Larry David -- Parking Lot Meltdown Wasn't My Fault!!!

Larry David insists ... it wasn't his fault he got his ass trapped in a parking garage last month -- it was the mind-bendingly complex ticket machine at the exit, specifically programmed to make his life hell.

Larry appeared on "Conan" last night, explaining the circumstances behind the video TMZ posted last month (below) -- showing Larry having a hilarious meltdown inside a Santa Monica parking garage.

Larry explains, he tried to pay the ticket machine cash ... but it didn't accept his money -- and when he noticed a massive line of cars piling up behind him, he decided to get out to apologize for the hold up.

When he got out, Larry says a strange woman was kind enough to help him -- by showing him how to swipe his credit card to pay.