Can electric cars park in London for free?
The only place most Londoners will see Free Parking is on a Monopoly board. But if you’re an electric vehicle driver, you might be surprised to learn that many London boroughs offer free or subsidised parking as an incentive for motorists to switch to a net-zero EV.
Free parking is just one of the benefits of electric vehicles in London. TfL lists several financial incentives for making the switch, including:
- 100% discount on the Congestion Charge
- Exemption from the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone) charge
- Up to 100% off-road tax
- Plug-in grants for new vehicles
Business users can also receive a variety of tax benefits, making it even more compelling to drive an EV if you travel around the capital as part of your work.
Some incentives – such as the discount you get on your road tax – depend on factors like the vehicle’s total CO2 emissions, its price and its age, so it’s worth buying or leasing the top electric cars and newest EV models to make sure you’re getting the maximum financial benefit.
Where is Free EV Parking in London?
Although it exists, it can be a challenge to find free EV parking in London, and there’s no single policy on free parking for electric cars in London. Instead, individual boroughs create their own rules, which can change over time as EV usage increases.
You may also find free parking on private property, for example, when parking at a business, retail premises, or while your electric car is parked at a public charging point.
Demand for London EV parking is likely to be significantly higher in the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), where there are financial penalties for driving vehicles with higher emissions. The ULEZ now covers the entire area bounded by the North and South Circular Roads.
With the ULEZ in effect all year round, except for Christmas Day, it’s worth keeping it in mind when looking for free EV parking in London’s outer boroughs, as availability could differ on either side of the ULEZ boundary.
Best London Boroughs for Electric Car Parking
According to the Eco Experts, a total of 11 boroughs offer free EV parking in North London, but none south of the Thames do, except Richmond upon Thames, which spans both banks.
The London boroughs with completely free electric car parking (to a varying extent) include:
- Barking & Dagenham
- Hammersmith & Fulham
- Haringey
- Harrow
- Hillingdon
- Hounslow
- Islington
- Newham
- Redbridge
- Richmond upon Thames
- Westminster
A further eight boroughs north of the River Thames and seven south of the river offer a partial discount on parking costs for electric cars.
The Eco Experts found only six boroughs with no discount on parking for EVs, and these include:
- Kingston upon Thames (SW London)
- Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich (SE London)
- Enfield (N London)
- Havering (E London)
Generally speaking, if you want to find free electric car parking in London, it’s best to head north-west and avoid the easternmost boroughs.
London Boroughs with Best EV Parking Rules
The report by the Eco Experts noted that even among the London boroughs with free EV parking, some rules are more generous than others, for example:
1. Free Electric Car Parking in Hounslow
Hounslow took the overall top spot in the report, with free annual parking permits for up to five vehicles with CO2 emissions below 50g/km. In the same borough, a parking permit for a fifth polluting vehicle can cost as much as £450.
2. EV Parking in Barking & Dagenham
Barking & Dagenham is the most easterly London borough with free EV parking permits. You can get free permits for two vehicles, plus up to three more for £45 per year each. By comparison, a parking permit for a combustion engine car can cost £245.
3. Islington EV Parking Permits
Islington offers free EV parking permits for cars with less than 50g/km CO2 emissions. The borough also has heavily discounted parking rates for vehicles with slightly higher emissions, starting from just £20 a year in the 50-100g band and ranging up to a whopping £490.
Rule Changes for EV Parking in London
One thing you can be sure of is that the rules will change across the different London boroughs, particularly in the coming years, as new internal combustion engines are phased out and city centres – including the capital – continue to crack down on emissions.
With so many boroughs to keep track of, it will be important to find the relevant information on each London borough’s website, and check for any updates before you make your journey.
Full-time residents can get up-to-date information from your local borough council, or ask your EV leasing provider as they may be aware of any recent or upcoming changes to electric car parking regulations in London boroughs.
