UK EV drivers warned after £100 parking fines while charging

EV drivers face shock parking charges when using public chargers

UK EV drivers hit with shock parking fines while charging their cars UK electric vehicle drivers have been warned they could face unexpected parking charges when using public EV chargers, with several motorists reporting significant parking charge notices after stopping to recharge. The issue has raised questions over whether charging an electric car is effectively treated as parking, particularly when drivers use chargers located in supermarket, hotel or other private car parks. Several readers contacted The Guardian through Guardian Money in July 2026 after receiving parking fines while charging their electric vehicles away from home. Some motorists said the signs did not clearly explain that they would also need to pay a parking tariff. EV charging and parking rules causing confusion The problem appears particularly frustrating where charging apps show a charger as available, while the car park itself has restrictions that can result in a parking charge. One driver, Kevin Laban, received a £70 parking charge notice after using an EV charger at an Aldi car park while the supermarket was closed. Laban said he had not realised that the landowner considered charging his vehicle to be parking. He also said the Pod charging app directed him to the charger and described it as open to the public. According to Laban, there were no clear signs in the car park, on the charger or within the app explaining that using the charger could result in a parking charge. He appealed the notice, arguing that the terms and conditions should have been displayed more clearly. Aldi subsequently cancelled the PCN. The experience has left some EV drivers concerned about using public chargers, with uncertainty over whether they could receive a parking charge even when they are simply stopping to recharge their vehicle. Drivers report £100 parking charge notices Another motorist, Cliver Sanders, reported receiving a £100 PCN after charging an electric vehicle at a car park in Devon. The charge was issued by Smart Parking after Sanders paid for the EV charging but did not pay the separate parking tariff. Sanders said there was no indication on the InstaVolt charger that he also needed to pay for parking. InstaVolt provided him with a letter to send to Smart Parking in an attempt to have the PCN cancelled, but the operator refused. InstaVolt subsequently offered Sanders a £50 credit. A further motorist, Anthony Stone, also received a £100 PCN after using an advertised EV charger at a Holiday Inn car park. Stone said he had not registered his vehicle's number plate at the hotel, meaning he was considered to have breached the car park's parking rules despite using the charger. Calls for clearer EV parking information The incidents highlight the potential difficulties drivers can face when EV charging and parking requirements operate separately. Laban argued that where landowners do not want drivers using chargers outside store opening hours, the chargers should be deactivated or EV charging apps should clearly reflect the parking restrictions. Podd said its app can display parking charges and restrictions, but these have to be set by the landowner. For EV drivers, the reports underline the importance of checking both charging information and car park terms before using a public charger. With some motorists receiving sizeable PCNs despite believing they were simply using an available charging point, clearer information could help prevent further confusion over EV charging and parking rules.