Neighbour blocked shared drive deliberately, AIBU or are they?

You don't have to get authorities involved.
Unfortunately your neighbour has got away with this for too long, they're being ignorant and you really need to shut it down.
Play them at their own game and do exactly what they're doing to you.

The only one having a quiet life in all this is your neighbour.

Agree with this!! You’re letting them get away with it.

This.

Your neighbour could be trying to gain the whole driveway and parking area by adverse possession. He only has to show he’s the only one to use both for 10 years.

How long did the previous owners of your house live there?

You do not need to worry about them calling the police if you block them in. My mum’s new neighbour threatened her and she called the police and they wanted absolutely nothing to do with the parking situation as it was a civil dispute and only approached him about the threat. The police said they couldn’t get involved - only the threat to her was the concern.

I think I would "helpfully" install a metal fence on the boundary between the garage areas. Too close and they damage their car and can't get out.

Seems like they bullied their old neighbours to the point where they think that the whole drive and shared access is theirs. If you play nice, they will do the same. Start out as a bitch, and stick with it.

OP, you have been generous and respectful towards your neighbours and they have taken advantage of you.
Unless the twats are paying for your side of the shared driveway and paying for your garage then they have no right to park on what is your land.
I realise this would be difficult but is there room to put a short chain link fence on your boundary between your and the neighbours garage, just long enough to not allow them to park right in the middle but to delineate parking areas?
The neighbours daughter is deliberately trying to cause an issue. I am furious on your behalf.

Just read your updates - WTF?? I’d be tempted to hire a van for a month and park it outside your garage and spray paint the border. And install a zoom floodlight opposite their door.

Reverse in, let them climb out their windows fuck them.

I never understand how anyone would prove that there was an official complaint anyway, because presumably any information would be confidential because of GDPR?

I should have added solicitors. However if there's no documented official involvement then it doesn't have to be declared.

This.

For goodness sake stop being so nice and just park behind them.

I'm not sure that's correct. The TA6 asks about disputes and if solicitors have been involved then that's clearly pretty serious!

Personally I'd keep knocking until they answered the fucking door if you know they are definitely in.
They are bullying you, do not let them. Knock, knock, knock and when they answer just say 'you need to move the cars as I wish to park mine on my property, if you want to make it difficult then I'll instruct my solicitor'
Don't take no for an answer.
Definitely get a camera on the garage to cover the driveway.

Is there enough room for you to put a fence up along the boarder line of your private part of the drive?
if so I would be doing so.
Do you know when they (and their car) will be out? Call me petty but I’d get hold of either a huge concrete block or a ginormous rock and put it right on the barrier of the property to prevent them even coming a fraction onto your side… or even better if you know anyone with a car they are going to SORN of the road, park that there and leave it there!
If he comes and knocks your door either ignore him like he has you, or tell him that you’re sick of his pathetic behaviour !
definitely put up a security light and camera on the garage. You might be able to fit the ring doorbell but at an angle so it isn’t on his front door… my friend has one and it’s pointing down her drive covering her front door and whole drive way. When you go out and come back I’d be tempted to hop out of the car at the end of the driveway then the other adult drive/reverse up the driveway into your parking spot, directing the other so your car is close to the boundary and get child out of side closest to your front door… if they realise that their parking prevents them from getting in their car door closest to the boundary then they’ll be forced (hopefully) to park closer to their own house !
I have to say I’d watch for them going out and spray mark the boundary or do something to make it clearer.

You need to get a step ahead of this.

I'd put up the flashiest (on/off) security light you can find on your property, across from their door.

Theyll be over!

I'd then make it very clear that the parking situation changes or the light shall remain.

Guarantee will knock them back into place.

They only have to declare it if police or local authority involved.

You mentioned previously that you have been told that the previous owners had problems with your difficult neighbours. Did they declare that dispute to your solicitors before you bought? If they were asked and didn't declare then you can take this further. Bet they were glad to get out of there.

I know it’s tempting to block them in, but I think they are trying to goad you into doing it, you will have the upper hand if you manage not to sink to their level. I know it would force them to engage but the way that they wont even answer the door makes me think that they’d do something insane like call the police and try and take you to court or something mad. If you leave notes i think that’s a good way to do it, they are very likely to be read. Please start parking in front of your own house and stop letting them bully you by parking slightly over the line, as for all the other behaviour keep rising above it xx

Blocking in their cars would at least force them to engage! I'm sure your deeds (and theirs) will grant you both the right to use the driveway but not to actually block it. A few minutes to load/unload a car would be reasonable but may be difficult to negotiate when your neighbours are so awful. Is the space in front of the garages also marked on the deeds as shared? Does he actually park in front of your garage or just so close that it's difficult for you to get in? (I'm assuming you are younger and fitter and could possibly park close and scoot in and out the passenger door. Or back in and park close.)

op you are letting yourself be bullied off your own drive. You have no choice but to let this escalate by blocking her in today and finally getting to speak to them otherwise you are allowing yourself to be a pushover and they will always take over the shared drive. I would wait till their cars have gone out at very least and then park outside your garage so far over the way he has been to prove a point.

This.

Hi op if they don’t answer leave a note of the times you have knocked tell them next time it is a call to the police as the garage is private property so they are blocking access to you garage. Then if they do it again put a ring bell up let them knock to complain tell them to go fuck themselves it is a necessity with suck obnoxious neighbours. Your past politeness now op.

Can they see the drive from inside the house op? I'd make a big show of going out with my camera phone to take lots of photos of their cars and maybe a pretend phone call.