Can I be fined for parking too close to another car?

DEALING with a car parked too close to yours can be an extremely frustrating situation.

But can you be fined for parking too close to another car?

Parking very close to another car can cause problems for more than one driver

Can I be fined for parking too close to another car?

The Highway Code says that anyone parking on-street should park facing the direction the road travels, not against the flow of traffic.

But there is no minimum requirement for the distance between parked cars.

However, it’s expected that drivers will offer other motorists the courtesy of having enough space to manoeuvre out safely.

The advice given is usually along the lines of ‘tyres and tarmac’ – which means you should be able to see the tyres and road beneath the car parked in front of you.

Sometimes, there are a lot of people parking on a small stretch of road so parking distances will be tight, which is why there is a ‘common sense’ requirement as opposed to a legal one.

In case of a real emergency you could contact the police and report the car as an obstruction if you cannot get on to the road.

It goes without saying that you shouldn’t park too close to a vehicle that has a Blue Badge showing for access reasons.

Make sure you apply the handbrake before you leave the car and switch the engine off so you don’t cause any accidental collisions while you are gone.

What should I do if someone hits my parked car?

Coming back after running your errands and finding that someone has hit your parked car is one of the worst feelings.

Government advice says that if you are in an accident ‘causing damage or injury’ you must give your name and address and the vehicle registration number to anyone with ‘reasonable grounds for requiring them’, e.g. your insurance provider.

If the driver left a note or stuck around then you need to exchange insurance details, they may even offer to pay for the damage on the spot.

Take some pictures of the damage for records before contacting your insurers.

Make sure you report the accident to your insurance company even if you do not plan to make a claim.

If you do not own the vehicle you will need to give the owner’s name and address.

You should report the accident to the police within 24 hours if you do not give your details at the time of the incident.

Your insurance company will also be able to give you more advice specific to your situation.

What should I do if I hit someone’s parked car?

Drivers involved in an accident should wait around to contact the driver of the car you hit.

If you can’t wait around you should leave a note with your contact details.

Failure to do so may result in the accident becoming categorised as a hit-and-run – which is against the law.