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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:
Hibernatingsloth · 17/05/2026 16:15

Ponderingwindow · 17/05/2026 16:12

Legally, you could press the issue.

morally and for the sake of neighborhood harmony, I would just pay to repair my own car.

telling someone they had enough room and could drive on the “grass verge” is beyond annoying as a response.

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.

Birminghambabe03 · 17/05/2026 16:14

It’s her fault.

Original poster
Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 16:14

Ponderingwindow · 17/05/2026 16:12

Legally, you could press the issue.

morally and for the sake of neighborhood harmony, I would just pay to repair my own car.

telling someone they had enough room and could drive on the “grass verge” is beyond annoying as a response.

I didn't say that to her I promise - I just thought it.

OP posts:
TBC99 · 17/05/2026 16:14

She was driving her car and hit your parked vehicle. Irrespective of where it was parked or what else was going on, surely that was her fault?
I'd be asking for her insurance details and letting your insurers deal with it

Lmnop22 · 17/05/2026 16:13

Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 16:11

This is the thing she wasn't blocked in she got in and out fine it was when she came back she reversed and misjudged and hit my car.

Show quote history

Then she must pay! Simple as that. Same if you were in a car park and she misjudged it and hit you - it’s HER responsibility not to hit other cars and if yours was parked and stationary then you cannot be liable for the accident whatsoever.

Ponderingwindow · 17/05/2026 16:12

Legally, you could press the issue.

morally and for the sake of neighborhood harmony, I would just pay to repair my own car.

telling someone they had enough room and could drive on the “grass verge” is beyond annoying as a response.

Original poster
Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 16:11

Lmnop22 · 17/05/2026 16:10

Even if you were blocking her drive (probable), she can’t just drive into your stationary car and she is liable. She can be pissed off she’s blocked in and rightly so, but she can’t just crash into you - it is 100% her fault.

This is the thing she wasn't blocked in she got in and out fine it was when she came back she reversed and misjudged and hit my car.

OP posts:
Lmnop22 · 17/05/2026 16:10

Even if you were blocking her drive (probable), she can’t just drive into your stationary car and she is liable. She can be pissed off she’s blocked in and rightly so, but she can’t just crash into you - it is 100% her fault.

Original poster
Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 16:10

BiddlyBipBipBeeBop · 17/05/2026 16:08

It’s incredibly annoying, but I guess it’s down to how far you want to push it and whether you’re willing to fall out over it? There’s no excuse for hitting a stationary vehicle, no matter how close it’s parked and I suspect she’d be hard pressed to make it your liability. However it sounds like she’s already pissed off with the building disruption and feeling hard done by.

I think this is what has happend. But I would have just expected a message to say they don't want to offer their drive anymore. I don't know I'm just taken back about how it's being used against hitting my car.

OP posts:
Original poster
Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 16:08

Anewuser · 17/05/2026 16:06

I would probably have said I’d get a quote then go from there.

If it was cheap to repair then I’d suck up the cost. Your neighbour has been kind letting you use their access.

You gave the impression they didn’t need to worry about it but now you’ve changed your mind. You’ve pissed them off with your parking and now with communication.

I don't think I did give them any impression it was ok I said I was out can we talk when I get in. I think the neighbour expected me to say it's ok after the initial contact which I didn't do.

OP posts:
BiddlyBipBipBeeBop · 17/05/2026 16:08

It’s incredibly annoying, but I guess it’s down to how far you want to push it and whether you’re willing to fall out over it? There’s no excuse for hitting a stationary vehicle, no matter how close it’s parked and I suspect she’d be hard pressed to make it your liability. However it sounds like she’s already pissed off with the building disruption and feeling hard done by.

Original poster
Yournextdoorneighbour · 17/05/2026 16:07

howshouldibehave · 17/05/2026 16:03

It sounds like your building work been more of a hassle than you think. Having large machinery driving across their drive and parking right up to their drive has clearly been too much.

Were you blocking their drive? She clearly think so.

No I wasn't blocking their drive as mentioned in my OP.
The neighbour gave access to my garden where the machinery stayed, not on their drive. Their drive may have been used a few minutes if that by way of exit and entry. I have planned to take them flowers and chocolates as a way of thankyou as it's very recent thing.

OP posts:
Anewuser · 17/05/2026 16:06

I would probably have said I’d get a quote then go from there.

If it was cheap to repair then I’d suck up the cost. Your neighbour has been kind letting you use their access.

You gave the impression they didn’t need to worry about it but now you’ve changed your mind. You’ve pissed them off with your parking and now with communication.

howshouldibehave · 17/05/2026 16:03

It sounds like your building work been more of a hassle than you think. Having large machinery driving across their drive and parking right up to their drive has clearly been too much.

Were you blocking their drive? She clearly think so.