Police have set out the steps motorists should take if another vehicle is blocking their driveway, following a query submitted to the official 'ask the police' website.
The question was posted by a homeowner who asked: "Someone has parked their car and it is blocking my driveway - what shall I do?"
First Steps and Civil Parking Enforcement
In response, police advised that the first move should be to check with neighbours to see if they know who owns the car. "If the vehicle is blocking access to your driveway you should first make enquiries with the neighbours to see if they know who the car belongs to, so they can move it," the response said.
The guidance noted that in most areas local councils have taken on responsibility for enforcing parking provisions under Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE). Under CPE, it is an offence to park a vehicle that blocks a dropped kerb driveway. Motorists can check whether their local council has adopted CPE via the GOV.UK website.
When to Contact Police
Where a council has taken on CPE, reports about vehicles obstructing a dropped kerb should usually be made directly to the council. If the council has not adopted CPE, drivers should contact their local police force.
However, police policy on such matters may vary between forces. "Some police forces may only attend if your car has been blocked in and you cannot get out," the response stated.
Legal Position on Parking
The RAC has also clarified the legal position on parking disputes. "It is perfectly legal to park outside someone's house, unless the vehicle is blocking a driveway or a wheel is over a dropped kerb. Where no parking controls exist, drivers do not have an 'automatic spot' for parking outside their homes," the motoring organisation said.
The RAC added that if a vehicle is on a public highway and blocking access out of a driveway, the council has the power to act. But if the other car is on a drive, it is technically on private property and the council has no authority to remove it.
If someone parks on a driveway without permission, a police spokesperson said this constitutes trespassing. "This is a civil dispute and not something we can help you with," they said, recommending a polite conversation with the driver first and, in repeated cases, seeking advice from Citizens Advice or a solicitor.
For designated parking spaces, police advised trying to resolve the issue peacefully, leaving a polite note on the windscreen, or contacting whoever is responsible for the building, such as the freeholder, council or managing agent. If the problem continues, police advise reporting it as antisocial behaviour.
