Updated July 2026
In short
You can’t have a car towed off private land, but you can make your driveway an obvious no-go: a clear sign, a physical deterrent like a bollard or planter, and a properly finished dropped kerb and drive that marks your boundary. It’s trespass — but a civil matter, so the fix is yours to put in place.
People swinging into your drive to turn around — or worse, to park — is one of the most common frustrations we hear about in Nottingham. Here are your realistic options, from a two-minute fix to a permanent one.
Is it actually illegal?
Driving onto your private driveway without permission is trespass — but in England it’s a civil matter, not a criminal one. The police won’t usually get involved unless there’s damage, a vehicle left behind, or a breach of the peace. That means the practical solutions are yours to arrange, rather than something you can simply report and have solved.
What actually works
- A clear sign. A simple “Private driveway — no turning” sign puts off most casual offenders.
- A physical deterrent. A bollard (removable or fixed), a heavy planter, a low wall or a gate makes it impossible. Removable bollards are popular — drop them when you need full access.
- Make the boundary obvious. A lot of turning happens because the edge of a property is vague. A properly formed dropped kerb and finished driveway make it clear where private land begins.
What you can’t do
You can’t clamp or tow a vehicle on your own drive without following strict rules, and blocking someone in can land you in trouble. Don’t obstruct the pavement or road with your deterrent either — that’s the public highway and can be removed. If a car is repeatedly left on your drive, keep a photo record; for anything on the highway, speak to the council, and the police only if it’s dangerous.
The permanent fix
If turning traffic is a persistent problem, the long-term answer is a clearly-defined, well-marked crossing and drive. We install council-approved dropped kerbs across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and handle the whole application — get a free quote and we’ll take a look.
Want it sorted properly?
We install council-approved dropped kerbs across Nottingham & Nottinghamshire — and handle the whole Section 184 application for you.
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