Switching to an electric vehicle is one of the most significant changes a driver can make. But without a home charger, you are relying on public charging networks — slower, less convenient, and more expensive over time. The good news is that the UK government offers a grant to help bring the cost of home EV charger installation down significantly.

Here is everything you need to know about EV charger grants in 2026, who qualifies, and how to claim.

What Is the EV Charger Grant?

The Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant (EVCG) is administered by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and provides funding towards the cost of purchasing and installing a home EV charger. The grant covers up to 75% of the total cost of supply and installation, capped at £350 per installation.

This means if your charger and installation costs £600, the grant covers £350 and you pay the remaining £250. For most standard domestic installations, the grant makes a meaningful difference to the upfront cost.

The grant is applied automatically by your installer — you do not need to claim it yourself or fill in any government forms. Your installer claims it on your behalf and deducts it from your invoice.

Who Is Eligible for the Grant?

To qualify for the EV charger grant, you must meet all of the following criteria:

You Must Own or Have Ordered an Eligible Vehicle

The grant is available to people who own, or have placed a confirmed order for, an eligible plug-in vehicle. This includes:

• Battery electric vehicles (BEVs)
• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) with a minimum electric range of 10 miles

The vehicle must appear on the OZEV approved vehicle list. The vast majority of modern electric and plug-in hybrid cars qualify, including models from Volkswagen, BMW, Tesla, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Peugeot, Vauxhall, and many others.

You Must Live in a House or Bungalow

The residential grant is available to homeowners and renters living in houses and bungalows. Flats and apartments are not eligible under the standard residential scheme — there is a separate grant programme for flat owners and renters, which we cover below.

You Must Have Off-Street Parking

Your property must have a driveway, garage, or other dedicated off-street parking space where the charger can be installed. The charger must be installed at the location where the vehicle is regularly parked overnight.

The Charger Must Be an Approved Model

Only chargepoints that appear on the OZEV approved product list are eligible. All reputable smart charger brands — including Ohme, Zappi, Wallbox, Easee, and Pod Point — are on the approved list. Your installer will confirm which models qualify.

The Installation Must Be Carried Out by an Approved Installer

This is a critical requirement. The grant can only be claimed by an OZEV-authorised installer. If you use an electrician who is not registered with OZEV, you will not be able to claim the grant. Test My Electrics is an OZEV-authorised installer, which means we handle the entire grant process on your behalf.

What About Renters?

Renters in houses and bungalows can also apply for the grant, but there is an additional requirement: you must have your landlord's written permission to install the charger. This is a straightforward process in most cases — your landlord simply needs to confirm in writing that they consent to the installation.

If you are a renter and your landlord is reluctant, it is worth pointing out that a home EV charger adds value to the property and is a selling point for future tenants.

The Grant for Flats and Apartments

If you live in a flat or apartment, the standard residential grant does not apply. However, there is a separate scheme called the EV Infrastructure Grant for Residential Car Parks, which provides funding to landlords and building owners to install multiple chargepoints in shared car parks.

Under this scheme, building owners can claim up to £30,000 per site (or up to £1,000 per socket, whichever is lower) to install EV charging infrastructure. If you live in a flat and want home charging, speak to your building management or landlord about this scheme.

How Much Does a Home EV Charger Cost?

The total cost of a home EV charger installation varies depending on the charger model, the complexity of the installation, and any additional electrical work required. As a general guide:

• Standard installation (existing consumer unit with capacity, straightforward cable run): £700–£900 before grant
• More complex installation (consumer unit upgrade required, longer cable run, external trunking): £900–£1,400 before grant

After the £350 grant is applied, most standard installations come in at £350–£550 for the homeowner.

Some installations require additional electrical work before a charger can be fitted — for example, if your consumer unit is old or does not have a spare way, or if your incoming supply needs upgrading. Your installer will identify any additional requirements during a site survey.

Smart Charging: Why It Matters

All chargers eligible for the OZEV grant must be smart chargers — meaning they can connect to the internet and be controlled remotely. This is not just a technical requirement; it is genuinely useful.

Smart chargers allow you to:

• Schedule charging to take advantage of cheaper overnight electricity tariffs (some EV-specific tariffs offer rates as low as 7p per kWh overnight)
• Monitor your energy usage through an app
• Integrate with solar panels to charge your car from your own generated electricity
• Participate in demand response programmes that can earn you money by shifting your charging to off-peak times

Over the lifetime of the charger, smart scheduling can save a significant amount on your electricity bills — often more than the cost of the charger itself.

How to Apply: The Process with Test My Electrics

Claiming the grant through Test My Electrics is straightforward. Here is how the process works:

Step 1 — Contact us for a quote. We will ask about your vehicle, your property, and your parking arrangements to confirm eligibility and provide a fixed-price quote.

Step 2 — Site survey. For most installations, we carry out a brief survey to assess your consumer unit, identify the best cable route, and confirm the installation plan.

Step 3 — Installation day. Our OZEV-authorised engineer installs your charger, connects it to your consumer unit, and commissions the unit. Most installations are complete within half a day.

Step 4 — Grant claimed on your behalf. We submit the OZEV grant claim and deduct £350 from your invoice. You pay the balance only.

Step 5 — Certification. We issue your Electrical Installation Certificate and register the installation with the relevant building control authority.

Common Questions

Can I claim the grant more than once? The grant is available once per eligible vehicle per household address. If you have two eligible vehicles and two parking spaces, you may be able to claim for two separate installations.

Does the grant cover a replacement charger? No. The grant is only available for new installations at properties that do not already have an OZEV-funded charger in place.

What if I move house? The charger is fixed to the property and stays with the house when you sell. If you move to a new property without a charger, you may be eligible to claim the grant again at your new address, provided you still own an eligible vehicle.

Can I install a charger without the grant? Yes — but there is no reason to. The grant is applied automatically by your installer and requires no additional effort on your part. If you use an OZEV-authorised installer, you will always receive the grant.

Ready to Get Your EV Charger Installed?

Test My Electrics installs EV chargers across Ayrshire, Glasgow, and the wider West of Scotland. We are OZEV-authorised, SELECT registered, and handle the entire grant process for you — so you get the best charger for your vehicle at the lowest possible cost.

Get in touch today for a free, no-obligation quote. We will confirm your eligibility, recommend the right charger for your needs, and have you charging at home within days.