With the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and the expansion of charging stations in public spaces, the question is increasingly being asked: can you park at a charging station without actually charging? This question arises not only for electric drivers, but also for drivers of fuel cars who wonder where they may and may not park. In this blog, we discuss everything you need to know about parking at public charging stations – from official rules to social behavior.
Can you park at a charging station with a regular car?
Parking at a charging station with sign
Is there an under sign at a public charging station indicating that the spot is for electric vehicle charging only? Then it is forbidden to park there with an ordinary fuel or diesel car. These types of spots are often in busy areas or near a property where a resident has applied for a charging station on the street themselves.
Unjustly occupying such a parking spot can result in a parking fine because you are using the spot when you are not allowed to.
Want to see what such a road sign looks like? Check it out here.
Parking at a charging station without a sign
If no traffic ordinance has been issued for that spot, then in theory you may park at a public charging station with a regular car. Therefore, there is no sign at the charging station indicating that it is forbidden for non-electric cars to park there. Nevertheless, from a social point of view, it is strongly discouraged. The availability of charging spots is not always great, and people who depend on charging can get into trouble as a result.
Especially in residential neighborhoods, where residents sometimes do not have their own yard or garage, it can be undesirable if the only charging spot on the street is occupied by a fuel car – no matter how legal it seems on paper.
Can you park at a charging station without charging?
If there is a sign that says “for electric vehicle charging only,” you are not allowed to stand there without actually connecting the charging cable. If you do this anyway, you can be fined again and using the public parking space is considered misuse of an electric charging station.
Without a sign? Then you’re technically allowed to stand there, but it’s still socially undesirable. After all, you’re occupying a charging spot for someone else who might arrive with a dead battery.
How long can you occupy a charging station?
You may occupy a spot at a charging station as long as you are electrically charging. Is your battery full? Then it’s neat to move your car. Not only for social reasons, but also because some providers charge a sticky or blocking fee.
Sticky rate and additional charges at some charging stations
Some charging stations charge extra if you stay with a full battery. This is also called a sticky charge. This fee is charged by the provider to prevent charging spots from being occupied unnecessarily long. You can often find this in the app or on the website of the party managing the charge point.
At Opcharge, we have transparent rates – want to know how? Check out Opcharge’s rates here.
Do you have to pay parking fees at a charging station?
Whether you have to pay parking fees at a public charging station depends on its location. If the charging spot is in a paid parking zone, you must also pay for parking even if you are charging your electric car. Also pay attention to the maximum parking time listed on the signs. This will help you avoid getting a parking fine even if you are just charging your car.
Conclusion: Can you park at a charging station?
A charging station in public spaces is not an ordinary parking space, but an electric charging point intended for people who want to charge their cars. Whether you drive an electric, plug-in hybrid or fuel car, occupying a charging spot without charging is often undesirable – and sometimes even prohibited. In many cases, there is a traffic ordinance or sub-sign that reserves the spot exclusively for electric vehicles that are charging. Ignore that, and you could be fined.
Even if there is no sign, it is not socially decent to occupy the spot without reason. Charging spots are often scarce, especially in residential areas where residents do not have their own yards or garages. By being considerate of each other, and driving away in a timely manner after charging, we make charging fairer and more efficient for everyone.
So: don’t just park at a charging station, only use it when you are actually charging. That way we keep the public charging stations available, you avoid extra costs such as a sticky tariff, and together we ensure a smooth transition to electric driving.
Do you have other questions about charging, parking or charging station construction?
Then take a look at our page where you’ll find everything you need to know about charging electric vehicles in public spaces. There you’ll also find an overview of all our other blogs, where we go in-depth on frequently asked questions, regulations and smart tips for EV drivers.