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Own a Driveway But Park on Road: What's the Law?

By: Sarah Clark (ILEX) - Updated: 2 Dec 2019 | comments*Discuss
Own A Driveway But Park On Road: What's The Law?


Our neighbours have a perfect driveway but they don't use it, instead choosing to park on the road outside their house. They don't even park in front of their driveway. This causes many problems for the rest of the people in our road as it's a small road with not many parking spaces. We have problems parking and find it very hard to park at night! Is there a law which says that if you have a driveway that you can use that you should use it?

(K.G, 20 July 2009)


Parking is a common source of tension between neighbours, especially when these days many households have more than one car to park and limited parking spaces in which to do so. It can be irritating when a neighbour seemingly uses up more than their entitlement of parking spaces, and it’s clearly inconsiderate of your neighbour to choose to park on the road when they have a perfectly adequate parking space on their driveway.

Unfortunately, there is no legal entitlement for a resident to be able to park outside their home – even though most of us expect to be able to do so. Difficulties with parking close to your own property sometimes lead to Disputes Between Neighbours.

What the Law Says about Parking on a Public Highway

The law doesn’t set down any rules about where you can park if the road in question is a public highway. If your neighbour's vehicle is taxed and he is abiding by the Highway Code, then he can effectively park his car anywhere that he chooses on a public highway (although not on footpaths/pavements) as long as it is legal to park there.

Paragraph 207 of the Highway Code does say that people should not park anywhere that their vehicle might cause an obstruction to pedestrians or road users, and does also give an example of not parking in front of another person’s driveway – but it doesn’t actually say that you can’t park in front of another person’s driveway or property.

The Law Versus Etiquette

So, your neighbour probably isn’t actually breaking any laws by choosing to park in front of your property, however inconvenient it may be to you. Etiquette suggests that most people will choose to use their own driveway or park in front of their own property, but nobody has the automatic right to park right in front of their own house. All your neighbour appears to be breaching, in this case, is neighbourly etiquette.

If the problem persists, a friendly request to your neighbour to consider parking on their driveway could be the way forward, but there is nothing that can legally be done to force them to do so.

