SQ440: Someone has parked their car and it is blocking my driveway. What should I do?

Unless you have a disabled parking permit (see related question for full details of disabled parking scheme) you are not permitted to park on double yellow lines at any time, the restrictions apply 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year.

You could face a fine if you park illegally or you could even have your car towed away.

Between sunset and sunrise all motor vehicles parked on a road must be parked with the nearside of the vehicle as near to the kerb as possible and the vehicle cannot be parked within 10m of a junction.

There are exceptions:

• Parking on a one way street.
• Vehicles dropping off or picking up passengers.
• Vehicles connected with emergency services.
• Vehicles connected with building work, repairs to road, cars, sewers, gas pipes etc.
• If the road does not have a 30mph limit then parking lights must be used when parking a vehicle in the hours of darkness.

A heavy goods vehicle (over 7.5 tonnes) must be lit and must not cause an obstruction if parked on a road during the hours of darkness.

Failure to comply with these rules will lead to a fixed penalty notice being issued.

There are many rules regarding parking with blue badges and this is only to be used as a guide, not a definitive list.

YOU CAN PARK

• Parking free of charge and without time limit at parking meters on-street and "pay and display" on-street parking. In some instances exemptions from time limits imposed on other users;
• Scotland - Parking on single or double yellow lines without any time limit, providing that no obstruction is caused;
• England and Wales - Parking on single or double yellow lines for up to 3 hours, providing that no obstruction is caused;
• Parking in greenways out-with times of operation;
• You should make every attempt to park in marked disabled bays, on-street parking bays or where there are no restrictions, with parking on single or double yellow line only utilised as a last resort.

PARKING RESTRICTIONS

• In Scotland and Northern Ireland, there is no time restriction on parking for badge holders, unless local restrictions apply;
• In England and Wales you will need a parking clock which must be displayed every time you park on yellow lines or in other places where there is a time restriction. The clock should be set to show the time of arrival;
• Badge holders living in Scotland who intend to visit England or Wales should apply to their council for the loan of a parking clock which can be used for the duration of their stay.

PLACES WHERE YOU CANNOT PARK

• Places where a ban on loading is in force, normally indicated by one or two yellow marks on the kerb. Roadside signs display times of operation for loading bays; some allow specific time limits for badge holders;
• Parking places reserved for specific users such as resident's bays. Always check whether badge holders are exempt from these restrictions;
• Pedestrian crossings (including zebra, pelican, toucan and puffin crossings), including areas marked with zigzag lines;
• Clearways (no stopping);
• A bus stop during hours of operation;
• Double or single red lines during their hours of operation;
• An urban clearway within its hours of operation. You may pick up or drop off passengers. All parking is forbidden;
• School "KEEP CLEAR" markings during the hours shown on the yellow no-stopping plate;
• Bus, tram or cycle lanes or cycle tracks. Badge holders are not entitled to drive in bus lanes during their hours of operation;
• Where there are double white lines in the centre of the road (even if one of the lines is broken);
• Suspended meter bays or when use of the meter is not allowed;
• Where temporary parking restrictions are in force along a length of road, e.g. as indicated by no-waiting cones.

When parking using a blue badge, it is important to park carefully and thoughtfully, giving thought to other road users. For example, when parking on single or double yellow lines, do not park your vehicle where it will cause an obstruction or hold up traffic.

Please note that the blue badge scheme is not in force in Central London, including; the City of London, the City of Westminster, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and that part of the London Borough of Camden bounded by and including Euston Road, Upper Woburn Place, Tavistock Square, Woburn Place, Russell Square, Southampton Road, Theobalds Road and Clerkenwell Road. They do offer some concessions for disabled drivers and these usually consist of parking spaces reserved for blue badge holders.

For full details on the blue badge scheme, please see the Related Information for the website.