Parking is one of those everyday activities that should be pretty straightforward. After all, it shouldn't be so hard to find a space, fit your car into it, and leave enough room for everyone else to get on with their day. Yet, somehow, some drivers manage to turn this simple task into a spectacular display of selfishness, questionable judgment, and a complete disregard for painted lines.

Fortunately, people aren't always willing to keep their frustrations to themselves. From cars taking up multiple spaces to vehicles blocking driveways and making life difficult for everyone around them, some parking jobs are so outrageous that they practically beg for a response. And sometimes, that response comes in the form of a handwritten note.

A collection of these messages has been making the rounds online, showcasing the hilarious, sarcastic, and occasionally savage things people have left on badly parked cars. Some are polite reminders, others are brutally honest, but all of them have something to say.

#1 Giving An Award To A Parked Car

#2 New To This Apartment & Not Feeling Safe Now

I moved to this apartment March 1st. I was assigned to a spot in the garage. When I attempted to park there the first night there was someone parked there. I emailed the office & they said they would contact the person parked there and if they didn't hear back a tow would be initiated. They followed up saying the tow was going to occur on a certain day. It didn't, so I emailed management again. Finally on Tuesday night I checked and the spot was empty, I thought it was handled so I parked there Tuesday night and last night. Well, this is what I came down to this morning. The duct tape on that note was in a million tiny pieces and it took me 30 minutes to finish getting it off. I am a single woman with a daughter who ran from a domestic situation. I take our safety incredibly seriously. Of course I called and emailed management right away and will file a police report, but how would you handle this? I have never had to deal with something like this in all my years of renting. **UPDATE*** Was able to speak with management, they notified me this person's lease will be terminated immediately. They also let me pick from any other open spot (she did stress this spot was NEVER signed out to anyone else so this person is clearly unhinged for something that isn't even theirs.) and said they DO have cameras in the garage, which they will provide to police. They encouraged me to file a report which I will be doing today. I'm sure I will need some sort of protection order because I am sure I'm a target to this person now. Thanks for all of the helpful advice & encouragement! **2nd update** Filed the police report. They said no charges can really be pressed since there was no "real" damage to my car and no threats to my physical harm... so I contacted management again, asked if I could be notified when this person no longer has access to the building & asked if I could park in a different building until then. Sorry I can't reply to all the comments but I appreciate you all for the kind words

#3 This Person Who Drew A Parking Spot To Expose The Disaster

Bad parking can feel surprisingly personal because it breaks an unspoken agreement people have when sharing public spaces. According to Drive, drivers generally expect everyone to use available parking fairly and avoid making others deal with the consequences of their carelessness.

Someone who parks across two spaces, blocks another vehicle, or leaves their car at an awkward angle may seem to be prioritizing their own convenience over everyone else's. This can create more frustration than the parking mistake itself, particularly when other people are left struggling to find a spot or get where they need to go.

#4 Don't Park Like A Tool!

When you park like a tool, you make mad. When you make people mad, they write notes. When they write notes, they're wasting time. When they waste their time, they get more mad. Or is it 'madder'? Now they're doubting their grammar. Don't make people doubt their grammar.

#5 Wait... Why? What?

#6 A Friend Came Over To Visit And Parked In One Of The Generally Empty Spots At My Building. She Came Back To Find This On Her Windshield

Part of this reaction also comes from how people perceive territory and personal space. Even though parking bays are public, drivers can become possessive of a space they believe they have a right to use. Cars can also feel like extensions of their owners, which explains why finding another vehicle parked too close or carelessly beside yours can feel like an intrusion.

The frustration can become even greater when someone is already running late, looking for a parking spot, or trying to get somewhere important. Interestingly, parking lines make these disagreements particularly easy to recognize because they establish clear visual boundaries. Unlike many social expectations, there is little ambiguity about whether a car is occupying more space than it should.

#7 Someone Hit My Car Today And Left This Note

#8 This Note Left On My Car

#9 My Grandfather Just Passed And We Were Cleaning Out His Car, He Always Had The Best Since Of Humor

These expectations are part of a much broader set of unwritten rules governing how people share public spaces. Spacing explores how everyday etiquette largely comes down to recognizing that strangers have needs too, whether that means keeping doorways clear, allowing people to move freely, or avoiding unnecessary inconvenience.

