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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

White man van and early mornings

58 replies

Chefpig · 30/12/2025 07:28

Hello, there's a neighbour with a van and he starts it up anytime between 6am and 7am each day. Slams doors on the van and then keeps it running for a good five minutes before leaving. It's noisy and wakes me up. He's a nice man to say hello to, etc. Aibu to think he could be more considerate of his neighbours, especially me who is trying to get as much sleep in the mornings as possible before the dreaded very early mornings for work start again next week?

OP posts:
Ladyymuck · 30/12/2025 08:44

I can’t see how your neighbour is doing anything wrong and it’s a normal time to be up and about for going to work.

GoodQueenWenceslaus · 30/12/2025 08:54

PersephoneParlormaid · 30/12/2025 07:31

Ah yes, I’ve a grey van man like that. Also, my immediate neighbours who feel the need to run their (3) cars with the windscreen wipers at full pelt for 5 or so minutes when the car is iced over. Unlike me who chucks some water over and drives off.
Luckily the milkman with a diesel van has gone electric.

You're risking cracking your windscreen using that tactic.

Applecup · 30/12/2025 08:55

Chefpig · 30/12/2025 07:28

Hello, there's a neighbour with a van and he starts it up anytime between 6am and 7am each day. Slams doors on the van and then keeps it running for a good five minutes before leaving. It's noisy and wakes me up. He's a nice man to say hello to, etc. Aibu to think he could be more considerate of his neighbours, especially me who is trying to get as much sleep in the mornings as possible before the dreaded very early mornings for work start again next week?

What’s the poor bloke supposed to do? He needs to get to work. Maybe he should tell his clients he won’t start working until mid morning so his entitled neighbour can have a lie in.

PeonyPatch · 30/12/2025 08:55

Ear plugs

Buttcraic · 30/12/2025 08:57

Yabvu; the poor bastard has to be up to leave in the dark and cold at 6, and you're still tucked up warm in bed and complaining about it!

Shade17 · 30/12/2025 08:58

13RidgmontRoad · 30/12/2025 07:47

Keeping a car running for a short while in cold weather and letting the engine warm up and windscreen defrost is what we all should be doing - it’s better for the car and safer for the driver. You could ask him not to slam the doors but this all sounds quite normal to me. I empathise - we have a (not hugely pleasant) tradie with a van over the road and his van is parked badly immediately outside his block of flats. I can’t imagine they love him.

It is NOT better for the car. The best thing for the car is to start it and immediately drive off, using moderate engine speeds until fully warmed up. This ensures quickest warm-up time and the least wear to internal components.

PersephoneParlormaid · 30/12/2025 09:00

GoodQueenWenceslaus · 30/12/2025 08:54

You're risking cracking your windscreen using that tactic.

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It’s mildly warm water and I’ve been doing it for many years, also better environmentally.

Kimura · 30/12/2025 09:01

What would you like him to do instead?

vanillalattes · 30/12/2025 09:08

PersephoneParlormaid · 30/12/2025 09:00

It’s mildly warm water and I’ve been doing it for many years, also better environmentally.

Show quote history

It doesn’t help if your car is ancient and mists and freezes inside though 🫣

SayingThisWithLove · 30/12/2025 09:09

Shade17 · 30/12/2025 08:58

It is NOT better for the car. The best thing for the car is to start it and immediately drive off, using moderate engine speeds until fully warmed up. This ensures quickest warm-up time and the least wear to internal components.

Show quote history

But how do you see?

My DD (19) leaves for placement at 4:45 am at least 8 times a month. She has a little old car which needs her engine running a little longer than mine to clear so she can see clearly. Her doors are a little more, not sure what I am l looking for here but need a stronger pull than mine do to close properly. I may have a chat with neighbours to see if it’s a problem, I would hate to think we are a nuisance, but at the same time, in our cul de sac we have one who gets home just after midnight, one who is usually gone before DD, another at 6 and then the rest before 8.

Dollymylove · 30/12/2025 09:11

Outrageous!! How very dare people get up early and go to work and pay tax!! Should be abolished immediately!!

APC303 · 30/12/2025 09:14

Some dickhead opposite us used to do that each day with his bloody van. He'd do the same with his motorbike too, although popping out to rev it a few times. And when he left, he'd do a stupid bloody beep. Arseholes.

dottiedodah · 30/12/2025 09:17

I sympathise .However he's just going to work! My NDN is the e same.Nothing you can do really.maybe earplugs as suggested 9

RollOnSunshine · 30/12/2025 09:17

Can you sleep in a different bedroom?

sciaticafanatica · 30/12/2025 09:17

People have to work so buy some earplugs or switch bedrooms

Lurkingandlearning · 30/12/2025 09:22

Thank your lucky stars that it’s not you out there at that time, in the cold, doing what you need to do to set off for work to earn a living.

Roll over and go back to sleep.

Or do you think he’s doing this because he has a vendetta against you personally and not out of necessity?

Purlant · 30/12/2025 09:31

But what colour is the white man’s van?

neverbeenskiing · 30/12/2025 09:32

Maybe just be thankful you're not the one having to get up at the crack of dawn to leave for work at 6am. I'm not sure what you want him to do, he can't start work later so you can sleep in.

Ear plugs? white noise app? sleep in another room? noise cancelling headphones?

Bones75 · 30/12/2025 09:33

Poor guy, off to do a days graft and he's in the wrong 🤣

lazyarse123 · 30/12/2025 09:33

When i worked i used to leave at 5.30 and originally used to spray and scrape my windows before starting the engine and it would take ages plus i'd be frozen my mechanic son told me to start the engine and put the blowers on first.
So much quicker and easier. Not really bothered about the neighbours i had a living to earn so that's what had to happen. I'm not driving my car without being able to see for anyone.

NeuroSpicyMumof3 · 30/12/2025 09:38

Between 6 and 7 is not early for a working adult OP, get a grip!

daffodilandtulip · 30/12/2025 09:43

I'm with you OP, we have several van owners slamming, motorbikes revving, cars running with music playing - all from 5:20. Life is so much noisier than it used to be and it's exhausting ... but there's nothing you can do, it's life.

ChrimboLimbo · 30/12/2025 09:45

Mumtobabyhavoc · 30/12/2025 08:41

Thank you! I figured this was a particularly British or regional generalization of some sort.
Here, I think I/we would just say, Neighbour's work van and that would conjure up an image of a white van. 😂
🇨🇦

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Hmm, white van man doesn't really mean a neighbour with a van.

It is derogatory, seen as low class/common and often aggressive. Seen as Reform voting, and looked down upon by the people using the term.

TheNightingalesStarling · 30/12/2025 09:47

The earliest departure on our road is a Nurse.

The audacity, doing 12hr shifts in the hospital several times a week, leaving at 5.15am...

The noisiest bit is just the engine starting. Doesn't matter how long its running for.

(Not to mention the farmers in their tractors during harvest time to about 2am and then starting by again by 6am... hope for their sakes its not the same driver!)

I get its annoying when you want to sleep but they aren't doing it to annoy you.

deeahgwitch · 30/12/2025 09:51

Between 6 and 7 am OP
Sure that’s the middle of the day compared with our neighbour. He’s up and gone well before that. The other day it was 5.19 😮
Usually it’s before 6 am.