Neighbour damaged his car on my drive

lghtnght · 2026-02-10T16:16:50+00:00

I moved into my new house 3 months ago and after a few weeks, I noticed that the neighbours across the street were reversing onto my property when they left their house. The road is pretty narrow, so they can't really turn around without reversing onto my drive. Plus, another neighbour parks his car (in blue) on the pavement by their house, which makes it harder for them to pull forward and turn around. It would be much easier if they just reversed onto their own drive and drove out from there. I don't know why they haven't done that yet. I didn't want to start any drama or fall out with them. I had never talked to them before today and wasn't sure how they'd react if I brought it up, so last weekend I decided to put some garden rocks in the corner instead. Just to clarify, they're on my drive, not on the pavement, in case anyone wonders. So, the neighbour knocked on my door earlier and said that his car got damaged because of the rocks. He insists that they were half on the pavement (not true) and half on my drive. He asked why I didn't tell him I was putting them there so he could avoid driving over them. He said if there was a problem, I should have just talked to him. I told him it's my drive, on my property. Why would I need to inform him? His car wouldn't have been damaged if he wasn't using my drive… He got really aggressive with me, saying that the previous owners never had any issues and that he's going to call the police and a solicitor about the damage to his car. I haven’t heard anything since. I can't believe I'm even writing this. I’m not sure what to do now! I do feel a bit intimidated by him. Am I being unreasonable?

BestZebbie · 10/02/2026 16:20

He drove his own car, uninvited, onto your private property and in doing so caused damage to his own car from stationary objects?
Don't worry about the police and solicitor (other than that they might do themselves an injury trying not to laugh when he brings this up to them)....

BoxOfCats · 10/02/2026 16:21

YANBU. He is a dick.

Seawolves · 10/02/2026 16:21

He's CF who doesn't have much of a leg to stand on.

FlowerFairyDaisy · 10/02/2026 16:23

'Grey Rock' the idiot (see what I did there)?

Pasta4Dinner · 10/02/2026 16:24

He’s an idiot if he calls the police over this.

ShodAndShadySenators · 10/02/2026 16:25

He hasn't got a leg to stand on and possibly he hopes you'll worry and fret over this, waiting to hear from police/solicitors and the like. Don't give him the satisfaction and put his stupid actions out your mind. You have no liability for third parties' vehicles going onto your property without your permission, so he can bloody whistle. The dipstick.

NutButterOnToast · 10/02/2026 16:26

He's an idiot who should know better.

But well done you OP for taking decisive action about a CF. Bet he won't use your drive again!

raspberets · 10/02/2026 16:27

FlowerFairyDaisy · 10/02/2026 16:23

'Grey Rock' the idiot (see what I did there)?

OP’s already done that and he’s still blathering on!

TheFireHorse · 10/02/2026 16:27

Ooooo did you have a previous thread about this? I remember the amazing diagram.

Sorry it ended like that. He’s a dick! Let him phone the police, and you can tell them how aggressive he was!

JacquesHarlow · 10/02/2026 16:28

He is failing to learn a life lesson here, and is trying to pass the blame onto you.

Ignore him.

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 10/02/2026 16:28

He's an entitled twat.

Has his car damaged your garden rocks by any chance?

SunnyRedSnail · 10/02/2026 16:28

He isn't going to call the police. He drove his own car onto your property without due care and attention and damaged his car.

You can put what you like on your drive, including some pretty rocks.

NotAnotherScarf · 10/02/2026 16:29

Wow can't believe the replies here. So left me get this straight, to get off his drive, which he parks on rather than blocking the road further, he drives on your drive. And instead of talking to him about it, you stick rocks in the way to stop him.

Firstly, in what way is he inconveniencing you? Yes he's driving on your drive but he'd have to drive for about a thousand years before wearing it out. He's parked so that people can get along the street and needs to use your drive because someone isn't as considerate.

Secondly, why didn't you speak to him if you are so upset and let him block the road instead.

Thirdly, yes the damage is down to him, he drove into a stationary rock, even if it was on the pavement. But bloody hell mate, what is so difficult about being a good neighbour and letting him just drive into your drive...are you that petty?

raspberets · 10/02/2026 16:30

NotAnotherScarf · 10/02/2026 16:29

Wow can't believe the replies here. So left me get this straight, to get off his drive, which he parks on rather than blocking the road further, he drives on your drive. And instead of talking to him about it, you stick rocks in the way to stop him.

Firstly, in what way is he inconveniencing you? Yes he's driving on your drive but he'd have to drive for about a thousand years before wearing it out. He's parked so that people can get along the street and needs to use your drive because someone isn't as considerate.

Secondly, why didn't you speak to him if you are so upset and let him block the road instead.

Thirdly, yes the damage is down to him, he drove into a stationary rock, even if it was on the pavement. But bloody hell mate, what is so difficult about being a good neighbour and letting him just drive into your drive...are you that petty?

Why didn’t he have the manners to speak to the OP to ask them if it was acceptable for him to use her drive?

edit them/her, not sure.

