diff --git a/automotive/vehicle/aidl/impl/default_config/JsonConfigLoader/include/JsonConfigLoader.h b/automotive/vehicle/aidl/impl/default_config/JsonConfigLoader/include/JsonConfigLoader.h
index f3bdbd2..82e5860 100644
--- a/automotive/vehicle/aidl/impl/default_config/JsonConfigLoader/include/JsonConfigLoader.h
+++ b/automotive/vehicle/aidl/impl/default_config/JsonConfigLoader/include/JsonConfigLoader.h
@@ -130,12 +130,9 @@
                                      std::vector<T>* outPtr, std::vector<std::string>* errors);
     // Parses a JSON field to VehiclePropertyAccess or VehiclePropertyChangeMode.
     template <class T>
-    void parseAccessChangeMode(
-            const Json::Value& parentJsonNode, const std::string& fieldName, int propId,
-            const std::string& propStr,
-            const std::unordered_map<aidl::android::hardware::automotive::vehicle::VehicleProperty,
-                                     T>& defaultMap,
-            T* outPtr, std::vector<std::string>* errors);
+    void parseAccessChangeMode(const Json::Value& parentJsonNode, const std::string& fieldName,
+                               const std::string& propStr, const T* defaultAccessChangeModePtr,
+                               T* outPtr, std::vector<std::string>* errors);
 
     // Parses a JSON field to RawPropValues.
     //
@@ -145,8 +142,10 @@
                          std::vector<std::string>* errors);
 
     // Prase a JSON field as an array of area configs.
-    void parseAreas(const Json::Value& parentJsonNode, const std::string& fieldName,
-                    ConfigDeclaration* outPtr, std::vector<std::string>* errors);
+    void parseAreas(
+            const Json::Value& parentJsonNode, const std::string& fieldName,
+            ConfigDeclaration* outPtr, std::vector<std::string>* errors,
+            aidl::android::hardware::automotive::vehicle::VehiclePropertyAccess defaultAccess);
 };
 
 }  // namespace jsonconfigloader_impl
diff --git a/automotive/vehicle/aidl/impl/default_config/JsonConfigLoader/src/JsonConfigLoader.cpp b/automotive/vehicle/aidl/impl/default_config/JsonConfigLoader/src/JsonConfigLoader.cpp
index 3e6e7dc..76db891 100644
--- a/automotive/vehicle/aidl/impl/default_config/JsonConfigLoader/src/JsonConfigLoader.cpp
+++ b/automotive/vehicle/aidl/impl/default_config/JsonConfigLoader/src/JsonConfigLoader.cpp
@@ -487,10 +487,11 @@
 }
 
 template <class T>
-void JsonConfigParser::parseAccessChangeMode(
-        const Json::Value& parentJsonNode, const std::string& fieldName, int propId,
-        const std::string& propStr, const std::unordered_map<VehicleProperty, T>& defaultMap,
-        T* outPtr, std::vector<std::string>* errors) {
+void JsonConfigParser::parseAccessChangeMode(const Json::Value& parentJsonNode,
+                                             const std::string& fieldName,
+                                             const std::string& propStr,
+                                             const T* defaultAccessChangeModeValuePtr, T* outPtr,
+                                             std::vector<std::string>* errors) {
     if (!parentJsonNode.isObject()) {
         errors->push_back("Node: " + parentJsonNode.toStyledString() + " is not an object");
         return;
@@ -504,12 +505,11 @@
         *outPtr = static_cast<T>(result.value());
         return;
     }
-    auto it = defaultMap.find(static_cast<VehicleProperty>(propId));
-    if (it == defaultMap.end()) {
+    if (defaultAccessChangeModeValuePtr == NULL) {
         errors->push_back("No " + fieldName + " specified for property: " + propStr);
         return;
     }
-    *outPtr = it->second;
+    *outPtr = *defaultAccessChangeModeValuePtr;
     return;
 }
 
