Page 14 | 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?

Allisnotlost1 · 10/02/2026 19:59

ScaryM0nster · 10/02/2026 19:24

You might want to run a tally - plenty of people do.

Royal mail, Amazon, Evri, the Fire service all being rather large institutions who agree.

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All renowned for their considerate driving and parking as well…

The main thing all these entitled drivers have is that they’re the kind of men who think they have dominion over everything and get very upset when anything gets in their way. Imagine thinking it’s your right to drive on someone else’s property, and then complaint when that results in damage to your vehicle. He should be embarrassed, and so should anyone supporting this fuckwittery.

gentilleprof7 · 10/02/2026 19:59

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?

Her drive way is private. He should not be driving on it. It's his fault for not checking to see if there was anything there.

Februarysiceandsleet · 10/02/2026 19:59

One persons easy to see, one persons stealth hazard.

Clever!

andfinallyhereweare · 10/02/2026 19:59

@lghtnght let him call the police/solicitor how is that conversation going to go? “My neighbour put rocks on her own drive”… yeah ok.

novalia89 · 10/02/2026 19:59

Allseeingallknowing · 10/02/2026 19:55

I assume the grass was not someone’s private property! It’s a different situation.

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I'm stating that it also doesn't feel neighbourly and feels like they are trying to punish you for parking there by obscuring the object. Like what the OP did.

Allseeingallknowing · 10/02/2026 20:01

LindtCurves · 10/02/2026 19:56

It's interesting how the OP says 'I didn't want to cause any drama' and then proceeds to do something passive aggressive clearly designed to cause drama.

It's also interesting how passive aggressive behaviour gets such positive reinforcement, but suppose it's a cultural thing.

My neighbour or anyone parked in tight spot is welcome to use my drive anytime if that makes for a safer and easier exit from their position. Having your car damaged is terribly stressful, and I wouldn't wish this upon anyone.

Obviously neighbour OTT and out of order but putting rocks on a path you know someone regularly uses is not nice. It's not far from setting a booby trap for someone you suspect does something a little naughty. Age 18 onwards people should be able to talk to each other rather than playing practical jokes at each others' expense. Often other people can't tell that what they are doing isn't to your liking.

Especially this time of the year where a lot of driving occurs in the dark and things like rocks aren't visible, and OP observed that the neighbour uses the drive daily, OP knew what they were doing, trying to teach the neighbour a lesson.

Causing Drama 101 and unlikely the relationship will recover.

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It’s her property ffs! The rocks were put there to deter him, not damage his car. If he didn’t see them that’s his hard luck!

BennyHenny · 10/02/2026 20:01

Team OP here. Served him right, if he can’t spot an obstacle in the way when he’s driving, he should get an eye test!

gentilleprof7 · 10/02/2026 20:01

I would be quite angry about the misogynistic and aggressive way he spoke to you. Ignore him. Moral of the tale - don't drive on other people's property.

Original poster

lghtnght · 10/02/2026 20:02

LindtCurves · 10/02/2026 19:56

It's interesting how the OP says 'I didn't want to cause any drama' and then proceeds to do something passive aggressive clearly designed to cause drama.

It's also interesting how passive aggressive behaviour gets such positive reinforcement, but suppose it's a cultural thing.

My neighbour or anyone parked in tight spot is welcome to use my drive anytime if that makes for a safer and easier exit from their position. Having your car damaged is terribly stressful, and I wouldn't wish this upon anyone.

Obviously neighbour OTT and out of order but putting rocks on a path you know someone regularly uses is not nice. It's not far from setting a booby trap for someone you suspect does something a little naughty. Age 18 onwards people should be able to talk to each other rather than playing practical jokes at each others' expense. Often other people can't tell that what they are doing isn't to your liking.

Especially this time of the year where a lot of driving occurs in the dark and things like rocks aren't visible, and OP observed that the neighbour uses the drive daily, OP knew what they were doing, trying to teach the neighbour a lesson.

Causing Drama 101 and unlikely the relationship will recover.

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He hasn’t spoken to me or even said hello in the three months I’ve lived here. The only thing he’s done is used my driveway and then threatened me with legal action. I think I’ll survive if the relationship doesn’t recover.

OP posts:

Dawnintheageofaquariams · 10/02/2026 20:02

It is the responsibility of the driver to not drive into fixed objects.
Ignore the wankers that claim otherwise on this thread.

Allseeingallknowing · 10/02/2026 20:03

novalia89 · 10/02/2026 19:59

I'm stating that it also doesn't feel neighbourly and feels like they are trying to punish you for parking there by obscuring the object. Like what the OP did.

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I don’t regard people taking advantage and trespassing on other’s property neighbourly! It’s simple- he shouldn’t have been there!

Original poster

lghtnght · 10/02/2026 20:03

andfinallyhereweare · 10/02/2026 19:59

@lghtnght let him call the police/solicitor how is that conversation going to go? “My neighbour put rocks on her own drive”… yeah ok.

