My neighbours kept blocking the driveway to my garage, so I called council and got them towed. Help AITAH, any advice?

A young woman moves into her new Sydney home excited to finally use her garage driveway. But right from day one, neighbors and their guests treat the spot in front like free public parking, forcing her to lug groceries in the rain or park blocks away.

After months of polite requests, notes, and partial blocks from their huge family fleet, she snaps on a scorching 40°C day. Coming home loaded from the beach, she finds the wife’s truck half-blocking access again—for the third day straight. This time, she snaps photos, reports to council, and watches as the tow truck hauls it away almost immediately.

‘My neighbours kept blocking the driveway to my garage, so I called council and got them towed. Help AITAH, any advice?’

The problems started the moment she moved in four months ago, with a van fully blocking access on a rainy day:

The polite approach didn’t stick, and blocking continued despite their massive double driveway:

The final straw came during extreme heat, leading to an immediate council response:

Blocking a driveway isn’t just rude—it’s outright illegal in NSW because it can stop emergency vehicles from reaching your home quickly. Councils enforce this strictly when reported with evidence, which explains the fast tow response.

She went way beyond what’s expected: a friendly in-person chat, then five notes ranging from polite to firm. Most people would’ve skipped straight to reporting after the first ignore.

If the neighbors confront her, the best move is calm and factual—remind them of the prior warnings, the law, and that council made the call based on photos. No need to apologize; entitlement thrives on pushovers.

Going forward, a clear sign like “Active Driveway – No Parking – Towed at Owner’s Expense” plus a cheap security camera will deter guests and provide instant proof for future reports. Consistency wins these battles.

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

The online crowd overwhelmingly declared her not the asshole, praising her patience and cheering the swift tow:

You handled this textbook-style: polite warnings first, escalation only after ignoring them. The law is on your side, and council’s quick action proves it. If they push back, stay firm but calm—retaliation usually stops once consequences hit the wallet. Your driveway, your rules.

Ever dealt with nightmare neighbors over parking? Would you have towed sooner, or kept trying notes? Share your driveway drama stories below.