@@ -538,7 +538,8 @@
 }
 
 void JsonConfigParser::parseAreas(const Json::Value& parentJsonNode, const std::string& fieldName,
-                                  ConfigDeclaration* config, std::vector<std::string>* errors) {
+                                  ConfigDeclaration* config, std::vector<std::string>* errors,
+                                  VehiclePropertyAccess defaultAccess) {
     if (!parentJsonNode.isObject()) {
         errors->push_back("Node: " + parentJsonNode.toStyledString() + " is not an object");
         return;
@@ -546,6 +547,7 @@
     if (!parentJsonNode.isMember(fieldName)) {
         return;
     }
+    std::string propStr = parentJsonNode["property"].toStyledString();
     const Json::Value& jsonValue = parentJsonNode[fieldName];
 
     if (!jsonValue.isArray()) {
@@ -561,6 +563,8 @@
         }
         VehicleAreaConfig areaConfig = {};
         areaConfig.areaId = areaId;
+        parseAccessChangeMode(jsonAreaConfig, "access", propStr, &defaultAccess, &areaConfig.access,
+                              errors);
         tryParseJsonValueToVariable(jsonAreaConfig, "minInt32Value", /*optional=*/true,
                                     &areaConfig.minInt32Value, errors);
         tryParseJsonValueToVariable(jsonAreaConfig, "maxInt32Value", /*optional=*/true,
@@ -608,12 +612,21 @@
 
     configDecl.config.prop = propId;
     std::string propStr = propJsonValue["property"].toStyledString();
+    VehiclePropertyAccess* defaultAccessMode = NULL;
+    auto itAccess = AccessForVehicleProperty.find(static_cast<VehicleProperty>(propId));
+    if (itAccess != AccessForVehicleProperty.end()) {
+        defaultAccessMode = &itAccess->second;
+    }
+    VehiclePropertyChangeMode* defaultChangeMode = NULL;
+    auto itChangeMode = ChangeModeForVehicleProperty.find(static_cast<VehicleProperty>(propId));
+    if (itChangeMode != ChangeModeForVehicleProperty.end()) {
+        defaultChangeMode = &itChangeMode->second;
+    }
+    VehiclePropertyAccess access = VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE;
+    parseAccessChangeMode(propJsonValue, "access", propStr, defaultAccessMode, &access, errors);
 
-    parseAccessChangeMode(propJsonValue, "access", propId, propStr, AccessForVehicleProperty,
-                          &configDecl.config.access, errors);
-
-    parseAccessChangeMode(propJsonValue, "changeMode", propId, propStr,
-                          ChangeModeForVehicleProperty, &configDecl.config.changeMode, errors);
+    parseAccessChangeMode(propJsonValue, "changeMode", propStr, defaultChangeMode,
+                          &configDecl.config.changeMode, errors);
 
     tryParseJsonValueToVariable(propJsonValue, "configString", /*optional=*/true,
                                 &configDecl.config.configString, errors);
@@ -629,21 +642,23 @@
     tryParseJsonValueToVariable(propJsonValue, "maxSampleRate", /*optional=*/true,
                                 &configDecl.config.maxSampleRate, errors);
 
-    parseAreas(propJsonValue, "areas", &configDecl, errors);
-
-    if (errors->size() != initialErrorCount) {
-        return std::nullopt;
-    }
+    parseAreas(propJsonValue, "areas", &configDecl, errors, access);
 
     // If there is no area config, by default we allow variable update rate, so we have to add
     // a global area config.
     if (configDecl.config.areaConfigs.size() == 0) {
         VehicleAreaConfig areaConfig = {
                 .areaId = 0,
+                .access = access,
                 .supportVariableUpdateRate = true,
         };
         configDecl.config.areaConfigs.push_back(std::move(areaConfig));
     }
+
+    if (errors->size() != initialErrorCount) {
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+
     return configDecl;
 }
 
diff --git a/automotive/vehicle/aidl/impl/default_config/JsonConfigLoader/test/JsonConfigLoaderUnitTest.cpp b/automotive/vehicle/aidl/impl/default_config/JsonConfigLoader/test/JsonConfigLoaderUnitTest.cpp
index 9882653..a13d3df 100644
--- a/automotive/vehicle/aidl/impl/default_config/JsonConfigLoader/test/JsonConfigLoaderUnitTest.cpp
+++ b/automotive/vehicle/aidl/impl/default_config/JsonConfigLoader/test/JsonConfigLoaderUnitTest.cpp
@@ -286,7 +286,8 @@
     ASSERT_EQ(configs.size(), 1u);
 
     const VehiclePropConfig& propConfig = configs.begin()->second.config;
-    ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::READ);
+    ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE);
+    ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.areaConfigs[0].access, VehiclePropertyAccess::READ);
     ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.changeMode, VehiclePropertyChangeMode::STATIC);
 }
 