ElementalPicnicTable · 10/02/2026 16:31

YANBU. If he calls the police, they will tell him it's a civil matter. If he wastes his money on a solicitor, they will write you a snitty letter at the most. Your drive, your rocks.

Zov · 10/02/2026 16:31

He is being ridiculous of course @lghtnght Just say 'see you in court mate.' He hasn't got a leg to stand on. He came onto YOUR DRIVE to turn around. Probably would have been a good idea to get a penguin bollard or a chain across the drive, but it's done now.

My neighbour opposite me reverses half way up my drive as she struggles to get off her driveway/turn around in the road, but I actually don't mind, as if I stopped her, she wouldn't be able to get off her drive properly, and would leave her car on the road, which would be a pain!!!

YANBU to be annoyed by it though. The guy is talking nonsense though, he can't sue you for anything.

ElementalPicnicTable · 10/02/2026 16:32

NotAnotherScarf · 10/02/2026 16:29

Wow can't believe the replies here. So left me get this straight, to get off his drive, which he parks on rather than blocking the road further, he drives on your drive. And instead of talking to him about it, you stick rocks in the way to stop him.

Firstly, in what way is he inconveniencing you? Yes he's driving on your drive but he'd have to drive for about a thousand years before wearing it out. He's parked so that people can get along the street and needs to use your drive because someone isn't as considerate.

Secondly, why didn't you speak to him if you are so upset and let him block the road instead.

Thirdly, yes the damage is down to him, he drove into a stationary rock, even if it was on the pavement. But bloody hell mate, what is so difficult about being a good neighbour and letting him just drive into your drive...are you that petty?

Ha ha. I'm going to come and walk across your garden, because it doesn't inconvenience you.

MissMoneyFairy · 10/02/2026 16:33

Tell him to get a new pair of glasses, you can take photos of your drive and the stones and he can claim on his insurance.

Zov · 10/02/2026 16:34

NotAnotherScarf · 10/02/2026 16:29

Wow can't believe the replies here. So left me get this straight, to get off his drive, which he parks on rather than blocking the road further, he drives on your drive. And instead of talking to him about it, you stick rocks in the way to stop him.

Firstly, in what way is he inconveniencing you? Yes he's driving on your drive but he'd have to drive for about a thousand years before wearing it out. He's parked so that people can get along the street and needs to use your drive because someone isn't as considerate.

Secondly, why didn't you speak to him if you are so upset and let him block the road instead.

Thirdly, yes the damage is down to him, he drove into a stationary rock, even if it was on the pavement. But bloody hell mate, what is so difficult about being a good neighbour and letting him just drive into your drive...are you that petty?

Actual wow.

JacquesHarlow · 10/02/2026 16:36

NotAnotherScarf · 10/02/2026 16:29

Wow can't believe the replies here. So left me get this straight, to get off his drive, which he parks on rather than blocking the road further, he drives on your drive. And instead of talking to him about it, you stick rocks in the way to stop him.

Firstly, in what way is he inconveniencing you? Yes he's driving on your drive but he'd have to drive for about a thousand years before wearing it out. He's parked so that people can get along the street and needs to use your drive because someone isn't as considerate.

Secondly, why didn't you speak to him if you are so upset and let him block the road instead.

Thirdly, yes the damage is down to him, he drove into a stationary rock, even if it was on the pavement. But bloody hell mate, what is so difficult about being a good neighbour and letting him just drive into your drive...are you that petty?

No no no, @NotAnotherScarf - I entirely disagree.

Why should the OP have to explain herself to anyone?

She could have been storing those rocks on her drive. It's not the public highway. She can store rubble, building materials, anything, as it is not expected for him to be using it as a thoroughfare.

His comment about the pavement is even worse - is it expected that he should be using the pavement as well? Does he own every bit of the road , and other people's driveways in front of his house, and expect them to be kept for his driving convenience?

He is massively unreasonable, but posts like this make me think British law hasn't caught up with the reams of unwritten "covenants" out there.

Nopenott0day · 10/02/2026 16:36

Charge him for the damaged rocks.

TallulahBetty · 10/02/2026 16:37

NotAnotherScarf · 10/02/2026 16:29

Wow can't believe the replies here. So left me get this straight, to get off his drive, which he parks on rather than blocking the road further, he drives on your drive. And instead of talking to him about it, you stick rocks in the way to stop him.

Firstly, in what way is he inconveniencing you? Yes he's driving on your drive but he'd have to drive for about a thousand years before wearing it out. He's parked so that people can get along the street and needs to use your drive because someone isn't as considerate.

Secondly, why didn't you speak to him if you are so upset and let him block the road instead.

Thirdly, yes the damage is down to him, he drove into a stationary rock, even if it was on the pavement. But bloody hell mate, what is so difficult about being a good neighbour and letting him just drive into your drive...are you that petty?

Hi, CF Neighbour! <waves>

raspberets · 10/02/2026 16:37

It’s wounded his sense of entitlement.

ladyofshertonabbas · 10/02/2026 16:37

YANBU.

gototogo · 10/02/2026 16:40

@NotAnotherScarf

i do agree to a point, putting rocks there is passive aggressive, always better to speak to people. We all have to use drives to turn around here and thankfully nobody is petty