A car is blocking your driveway in Australia

For a routine blocked driveway, try to contact the driver and then use the responsible council or parking operator if needed. If someone is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).

Do not try to edge through a gap you cannot judge safely. A wing mirror, pedestrian or passing cyclist can be outside your view.

Make one clear request

Look for a displayed number or contact code. If the car is outside a business, ask staff whether they can pass on a request without giving you someone’s personal details.

“Your car is blocking the driveway at 18 Park Road. Please move it when safe.”

Include the precise entrance if a property has several. Repeated calls or an argument beside the car are unlikely to improve the situation.

Give the council enough information

Record the address, rego, issuing state or territory, vehicle description and time. Take a photograph showing the obstruction and driveway together.

In Sydney’s Inner West, the council’s blocked-driveway service accepts reports from the affected resident and asks for a contact number. You can call 02 9392 5000. An officer decides what action is appropriate; the page explains that towing can depend on the vehicle’s position and access.

That service covers the Inner West, not every Australian council. For another address, use its council’s official parking page. Inside a private car park, ask the operator which procedure applies.

Keep police and parking contact separate

For NSW, NSW Police lists 131 444 for non-urgent police assistance and 000 for emergencies. A routine council parking complaint is a different job from asking police to attend a dangerous incident.

Do not move, damage or arrange an unauthorised tow of somebody else’s vehicle.

What a private message can do

An Australian plate address needs Australia, the issuing state or territory and the complete rego.

The current Google Play app does not support plate contact for US, Canadian or Australian plates.

For supported plates, Replyte keeps phone numbers out of the conversation and requires the sender to use the app.

For supported plates, eligible messages to unclaimed plates wait for up to 30 days and expire unless the plate is claimed. Even a claimed vehicle may not receive an immediate reply. Continue with the appropriate council or property service when you need access restored.

For a private request, see how to contact a driver in Australia.

Get Replyte from Google Play. The iOS app is not available yet.