EV charging
EV charging etiquette: what to do when someone's hogging the charger
Good EV charging etiquette comes down to one rule: when your car is charged enough, move it, because someone else is waiting. If a car is finished charging or isn't plugged in at all, the polite fix is to reach the owner: check the charging app, look for a note or a QR code on the dashboard, and only then report it. Some places, like California, make parking in an EV spot without charging illegal.
Updated October 2026
Charger etiquette in 30 seconds
- Move your car when it's charged enough. At busy fast chargers, stop around 80%: the last stretch charges slowest.
- Never park a gas car, or an EV that isn't charging, in a charging spot.
- In California, parking in a marked EV spot without being connected for charging is illegal (Vehicle Code § 22511.1).
- Don't unplug someone else's car unless the station's rules say you may and their charge has clearly finished.
- A QR code on the dashboard lets the next driver ask you to move, privately, in seconds.
The unwritten rules of shared chargers
- 1Charge, then move. A charger is a fuel pump, not a parking space. Set a reminder for when your car will be ready.
- 2At fast chargers, don't top off to 100% when others are waiting. Charging slows down a lot near full.
- 3Don't block a charger you're not using, with a gas car or an EV that's already full.
- 4Leave the cable tidy and hang it back on the station. A cable on the ground gets driven over.
- 5Be reachable. Many EV drivers leave a note or a contact card on the dashboard so others can ask when they'll be done.
What to do when a car is blocking the charger
- 1Check whether it's actually charging. Look at the station screen or the car's charging light.
- 2Try to reach the owner. If there's an Autter QR code on the dashboard, scan it and choose "Your vehicle may need to be moved" or write "Are you nearly done charging? I'm waiting at charger 3." They get a text right away.
- 3Use the network's app. Some charging networks show when a session ends or let you join a waitlist.
- 4Tell the site owner (store, garage or condo manager) if the car isn't charging at all. Signed EV spots may be enforced.
Is it illegal to park in an EV charging spot?
It depends on where you are. California's Vehicle Code says no one may park in a designated EV charging space "unless the vehicle is connected for electric charging purposes" (§ 22511.1). Where signs are posted, the vehicle can be removed, and the US Department of Energy's summary of the law notes a $100 fine.
Other states, provinces and cities have their own rules, and many private lots set their own. Read the sign on the spot.
Shared chargers at condos and workplaces
Shared chargers in a building garage or an office lot are where friction builds up: the same few people, the same few plugs, every day. A WhatsApp group helps until it doesn't, and not everyone wants their cell number in a group of 80 neighbors.
If every EV driver in the building has an Autter QR code on their dashboard, "I need the charger, can you move?" becomes a private message to just that person, without a group chat or a note under the wiper.
A better EV charging placard
EV drivers sometimes put a placard on their dashboard: "Charging until 3 p.m., text me at...". It works, but it puts your phone number in the window of a car parked in public for hours.
| Placard with phone number | Autter QR code | |
|---|---|---|
| Others can reach you | Yes | Yes |
| Your number visible to passersby | Yes | No |
| Works when you're not charging too | No | Yes: blocking, lights on, damage and more |
| Turn it off | Remove it | Pause or replace anytime |
EV charging etiquette questions
How long is it OK to stay at an EV charger?
Only as long as you're charging. At fast chargers, the norm is to leave around 80% if others are waiting. At slower Level 2 chargers, follow any posted time limit and move when you're full.
Can I unplug someone else's electric car?
Only if the station's posted rules allow it and their charge has finished. Otherwise, contact the owner or the site manager instead.
Is it illegal for a gas car to park in an EV charging spot?
In some places, yes. California prohibits parking in a designated EV charging space unless the vehicle is connected for charging. Check local signs and rules.
How do I ask an EV owner to move their car?
Look for a note, a charging app, or a QR code on the dashboard. With an Autter code, you scan it and send a private message. The owner gets a text right away, and neither of you sees the other's number.
Does Autter connect to my car or the charger?
No. Autter doesn't read your charging status. It simply lets other drivers send you a message about your car.
Be the EV driver who's easy to reach.
Put a free QR code on your dashboard. The next driver asks you privately, and nobody needs your number.
Get my free QR code