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Can a care home workers park on the road and not on their drive when at work, We were told they would Park on the drivewhen it was opened, now no one park on their drive,
Whynot - 18-Nov-19 @ 6:35 PM
We have a double garage behind the apartment block. Access was no problem until the president of the block decided to put two parking spaces opposite the garage door. It is impossible to get both cars in the garage when both parking slots are being used. There is less than a cars length now in front of garage to manoeuvre. Is there a legal distance for entitlement to manoeuvre outside our garage?
Tosher - 11-Aug-19 @ 9:46 AM
I have the potential for 2 cars on a driveway at the front of my property, however access is always blocked by neighbouring residents.I am in the process of applying for 'H' markings but I cannot find anything online that states the criteria that the inspectors look for. Does your drive need to be a certain size? Do you have to be able to turn around in it?Can you reverse in or out or do you have to always be forward facing? It's not a particularly busy road with a 30mph speed limit and well lit. Any advice would be great!
Sam - 4-Aug-19 @ 2:06 PM
If you're insured as using your driveway but park on the street, and your car is vandalised, broken into or hit, your insurance is invalid. Read this on the RAC website LOG
Bicky - 3-Aug-19 @ 9:01 PM
My neighbours park there cars on the pavements causing an obstruction and use my drive I am personally fed up of this because they have there own drive
Christine - 3-Aug-19 @ 6:47 PM
In my street there are people with driveways big enough for three cars but choose to park in the street to be awkward and prevent those with no driveway from parking. Ignorant, vile folk.
Chrissie - 1-Jul-19 @ 3:01 PM
Is it illegal to let someone's tyres down? Like I wouldn't say it's the best idea to pour paintstripper on a car or actually slash their tyres or key the paintwork or take their wiper rubbers off so the metal arms scratch their windows or whatever but surely letting their air out of all 4 wheels isn't a crime is it?You haven't actually done any damage or taken anything
BenDover - 26-May-19 @ 7:01 PM
We are in a row of 4.2houses have a 2 car ALLOCATED parking space for each of the 4houses. Neighbour in tightest corner has 3 cars outside and only 1 of these is in it's ALLOCATEDspace so we have a blocked pathway and front garden. What can we do?
Suziq - 2-May-19 @ 10:53 AM
My neighbour opposite has 2 cars refusing to use their private drive enough for 3 cars. They park on the street parking halfway on the path. The street is so narrow with cars parked on road. I've asked a few times to use their driveway as I struggle to reverse into my drive and I can't drive forward due their cars parked on road. What do you advise please?
Jules - 12-Apr-19 @ 10:16 AM
We live at the top of the enclosed street , and live in the corner of the turning circle. We do have a drive, but we are thinking of not using it because whenour Neighbours come home in their cars, they park their cars in the turning circle pointing Across the road and not pointing facing the exit which means the back end of their cars Is blocking our drive, so we have to drive on the public footpath ( on edge of turning circle ) To exit and return. We've had passed neighbours giving us a two finger sign when we've them about our dilemma
Cloddy - 17-Feb-19 @ 5:00 PM
My neighbour keeps his old car engine running for a very long time. Last weekend started 10am and didn’t finish until 2pm constantly keeping the engine running making a big noise while the car is park in his driveway. I know the law in London if you park on the road for more than one minute car engine must be turned off. Can I report him? Email me please. He needs to stop polluting the air. I know is in his drive but he’s been doing this since last summer!
Noicy neighbours - 18-Jan-19 @ 1:42 AM
