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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to expect my neighbour to pay after scraping my parked car?

64 replies

Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 15:59

I live in a detached property and am currently having some building works done.

I asked my neighbours if we could use their drive to access my garden with large machinery which they seemed quite happy to do. Because of building works and my builders van I parked outside my house on the border of the dropped curb to said neighbours drive.
I recieved a call last night from the neighbour (female) saying she hit my car. I was out so I told her I would call her later. I did message her saying what had happened and she replied I had blocked her in. I hadn't. There was plenty of space to enter and exit.

I got home late so messaged neighbour would call in morning - I messaged this morning and said call when free. Neighbour popped over around 2pm and asked what I wanted to say.
I showed my confusion as my car had been hit (huge scrape on left bumper paintwork deeply damaged) so was expecting some sort of solution.

To cut a long story short my neighbour wanted me to forget she hit my car as I have used their drive and I had blocked her in. I hadn't. Admittedly closer to their dropped curb then I wanted to be but plenty of drive and grass verge to exit and enter.

She did say I can call the police but she has taken videos of where I was parked and it would be my fault as I was on their drive according to her. (I moved my car after taking pictures of where I was parked) back to my normal space last night when I got in.
Neighbour got really wound up and said why didn't you just say last night not to worry about it as your getting works done and the car being damaged with so much going on is something I should
expect. Also your builder knocked when I was showering etc etc.
I did remind the neighbour they were two seperate issues, the drive access and my car being hit but neighbour insisted it was my fault and insurance would agree as such.
I don't want to fall out with neighbour. So I said I will leave it. I have also told my builder not to ask access to their drive again as I don't want any more favours.
Was I being unreasonable to feel annoyed that the two issues were connected and for me to be left with a scratched car which I have to pay for myself? I don't know why I feel so angry at myself for not doing things different but I don't know what I could have done without angering my neighbour.

OP posts:
Laura95167 · 18/05/2026 20:35

Tbh id decide if I wanted to fall out with her or not.

I think your work may have been more inconvenient than she assumed or you expected. However, that doesnt give her a free pass to behave badly.

You could call the police, you could call your insurance and give them her name address and reg and let insurance sort it. Or you can cover the cost yourself.

I wouldnt blame you either way, short term id be raging shes was so entitled to damage your car and not contribute to fixing it - but long term do you want to be on unfriendly terms.

Original poster
Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 17:23

Thankyou everyone for the honest replies. For what it's worth I was always going to take flowers and chocolates for the access.
I dnt feel too bad about being indirectly forced to not contact insurers.
lesson learned !

OP posts:
SunnyRedSnail · 17/05/2026 17:11

Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 16:56

Had to delete pics number plates were in

Edited

If yours is the BMW on the right and her drive is to the left of the picture then 100% your car was in the way!!!

I'd be sending her flowers and chocolates as a thank you for letting you use her drive for access, along with an apology for parking so close.

Don't forget she will also have to pay for the damage to her own car which would not have happened if you hadn't parked so close... Perhaps you should be offering to pay for that too?

LakieLady · 17/05/2026 17:04

Ethelspagetti · 17/05/2026 16:47

I’d wait for the building work to be over with then report to your insurance company. She hit a parked car, her insurance will automatically pay out.

^This.

She knew the car was there. Being unable to get into her drive because of how you had parked is irrelevant.

She should have asked you to move it if it was obstructing her driveway, but she overestimated her judgment and/or parking skills!

WorldCup2026 · 17/05/2026 17:01

Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 16:56

Had to delete pics number plates were in

Edited

Too close and not leaving enough access. Sorry

JulietteHasAGun · 17/05/2026 17:01

Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 16:56

Had to delete pics number plates were in

Edited

While I agree it’s legally her fault as she hit a parked car I’d be furious if someone parked like that causing a partial obstruction and when squeezing out I hit them. To be honest I’d be wanting you to pay for the damage to my car! If you hadn’t parked so inconsiderately it wouldn’t have happened.

Metromayhem · 17/05/2026 17:00

Regardless of whether you blocked her in or not, she can’t just fucking crash into a stationary car?? Why didn’t she knock and ask you to move? 100% on her and I’d be claiming on her insurance.

Original poster
Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 17:00

bumptybum · 17/05/2026 16:58

Christ. You are well across her driveway. She shouldn’t have to drive off her driveway to get around a car parked across part of her driveway.

Show quote history

Fair

OP posts:
bumptybum · 17/05/2026 16:58

Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 16:56

Had to delete pics number plates were in

Edited

Christ. You are well across her driveway. She shouldn’t have to drive off her driveway to get around a car parked across part of her driveway.