LOL 😂

OP posts:

tirednessbecomesme · 10/02/2026 20:04

how often and how much of your drive didn’t really go in as presumably there is a footpath at the front with a dropped kerb so I doubt he’s barely encroaching on your property

and unless those rocks were stacked on top of each other they aren’t exactly visible

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 10/02/2026 20:04

All the people that are criticising the OP, what would’ve happened if the OP had never actually realised he was reversing onto her driveway? What happens if she was out at work all day and never saw it? What happens if she’s working from home and glued to her laptop?
Would everybody still be saying the OP is wrong if she just put the rocks on her driveway because she liked them?

wldpwr · 10/02/2026 20:07

How many people put rocks in the far corner of their driveway because they like them? 🤣

You can't really expect him to know to look for them, and unless they are stacked on top of each other, they are not going to be obvious at all.

Vartden · 10/02/2026 20:07

You should have spoken to him. What you did was mean. If he had been able to use your drive for many years of course he didn't expect a few small rocks to be there. If he has an old car like mine he wouldn't have had parking monitors and they look as though they would be almost impossible to be seen.
Obviously you are within your rights to put rocks on your own driveway but what happened to kindness, empathy for his situation and your ability to talk to him. You and many others can say you are in the right as much as you like and I guess you are but it was a petty , unkind action and you could easily have foreseen the results. It was a thoughtless thing to do .

Original poster

lghtnght · 10/02/2026 20:08

tirednessbecomesme · 10/02/2026 20:04

how often and how much of your drive didn’t really go in as presumably there is a footpath at the front with a dropped kerb so I doubt he’s barely encroaching on your property

and unless those rocks were stacked on top of each other they aren’t exactly visible

He was reversing over the dropped kerb onto the top corner of my drive. I think they’re visible but I can’t comment on other peoples eyesight!

OP posts:

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 10/02/2026 20:09

wldpwr · 10/02/2026 20:07

How many people put rocks in the far corner of their driveway because they like them? 🤣

You can't really expect him to know to look for them, and unless they are stacked on top of each other, they are not going to be obvious at all.

Doesn’t mean she can’t though. People do all sorts of things to their gardens that I don’t like, but not my garden so not my business.
Not his drive, not his business.

ChillOutABitWillYa · 10/02/2026 20:09

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Allisnotlost1 · 10/02/2026 20:10

Vartden · 10/02/2026 20:07

You should have spoken to him. What you did was mean. If he had been able to use your drive for many years of course he didn't expect a few small rocks to be there. If he has an old car like mine he wouldn't have had parking monitors and they look as though they would be almost impossible to be seen.
Obviously you are within your rights to put rocks on your own driveway but what happened to kindness, empathy for his situation and your ability to talk to him. You and many others can say you are in the right as much as you like and I guess you are but it was a petty , unkind action and you could easily have foreseen the results. It was a thoughtless thing to do .

Why is she beholden to be kind and allow someone to use her property rather than their own? Why isn’t the silly man admonished for being using her property without asking, and then being abusive and threatening her with legal action?

ChillOutABitWillYa · 10/02/2026 20:10

Vartden · 10/02/2026 20:07

You should have spoken to him. What you did was mean. If he had been able to use your drive for many years of course he didn't expect a few small rocks to be there. If he has an old car like mine he wouldn't have had parking monitors and they look as though they would be almost impossible to be seen.
Obviously you are within your rights to put rocks on your own driveway but what happened to kindness, empathy for his situation and your ability to talk to him. You and many others can say you are in the right as much as you like and I guess you are but it was a petty , unkind action and you could easily have foreseen the results. It was a thoughtless thing to do .

Exactly.

I despair.

wldpwr · 10/02/2026 20:10

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 10/02/2026 20:09

Doesn’t mean she can’t though. People do all sorts of things to their gardens that I don’t like, but not my garden so not my business.
Not his drive, not his business.

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Of course, but the point is, the outcome could have been foreseen. And therefore it wasn't a good way to solve the problem.

Allisnotlost1 · 10/02/2026 20:11

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Please, all of you who think this is acceptable behaviour on the NDN’s part, move into the same cul de sac and let us know the postcode so we can avoid. 👌🏻

diddl · 10/02/2026 20:11

Obviously you are within your rights to put rocks on your own driveway but what happened to kindness, empathy for his situation and your ability to talk to him.

What happened to being able to reverse onto your own driveway?

ChillOutABitWillYa · 10/02/2026 20:12

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 10/02/2026 20:04

All the people that are criticising the OP, what would’ve happened if the OP had never actually realised he was reversing onto her driveway? What happens if she was out at work all day and never saw it? What happens if she’s working from home and glued to her laptop?
Would everybody still be saying the OP is wrong if she just put the rocks on her driveway because she liked them?

But we know that isn't what happened. And so does he

Totally irrelevant point