- September 24, 2026
- 6:55 am
You’re ready to leave, but there’s a car parked across your driveway. You don’t know who it belongs to, and you can’t get your car out.
So, what can you actually do?
If someone blocks your driveway in the UK, what you can do depends on where the vehicle is parked and whether it is causing an obstruction.
Is it unauthorised to block someone’s driveway in the UK?
It depends on the situation.
A car parked on your private driveway without permission can raise issues of trespass. If a vehicle is parked on the road and is blocking access to your property, different rules can apply, particularly if it is causing an obstruction.
The important thing is to look at where the vehicle is parked, whether it is causing an obstruction and whether any parking restrictions apply.
What if the car is in your private driveway?
If someone has parked directly on your private driveway without permission, you can ask them to move the vehicle.
If the problem continues or you’re unsure about your rights, you may need to seek advice rather than trying to remove the vehicle yourself.
What if the car is parked on the road outside your driveway?
This can be more complicated.
A car parked on the public road isn’t automatically breaking the law simply because it makes getting in and out more difficult. However, a vehicle causing an obstruction or breaking a parking restriction may be subject to enforcement.
For example, some councils specifically deal with vehicles obstructing access across dropped kerbs.
What to do if someone blocks your driveway
1. Try to find the driver
This is usually the quickest option.
Check nearby houses, ask your neighbours or look for signs that the vehicle belongs to a delivery driver or local business.
If it’s an accidental mistake, a quick conversation may solve the problem.
2. Take photos and note the registration
If you can’t find the driver, take a few photos showing:
- The vehicle registration
- Where the car is parked
- How it is blocking your driveway
- Any nearby signs or road markings
It’s also useful to note the date and time.
3. Contact the relevant authority
If the vehicle is causing an obstruction, you can contact the police on 101 for a non-emergency situation.
If the vehicle is breaking a parking restriction, your local council’s parking enforcement team may be able to deal with it.
The exact process varies between councils.
What if someone keeps blocking your driveway?
If it happens regularly, keep a record of each incident.
If it’s a neighbour, a simple conversation may be enough to stop the problem. If it continues, having dates, times and photographs can help if you need to report the issue.
But there is another option worth considering: making it easier for the driver to contact you in the first place.
What if a delivery driver is blocking your driveway?
Delivery drivers and tradespeople sometimes need to stop briefly and may not realise they’ve blocked someone’s access.
If you can identify the company, you may be able to contact them and ask them to reach the driver.
But what happens when you can’t find the driver?
That’s where a simple way to contact them can make a difference.
A simple way to contact someone who has blocked your driveway
Sometimes you don’t need formal action. You just need to tell the driver:
“You’ve blocked my driveway. Could you please move your car?”
The problem is finding them.
A masked-contact parking tag gives drivers a way to contact you without publicly displaying your phone number. If they accidentally block your driveway, they can scan the tag and get in touch.
It’s a simple way to resolve an accidental parking problem before it becomes a bigger one.
Can you prevent your driveway from being blocked?
You can’t control where everyone parks, but you can make your driveway easier to identify and make communication easier.
You could:
- Put up a clear No Parking sign
- Make the driveway entrance easy to see
- Speak to neighbours about recurring problems
- Give drivers a way to contact you if they accidentally block your access
Frequently asked questions about blocked driveways
1. Can someone legally park across my driveway?
2. Who do I call if someone is blocking my driveway?
3. Can I call 999 if my driveway is blocked?
4. What if my neighbour keeps blocking my driveway?
Having your driveway blocked is frustrating, especially when you’re already late or need to get somewhere.
If you can, find the driver and ask them to move first. If you can’t, take photos, note the registration and use the appropriate council or police route.
And if accidental parking is a regular problem, giving drivers a simple way to contact you could help solve it before it turns into a bigger issue.