You’re tired. You just finished a long day at work and it’s time to go home. But as you pull into your driveway, you see that there’s another car parked there!
How did they get access to my driveway? And how am I going to get them out of here so I can park?
Don’t worry. We have all the answers for you. This blog post will cover everything you need to know about how to get a car towed from your driveway legally and easily!
How to Get a Car Towed for Blocking Your Driveway
There are far too many individuals who don’t think about the consequences of blocking someone else’s driveway.
Fortunately, most states and communities have made it simple for people to contact law enforcement if they run into these difficulties. Hotlines to report blocked driveways and illegal parking reports are available, staffed by live operators to expedite the response time.
Can You Get a Car Towed for Free?
Yes, you can absolutely get a car towed for free. If you believe the vehicle is already overstepping its bounds, you can have it towed for free. How? Instead of calling a towing business right away, you may call the cops to verify the situation. They will not only tow the car for free but also issue a warning to the owner of the vehicle that is blocking your driveway.
Another benefit of calling the cops is that it’s also the best option to avoid liability in case the vehicle gets damaged during the towing process. Since the cops will be the ones towing the vehicle, they will be held responsible for any damage done to it during the towing process.
What If the Police Are Busy?
In case you’re in a hurry and the cops are busy, there is another option to get a car towed: towing companies.
You can contact a local towing company and if they’re any good, they will arrive within minutes and start towing the vehicle out of your way. The downside to this method is that it will cost you some money.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Towing Company?
As with everything, the rates for hiring a towing company will vary depending on your location. However, in the United States, the national average cost of hiring a towing company is $109, which roughly translates to $2.50 to $7 per mile.
Here are some more ballpark estimates:
- $30 to $100 for five to seven miles
- $100 to $250 for forty miles
- $250 to $600 for a hundred miles
When to Call a Car Towing Company and How They Can Help
As we mentioned earlier, your best option is to call the cops. However, if the cops aren’t available and you’re in a hurry, then the only option you have left is to call a towing company.
Here’s what the general process of hiring a towing company looks like.
- Calling the company: Don’t have their number? There’s no need to worry. Simply Google towing companies in your area to get the numbers of reputable organizations near you.
- Clearing up the details: When you call a company, the first thing they will do is clear up details. They will ask your name, your address, the reason for towing the vehicle, and how soon you need the vehicle towed.
- Discussing a price: Once the details have been discussed, the company will inform you about their rates. You can then try to negotiate a lower price, but we wouldn’t recommend that as most companies won’t budge from their set rates.
- Confirming a payment method: When you agree to pay their rate, the company will inform you about all the payment methods they accept. You can then choose a method of your liking.
- Waiting for them to arrive: Once the payment method has been confirmed, all you have to do is for the towing company to arrive.
That’s how hiring a towing company typically goes. However, your experience may involve some additional steps depending on your situation and the company you choose to hire.
How to Prevent Your Neighbors from Parking In Your Driveway
There’s a lot you can do to prevent your neighbors from parking in your driveway. For instance, here are three steps.
1. Communicate With them Directly
Do you know how your neighbor feels about the situation? Maybe they aren’t even aware that their vehicle is blocking your path. Since you won’t know if that’s the case until you talk to them, head over to your neighbor’s house or give them a call to discuss the problem you’re having.
If your neighbor doesn’t agree to park somewhere else, then your next step should be to try to make a bargain.
For instance, how about if your neighbor agrees that they will only park on one side of the street as long as you agree to allow them to park in front of your house when they have guests over. Similarly, you can also agree to switch off every other week. That way, one person always has to park around the corner.
2. Take Preventive Measures
In case your neighbor isn’t being reasonable and refusing to cooperate, then here are some measures you can take to prevent them from parking in your driveway:
- Put a no-parking sign outside your home.
- Apply for a resident-only parking permit to prevent your neighbor’s guests from parking in your driveway.
- Install a fence around your driveway.
3. Arrive First
Do the first two steps sound like too much work? Then you can always just arrive before your neighbors and park in the space they usually occupy. When you do this for a couple of days straight, your neighbor will likely start looking for a new spot where they can park regularly.
Conclusion
When a car is parked illegally in your driveway and you’re not in a hurry, the best way to get it towed is by calling the cops. It won’t cost you a cent and the police will issue a warning to the owner of the vehicle for causing you inconvenience.
On the other hand, if you are in a hurry, then you should call a towing company. They may charge you some money but they will get the job done.
However, although you can get a car towed, the best way to deal with this issue is to prevent it from happening in the first place. So take the steps we mentioned briefly in this post. If you want more information on how to keep your neighbors from parking in your driveway, read this comprehensive guide.
