Some parking operators in Spain are turning away electric vehicles over supposed fire risks, but the OCU says there is no law supporting these bans. Data shows electric cars are actually less likely to catch fire than petrol or diesel models, raising questions about the real reasons for these restrictions.
In Spain, more electric car drivers are being refused entry to public and private parking garages—not because of any law, but because of fears about battery fires that don't hold up to scrutiny. The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) has stepped in, pointing out that no Spanish regulation justifies these bans, and the available data supports their position.
The issue has grown as some parking companies and homeowners’ associations have started barring electric vehicles, citing fire risk as the reason. One Madrid garage, Garaje Centro, put up a sign at its entrance banning all zero-emission vehicles: “Due to the possible fire risks posed by 100% electric cars, access is prohibited.” But as the OCU notes, Spanish law not only fails to support these restrictions—it actually encourages electric mobility by requiring charging infrastructure in new buildings and parking lots. According to the Spanish government, current fire safety rules make no distinction between electric and combustion vehicles, and recent laws focus on expanding charging points, not limiting access for electric cars.
In Spain, the right to install a personal charging point in a shared residential garage is protected by law, allowing owners to proceed after notifying the homeowners' association, provided no disproportionate harm is caused to other residents.
Fire safety regulations like the Reglamento de Instalaciones de Protección Contra Incendios and the Código Técnico de la Edificación do not treat electric and combustion vehicles differently. Laws such as Real Decreto 450/2022 and the Ley de Cambio Climático y Transición Energética are aimed at increasing charging points, not restricting electric cars. The OCU’s stance is clear: these bans have no legal basis and go against national policy. Noticias de Álava has also reported that the OCU confirms there is no regulation in Spain allowing parking facilities to ban electric vehicles over fire risk.
This trend is not limited to Spain. In Belgium, Carrefour announced in August that it would stop electric cars from parking on the upper levels of about 40 supermarkets, citing concerns about the weight of the vehicles on older structures and the difficulty of putting out a battery fire on a rooftop. Their spokesperson, Damien Bytebier, said emergency services would have trouble intervening in those locations. However, Carrefour later clarified that this is not a blanket ban on electric vehicles, but a targeted measure for certain older rooftop parking structures where engineering and firefighting access are specific concerns.
The statistics tell a different story. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency reports that electric vehicles are twenty times less likely to catch fire than petrol or diesel cars. American insurer AutoinsuranceEZ found just 25 fires per 100,000 electric vehicles sold, compared to 1,530 for combustion models and 3,475 for hybrids. The European Commission has also stated that battery electric vehicle fires are no more frequent than those involving internal combustion engines.
The Spanish government continues to expand the national charging network, with a 2026 framework requiring charging points at gas stations and non-residential parking lots, linking infrastructure growth to low-emission zones.
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Firefighters acknowledge that battery fires can be harder to put out, especially in underground garages. After a 2025 incident, Madrid’s fire service said that putting out these fires requires special equipment to keep the damage from spreading. Still, the OCU argues that these operational challenges do not justify blanket bans, especially when the overall risk is lower than with traditional vehicles.
If electric car owners are denied entry to a public parking facility, the OCU recommends asking for a written explanation, filing a complaint with consumer authorities, and notifying the relevant government bodies. The organization’s position is straightforward: restricting access based on unfounded fears is not supported by law and undermines the shift to cleaner transport.
Spain’s rollout of electric vehicles has already faced pushback in shared residential garages, as seen in a recent report about disputes over charging infrastructure. Now, with public parking bans appearing, the barriers to wider EV adoption are growing—not because of real dangers, but because of outdated perceptions and slow-moving institutions.
The evidence is clear: bans on electric cars in parking garages have no legal basis, and the statistics do not support claims of higher fire risk. If Spain wants to move toward sustainable mobility, policy should be based on facts, not fear. The OCU’s intervention is a reminder that progress depends on accurate information, not misplaced caution.
