How to Charge an Electric Car – and How to Get a Home Charging Point Installed

Already have an electric car or about to get one? Getting home charging right is the single move that makes EV ownership genuinely convenient and dramatically cheaper.

This guide covers everything: which cars can charge at home, how to get a home charging station installed, what it costs, and how to get the most from your setup.

• Home charging is up to 10x cheaper than public rapid charging – as little as 2–3p per mile on a smart overnight tariff.
• A 7kW smart wallbox is the standard UK home setup, typically costing £800–1,200 all-in.
• Plan ahead: book your survey before your car arrives. Unforeseen complications can delay installation by weeks.
• Grants are still available for renters, flat owners, and landlords – up to £500 at the time of writing.

Which cars are compatible with home EV car chargers? 

Any vehicle with a plug-in charging port can use home chargers for electric cars. The table below covers the three main types and what that means for home charging.

Three ways to charge: what’s the difference?

Three-pin socket (Mode 2) – every plug-in vehicle comes with a cable for a standard domestic socket. Charging electric car at home with a 3 pin plug works, but it’s slow – a large-battery EV can take 24 hours or more. EV charging 3 pin plug is adequate for PHEVs overnight, but it’s best treated as a backup rather than a daily habit.

Dedicated home wallbox (Mode 3) – a purpose-built 7kW electric car home charging station wired directly to your consumer unit. Five to eight times faster than a three-pin socket, smart scheduling built in, and the only option that qualifies for government grants. Most EVs go from low to full overnight.

Public charging network – thousands of electric car charging points at supermarkets, car parks, and motorway services across the UK. Essential for longer journeys, but significantly more expensive than electric vehicle home charging. More on this below.

Why home charging is the smart default

The difference in cost is stark.

On a standard tariff, home charging electric car costs around 24–26p per kWh (based on the Ofgem price cap at time of writing). On a dedicated EV off-peak tariff, that drops to as low as 7–10p per kWh overnight – meaning a full charge on a typical 60kWh EV for around £4–6. A public rapid charger runs at 75–80p per kWh or more on pay-as-you-go. The case for a car charging point for home makes itself.

In cost-per-mile terms: electric vehicle home charging on a smart tariff comes out at roughly 2–5p per mile. Public rapid charging is 20–25p or more. Petrol sits at around 15–20p at current prices. Charge mostly at home and an EV car is comfortably cheaper to run than petrol.

Home vs public charging: a quick comparison

_{*Figures approximate, based on publicly available data at time of writing. Cost per mile assumes ~3.5 miles/kWh efficiency. Tariff rates and public charging prices change regularly.}

To put 200 miles of range in context: charging an electric car at home on an off-peak tariff costs roughly £4–6 for that range. The same 200 miles on a public rapid charger costs £12–16 or more.

Making the most of smart tariffs and overnight charging

Pair your home charger for EV cars with a smart electricity tariff and the savings stack up fast. Several UK providers offer dedicated EV rates with dramatically lower overnight prices – typically between around 11:30pm and 5:30am. You set a departure time, the app handles the rest.

The Octopus Energy EV charger ecosystem is one of the most widely used in the UK. Their Octopus EV charging tariff – Intelligent Octopus Go – offers smart charging at as little as 7p per kWh at time of writing, dramatically cheaper than the standard Ofgem rate (always check the current comparison on Octopus’ main website). They supply and install the Octopus EV charger and Octopus car charger hardware with tariff access included. OVO and British Gas offer comparable rates. Always check current pricing with your provider – tariffs change.

Electric vehicle charger installation: what’s involved?

The process is straightforward for most homes, but it needs to be done properly. A reputable electric vehicle charging installation company will carry out a site survey first – usually at no charge – covering your consumer unit, cable run length, parking setup, and electrical capacity.

Book your survey well before your car arrives. Unforeseen issues – an older consumer unit, a long cable run, drive surface complications – can push timelines out by weeks.

Choosing the best home EV charger UK specs. The standard is a 7kW smart wallbox – UK law requires all new home chargers for electric cars to be smart-enabled under the 2021 Smart Charge Points Regulations. Brands producing some of the best EV chargers for home use include Ohme, Zappi, Pod Point, Andersen, and Wallbox. Tethered models (cable attached) are most convenient day-to-day; untethered gives flexibility if you change cars.

Cable length and cost. A standard electric car charger home installation uk includes up to 10 metres of cable run. Longer runs – to a rear garage or around the side of a property – add cost. Having an EV charger fitted typically runs £800–1,200 all-in for a standard EV charger with installation (as of mid-2026). Always get two or three quotes and check the warranty.

Who installs it, and do you need planning permission? UK law requires all electric vehicle charger installations to be carried out by a Part P-registered electrician under a Competent Person Scheme – not a DIY job, and not just any local tradesperson. Ask for OZEV-approved credentials. On planning: since May 2025, most standard residential installs are permitted development and need no planning application. Exceptions apply to listed buildings, conservation areas, and Article 4 zones.

Not sure where to start? Book an appointment with our team – we can point you in the right direction on both your new car and getting your home setup ready.

EV charger grants: what’s available now?

A common question is whether you can get a free EV charger or a grant for electric car charging point installation. EV charger grants have changed significantly in recent years. The table below sets out the current position as of mid-2026 – always verify at gov.uk, as electric car charger grant schemes can change.

On free electric car chargers for homes: the grant for homeowners with driveways closed in April 2022. Renters, flat owners, and landlords may still qualify for the ev chargepoint grant – up to £500 at time of writing. Payback for those paying full price tends to be quick given the charging cost savings.

Charging on the public network

Your home charging station handles the bulk of your charging – but the public network is growing fast. As of mid-2026, there are over 120,000 public EV car chargers across more than 46,000 UK locations. Ultra-rapid chargers (150kW+) are the fastest-growing segment, capable of adding around 100 miles in 20–30 minutes on a compatible vehicle. For a deeper dive, see our ultimate guide to charging an electric car.

Major networks include BP Pulse, Shell Recharge, Ionity, Osprey, and Pod Point. Zap-Map is the go-to app for finding and filtering chargers by speed, network, and real-time availability. Multi-network apps like Octopus Electroverse let you pay across several networks from one account. Under regulations that came into full effect in November 2024, all new public electric vehicle charging station installations at 8kW or above must offer contactless payment.

PHEV note: most PHEVs accept AC charging only and aren’t compatible with DC rapid chargers. Plug-in hybrid charging at home via a 7kW wallbox is ideal for daily use. At public locations, use standard or destination chargers rather than motorway rapids – they’ll charge your PHEV at the same speed and cost less per kWh. Read more in our guide to best-value plug-in hybrid family SUVs.

A few tips to get the most from your setup

• Plug in every evening as a default. Even a small top-up means you start the day with a full battery.
• Schedule charging overnight via your car or charger app – particularly if you’re on a time-of-use tariff.
• Keep daily charging between 20–80% of battery capacity for long-term battery health. Save full charges for longer journeys.
• If you haven’t switched to an EV-specific tariff yet – including the Octopus EV charger ecosystem – it’s worth doing. The annual saving over a standard rate can be substantial.

Electric and plug-in hybrid cars to consider

Whether you’re ready to explore new electric car deals or looking at new plug-in hybrid SUVs, here are some of the models in our range that work especially well with a home charging setup.

Popular plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models

For more guidance on choosing the right PHEV, read our Is a PHEV Car Right for Me? guide, or browse all new plug-in hybrid deals at Vertu.

Popular electric (BEV) models