Tesla Service UK / Guides / Charging Etiquette
EV charging etiquette
The unwritten rules that make shared public charging work better for everyone.
Last fact-checked: . General guidance — always check your own model's specifics and current official sources before relying on it for a decision.
Idle fees
Why do idle fees exist, and how do they work?
Most rapid and ultra-rapid networks in the UK charge an idle fee once your car has finished charging but is still occupying the bay, specifically to discourage using a charging space as a parking space. Move your car promptly once charging completes — the app or car will usually notify you — both to avoid the fee and to free the bay for the next person.
Sharing the bays
What counts as 'hogging' a charger?
Charging to 100% at a rapid charger when you only need enough to reach your next stop is generally considered poor etiquette at a busy site, since charging speed slows significantly above roughly 80% on most rapid chargers — meaning you occupy the bay for a disproportionately long time for a small amount of extra range. Charging to a higher percentage makes more sense when it's genuinely your last stop before a longer drive, or at a quiet site with no one waiting.
Practical courtesies
A few other practical habits
Things that make shared charging smoother for everyone:
- Coil the cable back neatly when you're done, rather than leaving it trailing.
- If a charger is broken, report it through the network's app — it genuinely helps other drivers and speeds up the fix.
- Don't unplug someone else's car, even if you think it's finished — check the screen or ask first.
- At a busy site with people waiting, a quick, friendly heads-up on how much longer you need goes a long way.