EV drivers face parking fines while charging away from home

Electric vehicle drivers are being warned that charging away from home can carry a costly extra risk: a parking fine. According to a Guardian Money report, several readers have contacted the publication after receiving parking charge notices for using EV chargers in private car parks, even though they believed they were simply refuelling their cars.

The issue, as described in the source material, is not that charging itself is banned in every case, but that some sites appear to impose parking conditions that drivers say are not made clear enough. Motorists who complained said they were caught out by signs that did not clearly explain that charging bays may still be subject to parking tariffs, or that access may be limited by store opening hours. The source also says some chargers are shown as available in app-based directions even when using them would breach the car park’s terms and conditions.

drivers charging electric cars handed shock parking fines

One case highlighted in the Guardian coverage involves Kevin Laban, who hoped his electric car would save him money as well as reduce his environmental impact. Instead, after using a charger in a supermarket car park, he received a £70 parking charge notice. The charge was issued after he used the service when the supermarket was closed. The charger app, operated by Pod, had directed him to a bay in an Aldi car park in Weymouth.

That detail matters because it shows how the problem can arise from the combination of charging technology, parking rules and unclear site terms. For EV owners, a charging bay can look like a straightforward alternative to a filling station. But in private car parks, the right to plug in may depend on whether the driver also complies with parking restrictions, opening times or payment rules. If those conditions are not clearly displayed, drivers can face penalties they say they never intended to incur.

The complaints reported by Guardian Money point to a wider consumer issue for the growing number of drivers charging electric cars in public-facing private spaces such as supermarket car parks. Those locations are convenient because they often already have dedicated chargers, but convenience can be undermined if the rules are not obvious at the point of use. The source material does not say how many drivers have been fined overall, but it does show that the problem has affected more than one reader.

Why the warning matters for EV drivers

The concern is especially relevant for motorists who rely on apps or charger maps to find available bays. If the digital listing suggests a charger is open, but the car park’s terms say otherwise, drivers can be misled before they arrive. The Guardian report indicates that some users have found chargers advertised as available even where using them would breach the site’s rules. That creates a risk of confusion at a moment when many EV drivers expect charging infrastructure to be simpler, not more complicated, than conventional fuelling.

The episode also highlights the need for clearer signage and better integration between charging platforms and car park rules. The source material supports the view that warning notices in some locations may not be specific enough about fees to park and recharge, or about restrictions tied to store hours. In practice, that can turn a routine charge into an unexpected penalty notice in the post.

For now, the key message from the reported cases is straightforward: EV drivers should check not only whether a charger is working, but also whether the car park requires payment, restricts access after hours or imposes other conditions on use. The Guardian Money report shows that failing to do so can prove expensive.