Parking follows the same principle: people should take only the space they need and leave the rest available to others. Similar courtesies apply in everyday situations, such as not placing a bag on a seat someone else could use, moving aside when stopping on a busy pavement, and waiting your turn instead of pushing ahead in a queue.

#10 Hey Reddit, A Couple Of Friends And I Left A Note For Someone Who Thought They Needed To Take Up Two Parking Spots

#11 Found This On My Windshield. "Pad A Nice Day"

#12 A Note Left On My Colleagues Badly Parked Car

Following these small social conventions helps make communal areas more comfortable and prevents unnecessary disagreements. Even seemingly insignificant gestures, such as allowing passengers to exit a bus before boarding or leaving some personal space when there are plenty of empty seats, demonstrate consideration for others.

Keeping shared areas clean and communicating politely when people have competing needs also makes a difference. Much like parking properly, these behaviors require people to recognize that their actions affect those around them. When someone ignores these expectations, others may feel compelled to remind them that shared spaces come with shared responsibilities.

#13 That'll Teach Me To Park In My Neighbor's Parking Spot

#14 Grumpy Cat Does Not Like People Parking In His Spot

#15 Some Acquaintances Of Mine Had An Interesting Method Of Deterring Bad Parking

That desire to correct inconsiderate behavior can also explain why some people choose to speak up rather than simply walk away. The British Psychological Society explores the psychology behind calling people out, explaining that it can serve a useful purpose when someone highlights behavior that violates shared expectations or crosses an important boundary.

People may feel compelled to intervene when they witness unfairness, rudeness, or actions that could put others at risk. In a parking situation, leaving a note can be one way of making a driver aware that their actions have inconvenienced someone else, particularly when the person responsible is nowhere around.

#16 Someone Put This On The Windshield Of Our Electric Car

#17 Message In A Car Parked In San Francisco

#18 Somebody Left This Note On My Car… In My Assigned Space…

Nice little note left on my truck over the weekend. Their "3rd spot" is literally the street. Drove past their house, all 3 cars outside. This isn't the closest parking I get either. The old man that lives closer puts cones in the street, because his garage is full. Full of what? A boat and a Harley.

However, the reasons behind calling someone out are not always entirely about correcting the behavior. Social identity and the desire for approval can also influence how people respond to perceived wrongdoing. Publicly criticizing someone may allow individuals to demonstrate their own values or gain recognition from others who agree with them.

The problem is that criticism can quickly become more about embarrassing the person responsible than addressing the original issue. Being publicly called out can threaten someone's reputation and make them defensive, which may prevent them from acknowledging their mistake. There is therefore a difference between pointing out inconsiderate behavior and deliberately humiliating someone for it.

#19 I Was Parked In My Spot

I moved into the complex a week ago, and have been parking in my assigned place. One day I came out and found these notes plastered across my windshield and window. I immediately worried that I’d been parking in the wrong spot, so I went to the office and they confirmed that yes, that is my spot. I took their notes off and placed a note on my own windshield saying something to the effect of “I checked with the office and this is my spot. You should check with them too.” Several hours later I checked and the note I left was gone, and no new notes have appeared. (Also, these were the first notes I got. I did not ignore any notes.)

#20 A Note Left For A Note

#21 This Is Now My Parking Spot

Started a new job in an office building with a parking garage. There are multiple companies in the building and some of them have reserved spots. This was not one of those reserved spots. I come out to my car and find this note on my windshield. I would normally just park in any random spot but from now on I will make it my mission to park in this spot as often as I can.

The Autopian also explores why relatively small acts of inconsideration can provoke such strong reactions, particularly when they are interpreted as signs of disrespect. Territorial instincts, perceived unfairness, accumulated stress, and the feeling that someone else's convenience has been prioritized can all contribute to the frustration.

This helps explain why a badly parked car might irritate someone far more than its owner expects. Still, there is an important distinction between a minor parking mistake and one that creates genuine problems.

An imperfect angle might be annoying, but blocking a pavement, entrance, or accessible parking space can prevent pedestrians, wheelchair users, and parents with prams from getting through. Taking up multiple spaces in a crowded car park can also make it harder for others to find somewhere to park.