Namechangetheyarewatching · 17/05/2026 16:57

Why on earth would you "just leave it" she hit a parked car the blame lands squarely with her.

Everything else is just noise.

Claim on your insurance and make her pay

Original poster
Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 16:56

Had to delete pics number plates were in

OP posts:
Nomdeplumeforthis1 · 17/05/2026 16:52

mumsnet laws dictate a diagram is needed

Soontobe60 · 17/05/2026 16:52

Perhaps if you post the photo you took people could advise better?

Ethelspagetti · 17/05/2026 16:47

I’d wait for the building work to be over with then report to your insurance company. She hit a parked car, her insurance will automatically pay out.

FernandoSor · 17/05/2026 16:40

just exchange insurance details and let the insurers sort it out surely? Same as any other motor vehicle accident.

Jellycatspyjamas · 17/05/2026 16:35

It’s one thing them deciding that they’ll use the grass, and another thing for them to need to use the grass because of the way you parked. While she’s obviously at fault hitting a stationary car, I’d suck it up given I’ve inconvenienced her and not parked where I usually would.

Original poster
Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 16:28

MandyMotherOfBrian · 17/05/2026 16:27

plenty of drive and grass verge to exit and enter

No one should be parking in such a manner that means someone has to use the grass verge to exit their drive.

That said, of course someone blocking your exit does not mean you can drive in to their car. Just go through your insurance company giving them her details. It’s all you can do if you don’t want to cover the cost of repair yourself.

I say this because they do this anyway with their other cars that they don't park on the drive! They use the grass?!

OP posts:
MandyMotherOfBrian · 17/05/2026 16:27

plenty of drive and grass verge to exit and enter

No one should be parking in such a manner that means someone has to use the grass verge to exit their drive.

That said, of course someone blocking your exit does not mean you can drive in to their car. Just go through your insurance company giving them her details. It’s all you can do if you don’t want to cover the cost of repair yourself.

Original poster
Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 16:26

Jellybunny98 · 17/05/2026 16:25

Not parked on their dropped kerb & not have used for any access.

Once you start accepting favours from neighbours there is very rarely no returning them.

Show quote history

Lesson learned! My neighbour did message after our chat to let her know if I needed anything?! 😶

OP posts:
Jellybunny98 · 17/05/2026 16:25

Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 16:23

I'm conflicted because I want to stress it hasn't been weeks it's been 2 days of access - one day to get to my garden one day to exit my garden) - I am a good neighbour. Have kept an eye on their home and out bins out and brought back when they are away, taken parcels while they are on holidays.
Not sure what I could have done any different to make it less stressful for them other than not use their drive anymore?
but separately I'm annoyed that my car is damaged and there wasn't even an offer to fix it more it's your problem because you parked there and you had access to our drive.

Edited

Not parked on their dropped kerb & not have used for any access.

Once you start accepting favours from neighbours there is very rarely no returning them.

Original poster
Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 16:23

I'm conflicted because I want to stress it hasn't been weeks it's been 2 days of access - one day to get to my garden one day to exit my garden) - I am a good neighbour. Have kept an eye on their home and out bins out and brought back when they are away, taken parcels while they are on holidays.
Not sure what I could have done any different to make it less stressful for them other than not use their drive anymore?
but separately I'm annoyed that my car is damaged and there wasn't even an offer to fix it more it's your problem because you parked there and you had access to our drive.

OP posts:
Owly11 · 17/05/2026 16:21

Contact your insurers and let them deal with it.

Jellybunny98 · 17/05/2026 16:19

Would also add if you were on the dropped kerb and she has video of that then you could be fined anyway so you’d still end up paying something. We had something similar in our last house and they were fined for being parked like that with photo & video evidence.

Viviennemary · 17/05/2026 16:17

You obviously have caused your neighbour a great deal of inconvenience with your requests which they agreed to. I think under the circumstances you should pay for the repair yourself.

Jellybunny98 · 17/05/2026 16:17

Hibernatingsloth · 17/05/2026 16:15

I agree with this.
Particularly as this neighbour has had to put up with your heavy machinery accessing her driveway for weeks.
I highly doubt it was " just a couple of minutes each day"
It doesn't excuse the dent to your car, but your "grass verge" comment reeks of entitlement.

Show quote history

Yeah, this really.

She’s been inconvenienced, you admit yourself you were parked closer to her drive than you should have been, now you’re inconvenienced too. For the sake of someone you have to live beside I would just leave it and sort car yourself.