# EV charging etiquette: the unwritten rules at the charger > When to move on, how to park, what to do with cables, and how to handle busy or broken chargers. Practical habits for public charge points. Published: 2026-06-30 · Language: en · Source: https://laadpaalvinden.be/en/blog/ev-charging-etiquette/ At a public charger you share a scarce spot with other drivers. Nobody posts the rules, yet most irritations come from the same handful of situations. A few habits avoid them. ## Move on when you are done A car that stays put after it is full is the biggest annoyance at a fast charger. Set a timer, or let your car's app or charging card send you a notification. If you step away, come back before the battery is full. Here is an example with assumed numbers. Your battery is 60 kWh and the fast charger averages 50 kW between 20 and 80 per cent. That adds 36 kWh in roughly 43 minutes. The last 20 per cent is 12 kWh, but the power drops sharply there. At an average of 25 kW, that takes another 29 minutes. So you hold the spot for another two thirds of that time for 12 kWh extra. Your car will have different figures, but the pattern is the same for most cars. You can read more under [charging to 80 per cent](/en/blog/why-charge-to-80-percent/) and [the charging curve](/en/blog/charging-curve-fast-charging-slows/). When it is busy, charge only what you need to reach your next stop. ### When this does not apply If nobody is waiting and you are on a slow AC charger, charging to full is fine. That is what a charger you plug into overnight or during a long appointment is for. Do check the operator's terms, though, because some add extra charges after a certain time. These rules differ and change, so check them each time. There is more in [avoiding idle fees](/en/blog/avoid-idle-fees-charging/). ## Park so the charger stays usable Check where your charging port is and how long the cable is before you pull in. If the port is at the rear and the cable is short, reversing in may work better. Park straight in the bay. If the car sits at an angle, you can easily take a second space or block the second charge point. If the charger has two connectors, leave room so the next driver can reach their cable or port. A cable pulled tight wears out faster and can be yanked out of the port. ## Bring your own cable and tidy it away Many AC chargers have only a socket and no fixed cable. In that case you need a suitable cable of your own. Which plug fits which car is explained on the [plugs](/en/plugs/) page. When you are finished, coil the cable and put it in the boot. Do not leave it on the ground, especially not on a pavement or between two bays. Someone can trip over it or drive over it. ## Do not park there if you are not charging A charging bay is for cars that are charging. That goes for a petrol car or hybrid parked there "just for a minute", and for an electric car that is not plugged in. If the bay is free and you only want to park, pick an ordinary space. One car without a cable can block someone else's whole session. ## Do not touch someone else's plug If a car has been on the charger for a long time, do not unplug it yourself. Many cars lock the plug while charging, so it often will not come out anyway, and forcing it can damage the cable or port. It is also the quickest way to start an argument. What you can do: 1. Check in the app or on the charger's screen whether charging is still in progress. 2. Call the operator's number printed on the charger and explain what you see. 3. Look for another charger nearby in the meantime. If you charge somewhere others may be waiting, leave a note with your phone number behind the windscreen. That way someone can reach you instead of guessing. ## What if the charger is occupied? An occupied charger does not always mean waiting. First check whether a second connector is free or another charger is within walking distance. If you do choose to wait, park so you do not block anyone, including the car that has just finished and wants to leave. More options are in [charger occupied: what now](/en/blog/charger-occupied-what-now/). ## Report a broken charger When a charger is faulty, the next visitors usually have no idea. Report it to the operator using the number or app on the charger. Give the charger's ID and say what happened: charging does not start, it drops out after a few minutes, or the screen shows an error. The more precise you are, the faster someone can fix it. For what else you can do, see [broken charger: what to do](/en/blog/broken-charger-what-to-do/). Looking for another charger nearby? Check the [map of charge points](/en/map/).