Blue Badge holders are among those who could be fined £70 for breaking a crucial car park rule, according to leading experts. George Penny, EV expert and director at The Solar Co, explained that motorists risked being hit with fines for simply parking in electric car bays without actively charging their car.
The expert warned that using a bay as a parking space instead of plugging in the cable, even if accidental, could result in charges of up to £70. He stressed that Blue Badge holders were not even exempt from the rules, meaning motorists with disabilities were at risk.
With over 470,000 electric vehicles registered in 2025, thousands of new EV-owning families are set to encounter the new rules for the first time, putting many individuals at risk.
George said: “EV charging bays are for active charging only, not free or priority parking. Drivers can still be fined £60 to £70 for parking in an EV bay without plugging in, overstaying once charging finishes, or assuming free charging means unlimited parking.
“Importantly, Blue Badge holders are not automatically exempt from EV bay rules, something many families only discover after receiving a fine on holiday.”
Electric vehicle charging bays are classified as refuelling points rather than car park spaces. Stopping in a bay without charging blocks access to drivers who may desperately need to top-up their vehicles.
EV charging bays can be limited, meaning any disruption could be a serious issue for electric car owners running low on charge. Many EV bays now have Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras installed to monitor whether cars are not following the rules.
Neil Hutchinson, an expert from car servicing firm Mercury Car Centre, has also warned road users face being slapped with a ticket for breaking the simple motoring rule.
Neil said: "Even if you own an electric car, you can still be fined if you're parked but not charging. Enforcement officers don't need to prove that your car was capable of charging, only that it wasn't connected. A car sitting there with no cable plugged in is enough to trigger a ticket.”
