MOTORISTS have been warned they could be slapped with a £5,000 fine if they use their neighbour's driveway to turn their car around, experts have revealed.
Drivers are often seen momentarily parking into another driveway to help them park their vehicle.
But this could put drivers in hot water, as doing so could be considered "trespassing", leading to a prosecution as a civil or criminal matter, according to Select Car Leasing.
If a homeowner has a "no turning" sign, they could take the offender to court.
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Cheeky neighbours who use the extra space when their neighbours are out of town have also been caught out.
Louise Thomas, motor expert at Confused.com car insurance, urged drivers to be vigilant.
She said: “Almost half (44 per cent) of drivers admit to using someone else's driveway to manoeuvre their car. But although it could seem harmless, doing so could land drivers with an unwanted fine.
“The Highway Code says you shouldn't stop or move your car in a place that could impact residents or other road users.
“So using someone else's property could cause a safety hazard for its residents, including children and animals.”
Rule 240 of the Highway Code also states that drivers must not stop or park in a number of places including a pedestrian crossing or a clearway, while Rule 241 outlines how people should not park in a space reserved for a resident unless they are permitted to do so.
Louise Thomas added: “There’s also the risk of potential property damage when manoeuvring on somebody else’s property. If you cause significant damage, you could land yourself with a £5,000 fine.
“So, if you do get a bit lost on your travels and need to turn around, the best thing to do is pull up safely on the side of a quiet road.
“There, you can turn and ensure you're not disturbing anyone’s private property.”
Brits have also been hit with heavy fines as confusion over whether you can park on pavements, as countries within the United Kingdom appear to have their own rules.
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Outside of London, drivers are permitted to partially park on the pavement but it must not cause an obstruction.
As a general rule of thumb - if you do park on the pavement - you should allow enough space for people to still pass your car, or risk being reported for illegal parking.
Almost half (44 per cent) of drivers admit to using someone else's driveway to manoeuvre their car. But although it could seem harmless, doing so could land drivers with an unwanted fine
Louise Thomas
Highway Code rule 242 states: "You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road."
Councils across the country have been trying to get areas to follow the lead of London on pavement parking, with many areas pushing for far stricter rules.
England, for example, has looked into how to crack down on pavement parking but has made no firm decisions on the actions it will take to address this.
In Wales, the Welsh Government has given the green light for local councils to crack down on pavement parking with them having the powers to fine drivers for doing so - though it is still not illegal.
Northern Ireland currently has no blanket ban on parking on pavements but tickets can be issued if you contravene the Highway Code, park on yellow lines or where signs prohibit parking.
Scotland, meanwhile, is the first country in the UK to ban pavement parking.
The Transport (Scotland) Bill, which banned pavement parking, double parking and parking at dropped kerbs, was passed in 2019 and came into full effect in December 2023.
