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Combustion car parked on a charging spot: what does the law say?
Sep 28, 2026
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You pull into the station with your battery nearly empty, and the spot is taken by a petrol or diesel car whose driver has gone off to run errands. The scene has earned itself a name among drivers, the ICE hog, and it comes up often enough in conversation between drivers to deserve a precise answer. In many countries, the law protects that spot, and occupying it without charging is an offence. What's left to know is which one, what it costs, and what you can do when you're standing in front of it, depending on the legislation in force in your country.
An issue growing alongside the network
The public charging network keeps expanding every year, but the electric vehicle fleet is growing too, often faster. In a given car park, at a given time, the number of equipped spaces can still often be counted on one hand. Every blocked spot matters a lot, then, and that's precisely what has justified specific legal protection for charging spots in several countries.
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The charging spot, a category often protected under the highway code
In many European highway codes, spots located in front of an EV charging device are listed among parking considered to obstruct public traffic, alongside pedestrian crossings, public transport lanes, or spaces reserved for people with disabilities.
The wording is worth pausing on. The text generally doesn't protect electric cars as such, it protects access to the equipment. An electric vehicle parked there without being plugged in isn't usually treated more favourably: it too occupies a spot whose function isn't parking.
A fine, and possible towing when the driver is absent
Parking on a charging spot generally falls under an obstruction-parking offence, with an amount that varies by country. Towing, meanwhile, is never automatic: it remains at the officer's discretion, used mainly when the driver can't be found or refuses to move their car. A driver who returns while the offence is being recorded and immediately frees the spot usually leaves with just the fine. Check the exact amount and terms with the legislation in your country.
Public road, shopping centre, apartment building: location changes everything
On the public road
Local law enforcement (national police, municipal police, or the equivalent depending on the country) can generally issue a fine directly. Recording the offence requires no prior action from the municipality or the charging operator: it's noted on the spot, like any obstruction-parking offence.
In a private car park open to the public
Car parks at shopping centres, train stations, or hospitals often fall under an intermediate regime. Local highway rules can apply there, and law enforcement can act, even though the land belongs to a private company. The operator also has its own rules, posted at the entrance, which sometimes include a charge for improper occupation.
In an apartment building or a closed car park
The police generally don't intervene automatically in a closed parking facility. The building's or site's own regulations govern, and the property manager or owners' association acts. The process then runs through a report, a formal notice, and, if needed, legal action, depending on local rules.
The case of an electric vehicle left plugged in after charging finishes
Few countries set a maximum parking time on a charging spot once the battery is full, and few provide a specific fine for this situation. Regulation more often plays out elsewhere, in operators' terms and conditions, many of which charge occupation fees past a certain delay after the session ends. Some local authorities also issue orders limiting parking time on spots under their control, with signage on site.
At fast-charging stations, the question arises in different terms anyway. A twenty-to-thirty-minute session doesn't leave time to wander far, and vehicle turnover happens on its own.
What to do when the spot is taken
Photograph the scene, with the plate and the spot clearly visible, then contact local law enforcement. On the public road as in a car park open to the public, that's the most direct route. In a closed car park, the report goes to the manager or owners' association, and it's best done in writing.
Flagging it in a charging app has no legal weight, but it does reach other drivers and the operator, who can approach the site's owner. In the meantime, the Electra fast-charging station map lets you find the nearest available charge points instead of waiting in front of a spot that may not free up.
Charging without relying on a single spot
Our stations sit on dedicated spots, most often at partner car parks where parking is monitored. Charge points deliver up to 400 kW, which brings most sessions down to around twenty minutes on most recent models and naturally speeds up turnover. Find the details on our fast-charging network.
The Electra+ subscription lowers the price per kilowatt-hour across the whole network, with no commitment:
Electra+ Essential: €1.99/month, no commitment, €0.10/kWh off every charge on the Electra network.
Electra+ Smart: €4.99/month, no commitment, €0.20/kWh off every charge on the Electra network.
With Autocharge, charging starts as soon as you plug in, no badge and no fiddling with the app. Detailed Electra charging prices are available online.
FAQ on parking in a charging spot
How much is the fine for parking on a charging spot?
It depends on the country: it's generally an obstruction-parking offence, with an amount set by local legislation. Check the current scale in your country.
When can a vehicle be towed?
Removal is generally at the officer's discretion. It happens mainly when the driver is absent or refuses to move their vehicle.
How do I report a car blocking a charge point?
Take a photo showing the plate and the spot, then contact local law enforcement. In a closed car park or apartment building, send the report to the site manager or owners' association.
What rule applies in a shopping centre car park?
A private car park open to the public is generally covered by local highway rules, and law enforcement can issue fines there. The operator also applies its own rules, posted at the entrance.
The takeaway
In many countries, a combustion car parked on a charging spot commits an obstruction-parking offence, punished by a fine and, depending on circumstances, towing. Who can issue a fine depends on the location: law enforcement on the public road and in car parks open to the public, the property manager or owners' association in a closed facility. The case of an electric vehicle left plugged in after charging ends generally falls under the contract with the operator rather than the law. Check the exact amounts and terms with the legislation in your country.
To find Electra stations near you, download the app on the App Store or Google Play.
Written by Nicolas, Electra mobility expert
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