Parking a gas car in a space designated for EVs is often illegal - and in Arizona, the minimum fine is $350
Published on Aug 10, 2025 at 9:31 PM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Aug 08, 2025 at 6:32 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Parking your gas car in a parking space designated for EVs can be illegal and can even land you with a hefty fine in some states.
When you’re looking for a parking space, you might think pulling up into a spot marked EV in your gas-powered vehicle is fine.
But it turns out that isn’t always the case.
Some states in the US will charge you hundreds of dollars if your ICE vehicle is using a designated EV spot.
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Is it illegal to park a gas car in a space designated for EVs?
While seemingly a fairly straightforward part of life, parking your car can throw up the occasional curve ball – just ask this lady who was hit with a bill for almost $8,000 after parking her car for just 45 minutes, or this man who came back off vacation to discover that the free parking spot he’d used have been changed to a paid one. Ouch.
Another potential pitfall to watch out for is parking your ICE car in a parking space designated for EVs.
Depending on what state you’re in, it can be illegal to park a gas car in an EV space, and you could be whacked with a fine.
How much you’re fined depends on where you are.
Virginia, for example, will hand out a fine of $25 for first offenders, while in Arizona, you’ll be forced to pay a minimum of $350.
Similarly, it’s also an offence in Washington, where you can be fined $124, and Colorado, where the fine is $182.
Meanwhile, individual cities may have their own rules, like Los Angeles, where your ICE vehicle can be towed if it’s parked in a spot designated for EVs.
While the rules may seem a little heavy-handed in some cases, it’s important to note that by parking a non-EV in an EV space, you’re preventing an electric vehicle from being able to charge up while parked.
Parking lots are embracing technology to spot bad motorists
If you’ve read the above and still reckon it might be worth risking it and hoping you don’t get caught, then beware, because parking lots are now introducing smart technology to crack down on people doing the wrong thing.
A parking lot in Maryland has introduced a five-foot-tall robot called Parker, which is equipped with cameras, sensors, and a siren.
The roving bot is designed to boost security and keep a digital eye on everything from suspicious activity to sloppy parking.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