#22 A Stranger Wrote A Fake Note And Put It On My Windshield To Save Me A Parking Ticket

#23 My Dad Has A Handicap Placard And Walks With A Limp Post Hip Surgery

My dad got this note on his car while visiting my mom (who is a patient) at the USC Norris Cancer Center. He laughed at how ridiculous it is but I think it’s pretty rude. Gotta love the “you don’t look handicap to us”

#24 Personally, I'll Take It As A Compliment Though

The consequences can become even more serious when a vehicle is positioned so close to another car that its doors cannot open, or when it obstructs traffic and limits visibility for other road users. Repeatedly ignoring parking rules or others' requests can also turn an isolated mistake into a pattern of disregard.

This is where the frustration surrounding bad parking becomes more understandable: people are not necessarily reacting to an untidy parking job, but to the inconvenience or risks it creates for everyone else. And while a handwritten note might not solve every parking problem, it can certainly make a driver aware that their choice did not go unnoticed.

#25 The Last Of The Bad Parking Cards I Made A Few Years Back. Think I'll Keep This One

#26 Someone Posted These In The Parking Garage At My Work. Sounds Pissed. By The Way, This Car Was Parked In A Corner The Next Day In A Single Spot

#27 My Neighbor Is Horrible At Parking, So I Left A Note. This Is Their Response. I Completely Understand

At the end of the day, parking properly is a pretty small favor to ask of someone, especially when a little consideration can save other people a lot of trouble. Still, as these notes show, not everyone is willing to let a questionable parking job slide without a comment. Some people choose polite reminders, while others clearly put a little extra thought into making their frustration known.

And judging by some of these messages, a piece of paper and a pen can sometimes deliver a much more memorable lesson than a parking ticket. But where should people draw the line between calling out inconsiderate behavior and simply being petty? If you came across someone taking up two parking spaces or blocking an entrance, would you leave them a note or just move on? Share your thoughts and parking horror stories in the comments!

#28 My Friend Found This Note On His Car, Sans Money. Major Wat Moment

#29

#30 Got Back From Playing D&d To See This Note On My Car In A Car Park

No clue who left it or what it means. It did freak me out in the moment if only because I couldn’t understand it. I did open my trunk and flinch immediately expecting maybe a person in there. Nope, nothing had changed. Inside were just some of my board games and clothes.

#31 Post-It Notes... This Time... Not A Reminder. (Found In Parking Lot This Morning)

#32 Aita In This Parking Situation?

i got this note that parking in the spot on the street. there’s never been two cars parked on this stretch of the curb (my car and other peoples) because it’s too small, but i still try to pull forward if there happens to be a small car anytime i do park here. the person also left notes on other people’s cars in our parking lot too. just want to make sure i’m not just upset with the note for no reason if they are right, so am i in the wrong here?

#33 Doesn't Know How To Park But Leaves Me A Note On My Windshield

#34 They Parked On My Lawn. I Left Them A Note

#35

#36

#37 Portland Man Found His Tires Slashed, And This Note On His Car

#38 Petty? Yes. Satisfying? Definitely. Handwriting? Horrible

#39 I Just Watched A Girl Hit A Parked Car, Causing Significant Damage, Then Drive Across The Parking Lot And Go In The Store Thinking She Just Got Away With It. Nope. I Left This Note On Her Car

#40 Someone Hit My Car And Left A Note With No Phone Number…

#41 Received These Bad Parking Notes On My 1st And 2nd Day At A New Apartment

I was confused about the first note, because stall 92 had something other than a pickup in it the first day (the notes are from 92). I parked pretty much identical the 2nd day (when I got the other 2 notes), which is shown in the picture. My bumper is against the wall. I just emailed management and told them to move me to a different spot

#42 I Found This On The Windshield This Morning

#43 How To Handle This

This person has parked their old sedan in my reserved spot multiple times. I finally left a note that said “please remember that this spot is reserved and someone else parks here.” I technically lifted the windshield wiper to fit the note under. Other than that I didn’t touch anything. Then I hopped in the shower. Two minutes later I hear banging on my door, and then heavy beating. I called my complex’s courtesy officer and considered calling the cops. Then I got this note. The beating/kicking (?) on my door was so hard that I don’t feel safe. I was really scared the door would come down. The note seems threatening. Should I just ignore this? The person lives right below me so… we’re in close proximity.

43 Notes Left On Cars That Range From Hilariously Passive-Aggressive To Downright Terrifying Threats