Can I get a parking fine for overstaying at a free EV charger?

Yes. Most supermarket charging bays have a maximum stay limit. This limit is commonly 2 to 4 hours. ANPR cameras enforce it by logging entry and exit times automatically. Overstaying can result in a Parking Charge Notice from the private operator that runs the car park. These notices commonly run up to £100 under industry rules. Many operators offer a discount of 40 to 60 percent for payment within 14 days.

How do I appeal a parking charge from a supermarket car park?

Appeal in writing directly to the parking operator first. Do not appeal to the supermarket itself. POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals) offers a free escalation route for BPA member operators. IPC member operators use the IAS scheme instead. IAS is commonly reported as harder to win than POPLA. A strong first written appeal still matters most either way.

Free EV Charging in the UK | Where to Charge for Free

Q: How much is a supermarket parking charge notice?

Private Parking Charge Notices are capped at £100 under the British Parking Association and International Parking Community code of practice. An operator can exceed this cap only by proving a greater loss. The 2015 Supreme Court case ParkingEye v Beavis upheld an £85 charge for a 56 minute overstay at a retail car park. These charges do hold up legally.

Supermarket Free Charging

The easiest way to charge for free is at supermarkets while you shop. Several major chains offer complimentary charging:

Tesco, Free Pod Point Chargers

Tesco is the biggest provider of free EV charging in the UK. Over 600 Tesco Extra and Superstore locations have Pod Point 7kW chargers in their car parks. Charging is completely free, just plug in via the Pod Point app and shop. Most sites have 2-4 charging bays. Expect to add around 20-30 miles of range during a typical 45-minute shop.

Lidl, Free Pod Point Chargers

Many Lidl stores also offer free Pod Point 7kW chargers. Coverage is growing. New stores regularly add charge points. The same Pod Point app works here.

Aldi, Subsidised Rapid Charging

Aldi partners with InstaVolt to provide rapid chargers (50kW) at many stores. Some locations offer discounted or complimentary sessions rather than fully free charging. Check the InstaVolt app for current pricing at your local Aldi.

Other Free Charging Locations

Council-Run Free Chargers

Some local councils operate free on-street chargers. This is most common in areas promoting EV adoption. These chargers are typically slow (3-7kW) and designed for overnight residential use. Check your local council website or Zap-Map for availability.

Destination Chargers

Hotels, shopping centres, and leisure facilities sometimes offer free charging as an incentive. The charge speed is usually 7-22kW (standard). Always check before relying on these, some have introduced fees or time limits.

Workplace Charging

Many employers provide free EV charging as a workplace benefit. The OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme offers grants of up to £350 per socket for businesses installing chargers. See our workplace charging guide for details.

Tips for Free Charging

Plan your shopping around charging. A weekly Tesco shop gives you 20-30 free miles.
Download multiple apps. Pod Point, Zap-Map, and individual network apps help you find free chargers.
Check opening times. Free chargers at shops are only available during store hours.
Don't overstay. Many free chargers have maximum stay limits (commonly 2-4 hours). Overstaying may result in parking charges. See the penalties section below for the full breakdown.
Have a backup plan. Free chargers are popular and may be occupied. Know the nearest paid alternative.

Supermarket EV Charging Penalties and Overstay Charges

Free charging bays come with strings attached. Supermarkets set a maximum stay limit on every bay. Leaving your car parked past that limit can trigger a real parking charge. This applies even after your charging session finishes. This section covers the time limits, the penalties, and how to appeal one.

Typical Free Charging Time Limits

Tesco and Lidl (Pod Point): these bays typically allow a stay of 2 to 4 hours. The exact limit is set store by store. Check the signage at the bay for the confirmed time.
Aldi (InstaVolt): rapid bays are built for a quick top up rather than a full shop. The window to move your car once charging completes is often shorter than at a standard 7kW bay.
Morrisons and other supermarkets: these commonly apply a general free stay of 2 to 3 hours across the whole car park. This limit usually covers the EV bays as well.
Always check the sign at the specific bay you use. Time limits vary by store and by network. The on-site signage is the legally binding version. Figures quoted in this guide are general estimates only.

How Overstay Penalties Are Issued

Most UK supermarket car parks use ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras at the entrance and exit. These cameras log arrival and departure times automatically. No ticket goes on the windscreen. Overstay detection happens without you seeing it happen.

A private parking operator typically runs the car park under contract to the supermarket. Examples include ParkingEye and Euro Car Parks. This operator issues the Parking Charge Notice (PCN) by post to the registered keeper. The BPA and IPC single code of practice caps a private PCN at £100. An operator can exceed this cap only by proving a greater loss. Most operators offer a discount for payment within 14 days. This discount is commonly 40 to 60 percent. The exact discount varies by operator, so check the letter for the confirmed figure.

These charges are not an idle threat. The 2015 Supreme Court case ParkingEye v Beavis confirms this. Barry Beavis overstayed a 2 hour free period by 56 minutes at a Chelmsford retail car park. The court upheld his £85 charge as enforceable. Reasonable overstay charges on private land stand up in court.

How to Appeal an Unfair Charge

Appeal to the operator first. Write directly to the parking company. Do not write to the supermarket. Good grounds include unclear or missing signage, a charging fault that kept your car plugged in longer than planned, or a genuine payment or app error.
POPLA offers a free, independent appeals route for BPA member operators. Use it once the operator has rejected your direct appeal.
IAS (Independent Appeals Service) is the equivalent route for IPC member operators. Success rates through IAS are commonly reported as lower than POPLA. A strong first written appeal to the operator still matters most.
The operator should not pursue payment or debt collection action while your appeal is open.
Keep evidence. Photograph the signage and the bay, save your Pod Point or network app session showing start and end times, and note any charger error messages.

Practical Tips to Avoid a Penalty

Set a phone timer for the stay limit as soon as you plug in. Don't rely on remembering.
Move your car as soon as charging completes if you still have shopping to do. Many overstay charges are issued for occupying the bay after charging finishes, not for the charging session itself.
Photograph the signage at the specific bay you use. This gives you evidence if a time limit is disputed later.
Keep your app session records. They're the strongest evidence if a charge is wrongly issued.

Is Free Charging Worth It?

Yes, if you shop at Tesco or Lidl regularly. Regular shoppers can save £30-50 per month on charging costs. A 7kW charger adds about 25 miles per hour. A 90-minute shop can give you 35+ miles of free range. That adds up to 1,500+ free miles of driving over a year.

Check our charging costs comparison for longer journeys or faster charging needs. It shows the best-value rapid networks.

Free EV Charging in the UK