My neighbours opposite my drive have 5 vehicles. Sometimes 3 of their vehicles are on the road, other times all 5 are on the road. I haveno choice but to always reverse my car into our side drive. There is no way I could EVER park on the road outside my house. They have space in their front garden and a drive at the back of their property.One of the vehicles has not been moved off road for 6 months. There is a sloped path for disabled users and they say this prevents them from putting in a dropped kerb to use their front garden - but there is sufficient space to the right of the sloped path. It is time that it becomes compulsory for anyone with sufficient room on their property be COMPELLED to get their vehicle(s) OFF THE ROADS!If we all carried on like this there would be no roads left to drive on!Any ideas?
Suzy - 22-Nov-18 @ 11:45 AM
Can I park on the grass in my street out sideneighbours garden view as theirs no space on my side?
Wilson - 8-Nov-18 @ 7:21 PM
Neighbours use my drop kerb to get on to their drive. They don’t have a drop kerb but have paved the front of their house.When we park across our own drop kerb they are forced to drive over the pavement.They haven’t bothered to ask if they can use our drop kerb and often drive over our drive to get on to their own.Surely they are committing an offence by driving over the pavement?They also often park way over the drop stone. Would I be within my rights to report this?They also go mad at anyone who parks in front of their house challenging people by saying they have a car on the drive even though they don’t have a drop kerb. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Pieface - 7-Oct-18 @ 6:06 PM
Partner bought a new bill build house 2 years and within the deeds to the house it cleats articulates that no commercial vehicles are permitted to be parked either on the drive or on the road.Neighbour opposite does not abide to this and continually parks on the road causing it difficult to park and creating an eye sore.We have contacted the builder who has sent letters but to no avail.It is clearly articulated in the deeds but nothing has happened and causing unnecessary worry and duress to my partner. Has anyone any ideas please. ? TIA.
RUallClowns - 1-Oct-18 @ 8:29 PM
just pulled on to my mothers driveway dodging community bus. Continually hear of ambulance staff winging about notes left about blocked driveways. 75 year mother pays tax, insurance , maintenance and depreciation on her own car. Despite this her neighbours, who have never worked a day in their lives, enjoy free transport wherever they want to go. Their servants ( for you can call them little else) seem to enjoy an undisputed right to park over her driveway and deny my motherthe right of personal mobility wheneverand wherever SHE want's to go (Despite having her own debilitating health and mobility issues). Double standards! I have several elderly and infirm relatives who have recently needed emergency ambulance care and do you know what? All of them, (Or me on their behalf) would have always asked ambulance staff to have moved their vehicle if inconveniencing other people. In the case of my mother regularly emergency ambulances block a community parking space despite the fact that parking (Quite literally!!!) five yards down the road would mean that NO one was inconvenienced. Come on. Five yards in a wheelchair/stretcher is NEVER the difference between life and death. I'm 55, I've survived cancer and have two chronic illnesses. I still work 60 hours a week. Get a grip all of the politically correct of you out there and accept that you have NO RIGHT TO BLOCK ANYONE ELSES DRIVEWAY whatever your excuse.
jmb angry - 26-Sep-18 @ 11:31 AM
I have a neighbour to my left who has paviors for the whole driveway which has a dropped kerb to the right of their property. Sometimes I park outside her house but not over her dropped kerb. She said I shouldn't park outside her house even though I'm not on her dropped kerb and says I'm still causing an obstruction which I'm not . She just doesn't want me to park outside her house. Has she any rights?
Tine - 22-Aug-18 @ 10:06 AM
Jon - Your Question:
I live in a Cul-de-sac, and one neighbour has 3 cars on their drive, one small van parked in the very tight turning circle, which makes it difficult for cars to turn around and exit the road, plus 1 flat bed lorry which is constantly being repaired on the road outside their house. The lorry only leaves a small space for another car to get passed, let alone a Fire engine or Ambulance. Are they breaking the law?

