Free Metered Parking for EVs Ends on September 30

For as long as I’ve lived in Los Angeles (2007, FtR), the State of California has allowed special privileges to electric vehicles and other low-emission vehicles to drive in carpool lanes or for free in HOV/HOT lanes regardless of the number of passengers as long as the car had a special sticker on the rear bumper. Several municipalities gave other benefits to cars based on those stickers.

In Santa Monica, the city allowed those cars to park for free at city meters. Cars could still be ticketed if parking enforcement noticed a car parked at a meter longer than the time that would be permitted at the meter. This program has continued through this day, even though Los Angeles ended a similar program in 2008.

On October 1, 2025, the state’s sticker program for special lane access ends. And while many cars will still have stickers, Santa Monica is ending its program as well. Beginning on October 1, EVs will no longer be allowed to park for free at meters in the city.

Some EV car owners are outraged, and there’s a rant on Reddit that sums up the argument pretty well: just because the state program is over doesn’t mean there’s still value in purchasing EVs instead of a gas powered car. While that’s true, the purpose of California’s program (and presumably Santa Monica’s) wasn’t to reward people for buying an EV, but to incentivize people to buy an EV. If people can no longer get a sticker for buying an EV, then allowing cars with existing stickers to park for free does nothing to incentivize new EV car owners.

About The Author

Damien Newton

Damien is the executive director of the Southern California Streets Initiative which publishes Santa Monica Next, Streetsblog Los Angeles, Streetsblog San Francisco, Streetsblog California and Longbeachize.

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