@@ -307,7 +308,8 @@
     ASSERT_EQ(configs.size(), 1u);
 
     const VehiclePropConfig& propConfig = configs.begin()->second.config;
-    ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::WRITE);
+    ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE);
+    ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.areaConfigs[0].access, VehiclePropertyAccess::WRITE);
     ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.changeMode, VehiclePropertyChangeMode::STATIC);
 }
 
@@ -328,7 +330,8 @@
     ASSERT_EQ(configs.size(), 1u);
 
     const VehiclePropConfig& propConfig = configs.begin()->second.config;
-    ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::READ);
+    ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE);
+    ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.areaConfigs[0].access, VehiclePropertyAccess::READ);
     ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.changeMode, VehiclePropertyChangeMode::ON_CHANGE);
 }
 
@@ -350,7 +353,8 @@
     ASSERT_EQ(configs.size(), 1u);
 
     const VehiclePropConfig& propConfig = configs.begin()->second.config;
-    ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::WRITE);
+    ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE);
+    ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.areaConfigs[0].access, VehiclePropertyAccess::WRITE);
     ASSERT_EQ(propConfig.changeMode, VehiclePropertyChangeMode::ON_CHANGE);
 }
 
@@ -550,10 +554,12 @@
     ASSERT_EQ(configs.size(), 1u);
 
     const VehiclePropConfig& config = configs.begin()->second.config;
+    ASSERT_EQ(config.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE);
     ASSERT_EQ(config.areaConfigs.size(), 1u);
     const VehicleAreaConfig& areaConfig = config.areaConfigs[0];
     ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig.minInt32Value, 1);
     ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig.maxInt32Value, 7);
+    ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::READ);
     ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig.areaId, HVAC_ALL);
 }
 
@@ -635,9 +641,11 @@
     ASSERT_EQ(configs.size(), 1u);
 
     const VehiclePropConfig& config = configs.begin()->second.config;
+    ASSERT_EQ(config.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE);
     ASSERT_EQ(config.areaConfigs.size(), 1u);
 
     const VehicleAreaConfig& areaConfig = config.areaConfigs[0];
+    ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::READ);
     ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig.areaId, 0);
     ASSERT_FALSE(areaConfig.supportedEnumValues);
 }
@@ -662,9 +670,11 @@
     ASSERT_EQ(configs.size(), 1u);
 
     const VehiclePropConfig& config = configs.begin()->second.config;
+    ASSERT_EQ(config.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE);
     ASSERT_EQ(config.areaConfigs.size(), 1u);
 
     const VehicleAreaConfig& areaConfig = config.areaConfigs[0];
+    ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::READ);
     ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig.areaId, 0);
     ASSERT_TRUE(areaConfig.supportedEnumValues);
     ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig.supportedEnumValues.value().size(), 2u);
@@ -692,13 +702,107 @@
     ASSERT_EQ(configs.size(), 1u);
 
     const VehiclePropConfig& config = configs.begin()->second.config;
+    ASSERT_EQ(config.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE);
     ASSERT_EQ(config.areaConfigs.size(), 1u);
 
     const VehicleAreaConfig& areaConfig = config.areaConfigs[0];
+    ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::READ);
     ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig.areaId, 0);
     ASSERT_FALSE(areaConfig.supportedEnumValues);
 }
 
