Guide to car parking in London for electric vehicles
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Driving an electric vehicle offers significant advantages, including exemption from Congestion and ULEZ charges, as well as 100% discounted road tax. However, these benefits are set to change, with EV drivers required to pay the Congestion Charge from December 25, 2025, and road tax from April 1, 2025.
The news is brighter for EV and low-emission vehicle drivers when it comes to parking in London. Many boroughs offer discounted resident parking permits for zero or low-emission cars, with some even providing free permits for EV drivers. This presents a fantastic opportunity for rideshare drivers to save on costs while driving in the capital.
Here’s everything you need to know about discounted EV parking permits in London boroughs.
Do electric cars have to pay for parking in London?
There isn’t a universal rule for EV parking in London. Each borough sets its own regulations, but most offer discounted resident parking permits. Costs for an annual EV parking permit can range between £6.50 and £230. In comparison, high-polluting cars often pay over £1,000 for the same permits.
For example, in Islington — London’s most expensive borough for parking permits — an annual EV permit costs between £100 and £230, depending on your EV battery size. Meanwhile, petrol vehicles can pay up to £800, and diesel vehicles up to £1,020 based on engine size and emissions.
There are currently only four boroughs across London that don’t offer discounted parking for EVs - Kingston upon Thames (South-West London), Bexley, Bromley (both South London), and Havering (East London).
Parking bays
Certain parking bays are designated specifically for electric vehicles. These may have different operating hours for charging and parking. For example, some bays allow charging from 9 AM–7 PM, and residents with a valid permit can park from 7 PM–9 AM. Always check the signage for specific rules.
Which London boroughs offer free parking for electric cars?
Some boroughs offer free EV parking permits to residents, including:
Barking and Dagenham
Hammersmith and Fulham
Hillingdon
Hounslow
Newham
Redbridge
Westminster
Richmond Upon Thames
You may also find free parking on private property, such as businesses, retail premises, and public charging points.
Which London boroughs offer discounted parking for electric cars?
To see how much you can save on parking by switching to an EV, here’s a borough comparison of EV permit discounts versus high-polluting car fees.
| Borough | Annual parking permit for EVs | Top band annual parking permit for high-polluting cars |
| Barking and Dagenham | Free (up to two vehicles) | £140 |
| Barnet | £16.50 | £200.50 |
| Brent | £25 | £267 |
| Camden | £43.54 | £509.80 |
| Croydon | £6.50 | £300 |
| Ealing | £50 | £180 |
| Enfield | £77 | £395 |
| Greenwich | £26 | £300 |
| Hackney | £10.50 | £376 |
| Hammersmith & Fulham | Free (first vehicle) | £119 |
| Haringey | £31 | £379 |
| Harrow | £21.60 | £104 |
| Hillingdon | Free (first vehicle) | Free (first vehicle) |
| Hounslow | Free | £146.50 |
| Islington | £50 - £140 (depending on battery size) | £860 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | £22 | £370 (£22 base fare + £1.00 per CO2 g/km) |
| Lambeth | £39.90 | £340.73 |
| Lewisham | £70 | £300 |
| Merton | £20 | £150 |
| Newham | Free (first vehicle) | £200 |
| Redbridge | Free (first vehicle) | £20 |
| Richmond upon Thames | Free | £124 |
| Southwark | £32 | £256 |
| Tower Hamlets | £35 | £465 |
| Waltham Forest | £40 | £175 |
| Wandsworth | £79 | £175 |
| Westminster | Free | £158 |
*Note: Most fares apply to one vehicle per person. Fees may increase for additional vehicles registered under the same individual.
Do you have to pay for parking when charging your electric car?
If you’re charging your car on a residential street without a parking permit, you’ll likely need to pay for the parking spot as well. Road signs will confirm this. Some locations allow free parking while charging, while others impose time limits.
Each charging network has its own parking rules, so check in advance. Most modern charging networks offer apps that display charging station availability, pricing, and requirements.
Did you know? Most modern charging networks offer mobile apps that help you locate nearby charge points. Some older stations may require an RFID card (similar to a contactless debit card) to initiate charging, which can be easily ordered online. For charge points with app functionality, you can typically pay for your session directly through the app.
What are the best boroughs for EV parking in London
Westminster: Free EV parking permits and access to numerous charging points.
Hounslow: Strong EV incentives and a strategic location near key routes.
Barking & Dagenham: Free EV parking permits, reducing operational costs for drivers.
What are the worst boroughs for EV parking in London
Kingston upon Thames: No discounted or free parking permits for EVs.
Bromley: Treats EVs the same as traditional vehicles, with no financial incentives.
Havering: Offers no parking benefits for EV drivers, making it less appealing for rideshare drivers.
About Splend
At Splend, we believe in drivers. We know their vehicles need to work harder than most; that they drive more miles than most; that their insurance is hefty; their maintenance costs high and that they can face unreasonable finance rates – which is a heavy load to carry on their own.
That’s why at Splend, we exist to support rideshare drivers with a new model, that takes all those car ownership costs, and provides them for less, with lower purchase prices, better rates, lower servicing and insurance costs – all for one weekly repayment, all in one place.
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