatens you.
Blocking driveway counts as obstruction and a penalty charge could be issued. The charge can be up to £130 in London and £70 in other areas.
Q 4. How to stop someone from parking in front of your house?
Neighbors parking in front of my house does bug me, especially if they can easily park in front of their own house but choose not to do so. Is it rude? Can I stop someone from parking in front of my house?
A 4: It' definitely inconsiderate to park in someone else's house. However, it's not considered illegal to park the car in the public roadways.
If you want to stop someone from parking in front of your house, the best way is to talk to your neighbors. If the car is unknown and parked there for a long period of time, you may call the police to have it checked out.
If you have any questions or have any tips on stopping someone parking and blocking the driveway, share with us now!
I have this exact problem, however living in a 4-plex, it's complicated. Because I don't *own* a car, people are using my laneway access as a parking spot for uninsured/unregistered vehicles. However, sometimes I need to lug 200lbs of tools to my employees cars, or my fiancee wants to bring groceries home, and we have no place for them to access our carport. I don't want to cause problems with the neighbors, but I've had enough. One van has been lingering around for a year. Now there's another unregistered car that has popped up in my driveway. I guess they figure because I don't have a car, it's open season. I'm a nice guy, if it was a few days even I wouldn't care, but we're talking a year and a half now. I've even offered up the number to the one guy to help him sell the (unregistered) van. The newer neighbor (the most recent vehicle) said he would ”kick my a**” if I had him towed. I placed notes on their vehicles saying move the damn thing or it will be towed.
I pay rent like everyone else, car or no car. I just want unfettered access to my carport. There are 4 lanes, each tenant gets a lane that can fit about 3-4 cars, although 3 cars and up it's pretty tight. Any uninsured/unregistered vehicle is going to be there a long time as it is not legal to drive. I dont really give AS if they put it in their own laneway, but they want to leave their own vehicles unfettered.
Grrr. I don't want to start a war with my fellow tenants, but after 18 months enough is enough. I pay my rent on time each month, dont make a mess, mow the grass and I do not leave garbage lying around, have no parties and have only had one dramatic incident which ended with me kicking my friends out out of respect for my neighbors because he and his girlfriend were having a verbal battle.
I'm frustrated to the point of getting a forklift and just moving the damned things.
Hello there, really sorry for hearing such a frustrating stuff.
Your neighbors cannot park in your own driveway without your permission. You should have reported the issue to the local authority long time ago.
If you live in the US, you can call 311 to report the vehicles blocking your driveway.
Not in Salt Lake City, Utah. That number is not available here. Only certain large cities, and Salt Lake City is capital of Utah but still not available here.
If it is an unregistered vehicle, move it to the public roadway and police will handle the rest.
Option two would be to purchase the mist inexpensive car you could find and park it there
The Police in the UK will not get involved with a vehicle blocking access to your own drive. Matters being taken in hand to soer out the idiot
Hello Bizzy, the possible reason might the the car was just parked just outside your driveway. Well, if the car is parked out of your personal driveway, perhaps the authority would not ticket the vehicle.
Probably that car belongs to a cop that is why they wont do anything. My friend had similar issue in the past. Complain about it wherever you can, so that they will be forced to do something.
Recently has a similar issue with commuters at a local station parking so closely to my garage that it was impossible to manoeuvre my car out. Local police officer recommended place one of these sign on the garage as a deterrent
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5c9e993b93d6596c9bf5426cc7a95b8441c03849c868dc39cc91116c9eecc45c.jpg
So far so go no one has blocked me in since putting it up
I have this issue since moving into a new house last year. I have a 3 car parking pad, the neighbor has a long driveway plus a garage, yet they seem to think it's ok to have guests and Workman over to their house and let them park on my parking pad. I'm not sure how these people don't know this is private property considering my parking pad is right off my back deck. I think I'm going to try the cones next time.
Place a nail directly pointing under their tire and scatter some more around. They will inadvertently puncture their own tire. Those nails in your driveway were "accidentally" dropped and you had no way of cleaning up the debris considering the vehicle was obstructing your view.
You must file a civil suit which may be time consuming but that is the only option you have. If they are on a public roadway while blocking your access, then you may contact local authorities to have the vehicle ticketed for improper usage or hopefully impounded
I do not own the place we live in but it is a duplex with back, where I live with my mother, and the front. My mother is elderly, and we park in back to keep car from being broken into. The front has always had new people moving in but every single one of them, just keeps blocking the driveway so it is either hard to get in or out of the place. We're worried that in case of an emergency, that we are stuck with no solution because of this. I mean if I have to run some where to get something, then I will have no way to get out unless I walk miles to get something, and that something could be large enough I could not carry on my own to do for miles. These neighbors in front act like that we have no right to park in back where we live and that we park in front, while the driveway is only for them. Now, if I am rude for trying to get in and out, then how are they not, if they won't move their vehicle?
Never have met one of them that moved in front care whether we can get out or in or not. Like a red carpet has to be put out for them. I am only with my mother because of not working, and situation bad that I can't just take any kind of job, that can't pay for my own place. I would of never chose this place to live in but I am stuck in this situation, and seems to me that people just do not care. I try to be nice to get them to move their vehicle, but they just give me problems, like they own the whole place. If I am supposed to be nice to them, then they should be nice to me, right? Well, this situation is worse than owning your own house, because we have two different families in one place, that share the driveway. Just impossible to make a working solution, when one family doesn't care.
In NYC anyone can park in front of your house. You do not own that spot nor can you reserve it. If they park IN your driveway there is not much you can do. The police can't issue a summons for a car parked on private property and if you move the vehicle you may be charged with larceny. If they block your driveway, you must get the vehicle issued a summons and then a tow company can remove the vehicle. I've never been sure if putting an illegally parked sticker on the window is vandalism or not. It is best to ticket and tow.
i live in California, can i call AAA to tow it? or do i call the police dept? i called twice to the police dept in Oakland, took them hour and half ( 90 minutes ) to arrive !