+TEST_F(JsonConfigLoaderUnitTest, testAccess_areaOverrideGlobalDefault) {
+    std::istringstream iss(R"(
+    {
+        "properties": [{
+            "property": "VehicleProperty::CABIN_LIGHTS_SWITCH",
+            "areas": [{
+                "access": "VehiclePropertyAccess::READ",
+                "areaId": 0
+            }]
+        }]
+    }
+    )");
+
+    auto result = mLoader.loadPropConfig(iss);
+    ASSERT_TRUE(result.ok());
+
+    auto configs = result.value();
+    ASSERT_EQ(configs.size(), 1u);
+
+    const VehiclePropConfig& config = configs.begin()->second.config;
+    ASSERT_EQ(config.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE);
+    ASSERT_EQ(config.areaConfigs.size(), 1u);
+
+    const VehicleAreaConfig& areaConfig = config.areaConfigs[0];
+    ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::READ);
+    ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig.areaId, 0);
+}
+
+TEST_F(JsonConfigLoaderUnitTest, testAccess_globalOverrideDefault) {
+    std::istringstream iss(R"(
+    {
+        "properties": [{
+            "property": "VehicleProperty::CABIN_LIGHTS_SWITCH",
+            "areas": [{
+                "areaId": 0
+            }],
+            "access": "VehiclePropertyAccess::READ"
+        }]
+    }
+    )");
+
+    auto result = mLoader.loadPropConfig(iss);
+    ASSERT_TRUE(result.ok());
+
+    auto configs = result.value();
+    ASSERT_EQ(configs.size(), 1u);
+
+    const VehiclePropConfig& config = configs.begin()->second.config;
+    ASSERT_EQ(config.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE);
+    ASSERT_EQ(config.areaConfigs.size(), 1u);
+
+    const VehicleAreaConfig& areaConfig = config.areaConfigs[0];
+    ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::READ);
+    ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig.areaId, 0);
+}
+
+TEST_F(JsonConfigLoaderUnitTest, testAccess_areaOverrideGlobal) {
+    std::istringstream iss(R"(
+    {
+        "properties": [{
+            "property": "VehicleProperty::CABIN_LIGHTS_SWITCH",
+            "areas": [{
+                "access": "VehiclePropertyAccess::WRITE",
+                "areaId": 0
+            },
+            {
+                "areaId": 1
+            }],
+            "access": "VehiclePropertyAccess::READ",
+        }]
+    }
+    )");
+
+    auto result = mLoader.loadPropConfig(iss);
+    ASSERT_TRUE(result.ok());
+
+    auto configs = result.value();
+    ASSERT_EQ(configs.size(), 1u);
+
+    const VehiclePropConfig& config = configs.begin()->second.config;
+    ASSERT_EQ(config.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE);
+    ASSERT_EQ(config.areaConfigs.size(), 2u);
+
+    const VehicleAreaConfig& areaConfig1 = config.areaConfigs[0];
+    ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig1.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::WRITE);
+    ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig1.areaId, 0);
+
+    const VehicleAreaConfig& areaConfig2 = config.areaConfigs[1];
+    ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig2.access, VehiclePropertyAccess::READ);
+    ASSERT_EQ(areaConfig2.areaId, 1);
+}
+
 }  // namespace vehicle
 }  // namespace automotive
 }  // namespace hardware
diff --git a/automotive/vehicle/vts/src/VtsHalAutomotiveVehicle_TargetTest.cpp b/automotive/vehicle/vts/src/VtsHalAutomotiveVehicle_TargetTest.cpp
index b5ee335..b0e44ae 100644
--- a/automotive/vehicle/vts/src/VtsHalAutomotiveVehicle_TargetTest.cpp
+++ b/automotive/vehicle/vts/src/VtsHalAutomotiveVehicle_TargetTest.cpp
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@
     bool checkIsSupported(int32_t propertyId);
 
   public:
+    void verifyAccessMode(int actualAccess, int expectedAccess);
     void verifyProperty(VehicleProperty propId, VehiclePropertyAccess access,
                         VehiclePropertyChangeMode changeMode, VehiclePropertyGroup group,
                         VehicleArea area, VehiclePropertyType propertyType);
@@ -250,8 +251,13 @@
         const IHalPropConfig& cfg = *cfgPtr;
         int32_t propId = cfg.getPropId();
         // test on boolean and writable property
-        if (cfg.getAccess() == toInt(VehiclePropertyAccess::READ_WRITE) &&
-            isBooleanGlobalProp(propId) && !hvacProps.count(propId)) {
+        bool isReadWrite = (cfg.getAccess() == toInt(VehiclePropertyAccess::READ_WRITE));
+        if (cfg.getAreaConfigSize() != 0 &&
+            cfg.getAreaConfigs()[0]->getAccess() != toInt(VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE)) {
+            isReadWrite = (cfg.getAreaConfigs()[0]->getAccess() ==
+                           toInt(VehiclePropertyAccess::READ_WRITE));
+        }
+        if (isReadWrite && isBooleanGlobalProp(propId) && !hvacProps.count(propId)) {
             auto propToGet = mVhalClient->createHalPropValue(propId);
             auto getValueResult = mVhalClient->getValueSync(*propToGet);
 
