AITA for having my neighbor’s car towed after she boxed in my fiancée’s car in our driveway?

Picture a quiet suburban street, where a new family’s driveway becomes the battleground for a neighborly feud. A young couple, juggling life with a newborn, thought they were being kind by letting their neighbor park in their spacious driveway. But when their patience ran thin and their neighbor’s car blocked their fiancée’s escape for a critical doctor’s appointment, a tow truck turned harmony into havoc. Was calling the cops a step too far, or a justified stand for their own space?

This Reddit saga, buzzing with frustration and entitlement, captures the clash between neighborly courtesy and personal boundaries. The couple’s struggle resonates with anyone who’s dealt with a pushy neighbor, and the Reddit community’s fiery takes fuel the debate. Let’s dive into this driveway drama and explore where compassion ends and consequences begin.

‘AITA for having my neighbor’s car towed after she boxed in my fiancée’s car in our driveway?’

My fiancée (30f) and I (29m) barely moved into this house a few months ago. The first week we noticed a car parked right on our driveway which obviously didn’t belong. When we went outside the lady who lived next door asked if this was okay. Her house is right at the corner of the street and there’s no driveway.

She said the last owner was fine with letting her park there so she hoped we wouldn’t mind. Our driveway is big enough for two cars so we said for now it was okay. After our son was born and I had to go back to work we decided to buy a second car so it’s easier for her to get around.

All 3 cars don’t fit so we had to tell our neighbor she can’t park there anymore. Ever since it’s become a whole issue. Once she was parked behind me when I was leaving early in the morning so I had to go banging on her door at 6 am. She had the audacity to be mad for waking her up. I reminded her she can’t park there again so we thought she got the message.

2nd time was when we were on our way home from the park. She was already parked there so we would’ve had to park behind her. I went to go knock and she said she was just putting her groceries away since we weren’t home and the driveway is closer.. This last time when it happened my car wasn't working so my brother came to pick me up early.

My fiancée had to take our son to his 4 month appointment but the lady’s damm car was parked right behind her so there was no way for her to pull out the driveway. She told me the neighbor wasn’t answering the door.

It got late so she had to reschedule his appointment, I came home after and called the cops to come deal with this because I was just so tired. Since they couldn’t reach her they did end up towing her car.

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Once she found out she was at my door angry. So she was a few blocks down at a friends house which is why she didn’t answer but now she says she’s stressed because she doesn’t have the money to get her car back and it’s our fault.

Since both our cars were there she assumed we were home and if anything we would have used my car to pull out of the driveway. My neighbor kept complaining how f**ked out we are going to that extreme making her lose her car when she absolutely needs it. We have just ignored her since then but now every time we’re stepping out she glares right at us.

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I’ve had my car towed before too so we know it’s a nightmare of a fee to get it out of impound. That’s why I ask if I’m the a**hole. It’s been almost a week since this happened with still no sign of her car parked on the street so obviously she hasn’t got it back yet.

When a neighbor’s car repeatedly blocks your driveway, it’s more than an inconvenience—it’s a test of boundaries. The couple, new parents navigating a hectic life, initially showed kindness by allowing their neighbor to park in their driveway. But her repeated disregard, culminating in blocking their fiancée’s car for a baby’s doctor appointment, pushed them to their limit. The neighbor’s assumption that she could park because “both cars were home” reeks of entitlement, ignoring the couple’s clear requests.

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This scenario reflects a broader issue: respecting property boundaries. According to a 2023 survey by the National Association of Realtors, 25% of homeowners report disputes with neighbors over property lines or parking (Source: NAR). The neighbor’s reliance on a prior owner’s agreement doesn’t hold water—new owners, new rules. As boundary expert Nedra Glover Tawwab says, “Boundaries are the distance at which I can love you and me simultaneously” (Source: Nedra Tawwab’s Blog). Here, the couple’s boundary was trampled, and towing was a logical escalation.

The neighbor’s financial stress from the tow is unfortunate, but it’s a consequence of her actions. The couple could offer a calm conversation to clear the air, explaining their frustration while standing firm. Installing a driveway camera, as one Redditor suggested, could prevent future issues.

Heres what people had to say to OP:

The Reddit squad came out swinging, serving up a mix of righteous indignation and practical advice—imagine a group chat where everyone’s had it up to here. Here’s what they had to say:

drtennis13 − NTA: You asked nicely, she ignored you. You pounded on her door on repeated occasions not so nicely, and she ignored that you didn’t want her parking there. The next logical step was to get the car towed, because she wasn’t getting the message. Bet she won’t park there once she has her car back. Problem solved.

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Also if the Dr charged you for an office visit that you had to cancel last minute, I would send the bill to her too. Don’t expect her to pay it, but at least to realize that she is costing you for being TA.. Edit: My first award. Thank you internet stranger.

Total-Being-4278 − In my opinion, you gave her too many chances. None of this was your fault, you were 100% clear with her from the beginning. Your neighbor has some seriously skewed way of rationalizing this. Don't let it rub off on you.. NTA

strawberriesundae − she doesn’t have the money to get her car back. That’s her problem. She was warned multiple times not to park there.. if anything we would have used my car to pull out No. That’s not how life works.

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You don’t ask someone for a favor (like parking on their property) and then expect them to also cater to you (take a specific car because you’re there). If someone is being nice and doing you a favor, you try to make that favor as least burdening as possible in return

NTA. That’s your property and you were kind enough to temporarily share it. You were kind enough to give her multiple chances. She kept pushing the boundary and she learned what happens.

[Reddit User] − Hell NTA. If she continues to park there, have her towed every.single.time. That’s the only thing that will deter a person this insanely entitled. You’ve been if anything overly generous.

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Screamscaper − NTA. Oh my God, this sub is making me realize that weird parking issues I have with my neighbors are... not so weird after all.. Why is it so hard for people to respect the space of others????? Why? SOMEONE TELL ME WHYYYYYYYY

ApprehensiveSort232 − NTA. F**K THAT. You asked her more than once to not park there. Also her agreement with the previous neighbours is not your problem.

The__Riker__Maneuver − NTA If she needed her car she shouldn't be parking it somewhere where she KNEW she no longer had permission to park it. Get a camera though because retaliation is likely

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Kettlewise − NTA. You told her she wasn’t going to be able to park there any longer. TWICE.. The third time she’s jusg disregarding you entirely; the fact she wasn’t at home isn’t your problem.. Going to her door WAS the courtesy - one she wasn’t owed.

You didn’t go to an extreme - you escalated it after she kept parking in your driveway, blocking your vehicles after you told her to stop.. It sounds like she just expected to be able to take advantage of you.

Teahouse_Fox − NTA She knew. You told her before she lost her parking privileges. She ignored you, and so it happened before she got towed. She just didn't want to give up parking so close.. If that's the way she learns to let go, then it was a painfully expensive lesson.

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Lakota_Six − NTA. At all. She was warned multiple times not to park there.

These spicy takes from Reddit raise a point: Is towing the ultimate boundary-enforcer, or does it escalate neighbor wars too far?

This driveway debacle shows how quickly neighborly kindness can sour when boundaries are ignored. The couple tried patience, but their neighbor’s entitlement forced their hand, turning a tow truck into a lesson in respect. While her financial strain tugs at the heartstrings, accountability starts with respecting others’ property. Could a gentler approach have worked, or was towing the only way to drive the point home? Share your thoughts—what would you do if a neighbor kept parking where they shouldn’t?

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