Our Response:
If they're obstructing the path of emergency vehicles the emergency services can take steps to move the vehicle. Check with your planning department to see if any conditions are in place in relation to parking/maintenance of commercial vehicles in residential areas.
ProblemNeighbours - 13-Aug-18 @ 3:46 PM
Jon - 13-Aug-18 @ 12:19 PM
Hi, I live in a terraced house on a normal street....lots of cars require parking spaces...Neighbour across the road has a caravan parked on the drive which they take out on rare occasions...I came off my nightshift and had to park in front of it the other day as there was nowhere else to park....They came back to put there caravan back on the driveway seen my car and knocked the door....They started ranting about parking there, I did not bother explaining why as I could tell from the attitude it would have been pointless...I moved it straight away.......The person then said that the only person she gives permission to park there is another of my Neighbours but no one else is allowed....That irritated me a bit, picking and choosing who parks outside your driveway surely is not on? It is an open Driveway which leads onto about 4 feet of Pavement Kerbed and then onto the street.....The Pavement is not Dropped. I thought it was a requirement to drop the Pavement to get access to your driveway? If you did not want people to park outside it? I also thought but not sure that a person was not allowed to drive over a Kerb Pavement to access there Drive? Wether it be Car, Caravan or any other vechicle? Legally what is the stance on both points? P.S won't park there deliberately but would just like know what the Law states. regards
gmb - 26-Jul-18 @ 6:18 PM
I have rental houses across the road from me. A young couple and only the guy drives. He owns a car and a work van. Car always parked half way up the drive and van always parked on the road two wheels on road and two wheels on pavement. Stopping at least 6 houses who people own using outside their house. No attempt to put both up the drive.the longest the van has on the road without moving is a month. He has now started leaving the car on the road and moving the van on the drive just to guarantee one of this vehicles is on the road. I've had to extend my drive just so parents can put their cars on my drive when they visit cause they can t use the road. Needs to be a change in the law. Not fair on neighbours.
Scottishlass - 29-Jun-18 @ 3:07 PM
Why does my neighbor park on the street,has to go out and get his mail,because his car is hiding his mailbox. He has one car and a nice driveway. Even when weather is bad,he parks on street.
Chucks babe - 17-May-18 @ 9:33 PM
My neighbour has turned her garage into an extension (bedroom) and has grassed her drive and made flower beds. She has no off-road parking now. She now parks a trailer down the street opposite my house and it’s unsightly. In fact I’m not even sure it belongs to her but another family member. Weeds are growing under it now and it looks awful. Park it by your own house. What can I do?
DJ123890 - 4-May-18 @ 1:52 PM
My neighbor opposite moved in less than 2 years ago. They have 2 cars and a drive at the rear plus garage. The drive accommodates 3 cars. They never use it, they park outside their front gate, or opposite our driveway making it a complete nightmare to get in and out as it's on a bend. They say sorry, promise not to do it and carry on. Their visitors make it even worse. I give up, they are not breaking a law, just bad neighbours and lazy and just lie to keep the peace. Today we had words as they affect 4 neighbours including me. They even use one neighbour as a turning circle and are damagingher drive. It's not a police matter, it's not a private road. They appear to be reasonable talking but are taking the Micky. What do I do next, I have no desire to be friendly it would just make them worse. Any advice would be helpful.
Buttercup - 14-Apr-18 @ 10:51 PM
Hi there. I live in a end terrace house, I have a small yard in front, all my neighbors use for parking but my landlord says I can't park as it's a zebra crossing right in front. But the people across the road do it. How can I ask to have the crossing moved. I have a child and really need a place to park the car.
Kel - 28-Mar-18 @ 12:02 PM
Can you help. I moved into a my first house with my wife 18 months ago and my neighbor asked me not to park on the grass verge at the front of both outlet houses. To which I agreed. Since we moved in we have had our first baby and now my wife predominately has to park the family car up our drive way so she’s not getting the baby out and having to walk a car seat from the road to the house. If my wife is not home when I get back from work then I will park on the road outside my house not on the grass verge I have been asked not to park on, so she can pull straight up the driveway. My neighbor has now on a couple of occasions been quite aggressive telling me his daughter and himself struggle to get there cars off there driveway as they say my car is causing them an obstruction.i have suggested they back there onto there drive instead of trying to back off. He has now threatened to call the police if I continue to park outside my house and not on my driveway behind my wife. Where do I stand??
Bradders - 25-Jan-18 @ 10:50 PM
My neighbour leaves his Coneworx highway maintenance lorry parked really inconsiderately,at one stage even disrupting an elderly neighbours funeral when the undertaker made him move it. After this arrogant behaviour I am really tempted to involved both the police and his employer as I believe he is aware of the harassment this parking is causing,since I have recently been diagnosed with cancer and occasionally need a wheelchair it has started to be parked in such a way that while not on the pavement,it is severely restricting my access to my home. And advice would be appreciated as I believe this is targeted harassment because of my religion.
carol - 19-Jan-18 @ 6:13 PM
Crobbo86 - Your Question:
Hi, I am thinking of putting in a driveway at the front of my property (if I got permission). This driveway would lead into a “lay-by” (kind of like a really long bus lane) that comes off a busy main road. My question is, if I could go ahead and build it, can I stop people parking in front of my drive so that I don’t get blocked in? Or is there not much I can do, as access from my potential driveway leads into this “lay-by”?Thanks

Our Response:
Is it a layby (where people stop) or a slip road/access? That will make the difference into whether you get permission for a dropped kerb/driveway. Depending on where you live in the UK, you can't necessarily prevent people from stopping/parking outside your home. Contact your local highways department for more help.
ProblemNeighbours - 12-Jan-18 @ 2:51 PM
Crobbo86 - 10-Jan-18 @ 7:46 PM
I live in a mid terrace house.There is a service road leading from the public' road which has a 'T-junction' at the far end of the gardens; turn left to access the garages of my terrace of six on one side and turn right to access the adjacent terrace of six on the other side. On our side the service road is clear for vehicle access but the other side has over recent years with various new owners moving in gradually become messy with rubble/old sofas/other items lined against the fence which backs onto railway land.As well as being pretty unsightly, the debris protrudes and therefore impedes clear access particularly for a larger vehicle that may needs to reverse/manoeuvre to the back of our gardens i.e. workmen/gardeners.It has become very awkward for themAlso I'm concerned about the rubbish attracting vermin. Could you tell me if there is any legal recourse or is it simply a question of neighbours consideration/etiquette? Also is there a rule/law about rubbish against rail network land?
Fran - 10-Jan-18 @ 6:37 PM
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