@@ -469,6 +475,53 @@
     }
 }
 
+// Test that access mode is populated in exclusively one of the VehiclePropConfig or the
+// VehicleAreaConfigs. Either VehiclePropConfig.access must be populated, or all the
+// VehicleAreaConfig.access fields should be populated.
+TEST_P(VtsHalAutomotiveVehicleTargetTest, testAccessModeExclusivityAIDL) {
+    if (!mVhalClient->isAidlVhal()) {
+        GTEST_SKIP() << "Skip checking access mode for HIDL because the access mode field is only "
+                        "present for AIDL";
+    }
+
+    auto result = mVhalClient->getAllPropConfigs();
+    ASSERT_TRUE(result.ok());
+    for (const auto& cfgPtr : result.value()) {
+        const IHalPropConfig& cfg = *cfgPtr;
+
+        bool propAccessIsSet = (cfg.getAccess() != toInt(VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE));
+        bool unsetAreaAccessExists = false;
+        bool setAreaAccessExists = false;
+
+        for (const auto& areaConfig : cfg.getAreaConfigs()) {
+            if (areaConfig->getAccess() == toInt(VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE)) {
+                unsetAreaAccessExists = true;
+            } else {
+                setAreaAccessExists = true;
+            }
+        }
+
+        ASSERT_FALSE(propAccessIsSet && setAreaAccessExists) << StringPrintf(
+                "Both prop and area config access is set for propertyId %d", cfg.getPropId());
+        ASSERT_FALSE(!propAccessIsSet && !setAreaAccessExists) << StringPrintf(
+                "Neither prop and area config access is set for propertyId %d", cfg.getPropId());
+        ASSERT_FALSE(unsetAreaAccessExists && setAreaAccessExists) << StringPrintf(
+                "Area access is only set in some configs for propertyId %d", cfg.getPropId());
+    }
+}
+
+void VtsHalAutomotiveVehicleTargetTest::verifyAccessMode(int actualAccess, int expectedAccess) {
+    if (expectedAccess == toInt(VehiclePropertyAccess::READ_WRITE)) {
+        ASSERT_TRUE(actualAccess == expectedAccess ||
+                    actualAccess == toInt(VehiclePropertyAccess::READ))
+                << StringPrintf("Expect to get VehiclePropertyAccess: %i or %i, got %i",
+                                expectedAccess, toInt(VehiclePropertyAccess::READ), actualAccess);
+        return;
+    }
+    ASSERT_EQ(actualAccess, expectedAccess) << StringPrintf(
+            "Expect to get VehiclePropertyAccess: %i, got %i", expectedAccess, actualAccess);
+}
+
 // Helper function to compare actual vs expected property config
 void VtsHalAutomotiveVehicleTargetTest::verifyProperty(VehicleProperty propId,
                                                        VehiclePropertyAccess access,
@@ -511,7 +564,6 @@
 
     const auto& config = result.value().at(0);
     int actualPropId = config->getPropId();
-    int actualAccess = config->getAccess();
     int actualChangeMode = config->getChangeMode();
     int actualGroup = actualPropId & toInt(VehiclePropertyGroup::MASK);
     int actualArea = actualPropId & toInt(VehicleArea::MASK);
@@ -520,14 +572,17 @@
     ASSERT_EQ(actualPropId, expectedPropId)
             << StringPrintf("Expect to get property ID: %i, got %i", expectedPropId, actualPropId);
 
-    if (expectedAccess == toInt(VehiclePropertyAccess::READ_WRITE)) {
-        ASSERT_TRUE(actualAccess == expectedAccess ||
-                    actualAccess == toInt(VehiclePropertyAccess::READ))
-                << StringPrintf("Expect to get VehiclePropertyAccess: %i or %i, got %i",
-                                expectedAccess, toInt(VehiclePropertyAccess::READ), actualAccess);
+    int globalAccess = config->getAccess();
+    if (config->getAreaConfigSize() == 0) {
+        verifyAccessMode(globalAccess, expectedAccess);
     } else {
-        ASSERT_EQ(actualAccess, expectedAccess) << StringPrintf(
-                "Expect to get VehiclePropertyAccess: %i, got %i", expectedAccess, actualAccess);
+        for (const auto& areaConfig : config->getAreaConfigs()) {
+            int areaConfigAccess = areaConfig->getAccess();
+            int actualAccess = (areaConfigAccess != toInt(VehiclePropertyAccess::NONE))
+                                       ? areaConfigAccess
+                                       : globalAccess;
+            verifyAccessMode(actualAccess, expectedAccess);
+        }
     }
 
     ASSERT_EQ(actualChangeMode, expectedChangeMode)