What is the EV charger grant and who can get it?
The EV charger grant is government money towards installing a home chargepoint, and it is only open to some households. GOV.UK describes two home grants, each worth up to £500, and we read the official pages on 2 November 2026 for this guide.
The first is for people who own and live in a flat, or who rent and live in any residential property. You must also have private off-street parking. The second is for households that only have on-street parking and are installing a cross pavement solution, such as a charging gully.
If you can only park on the road, the EV charger grant is aimed at you, provided you own or rent the property you live in.
Key takeaways
- Two home grants offer up to £500 each, one for flats and renters, one for on-street parking.
- Funding runs until 31 March 2027, and the government says this is a final year.
- Do not have the chargepoint installed until you are told you are eligible.
- The grant covers part of the cost, so you still need to price the rest.
How much is the EV charger grant worth?
It is up to £500 towards the cost of installing a chargepoint, according to GOV.UK. The words that matter are “up to”, because it is a contribution towards the cost, not a guarantee that the whole bill disappears.
The maximum rate went up on 1 April 2026, from £350 to £500 per socket. Residents can apply for one socket, so you get one grant, not one per vehicle.
What you will actually pay depends on your home, your parking and the installer, so we cannot give you a typical figure. Get more than one quote, and ask each installer to show the grant deducted from the invoice.
What do you need to do before you install?
You need to apply first, and wait. GOV.UK says customers must not have their chargepoint installed until they receive notification from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles that they are eligible for the grant. The installer is told at the same time.
That order catches people out. Booking an install for next week and applying afterwards risks losing the grant.
Applications for the flats and renters grant now go through a new online platform. You select Start new application on the GOV.UK guidance page, register for an account and apply. If you are successful, you and your installer are notified by email with the next steps.
The installer then claims the grant through a digital form. GOV.UK says it initially estimates that assessing applications and claims can take up to 10 working days, so build that into your timing.
What about renters and landlords?
Renters can apply in their own right, if they have private off-street parking. You will also need any third party permission for the install, for example from a landlord. Check that before you apply, because a refusal later is a costly surprise.
Landlords have their own grant, worth up to £500 per socket for up to 200 sockets across their sites. That is a separate scheme from the ones above, so if you are a tenant do not assume your landlord will apply on your behalf.
If you are thinking about charging on the street, our post on cross pavement charging covers the planning side.
Is the EV charger grant going to change?
It could. GOV.UK says the government reserves the right to end or change the grant schemes. If a grant ends or its amount changes, it says it aims to give four weeks’ notice and to honour claims made before any public announcement, subject to the grant criteria.
The home and workplace chargepoint grants have been extended for a final year, until 31 March 2027. That is a good reason not to leave a decision to the last minute, although you should not rush into a poor deal either.
Note too that the grant page does not list a home grant for owners of houses with a driveway. If that is you, do not assume one exists, and check the GOV.UK page before you plan around it.
What does the EV charger grant not cover?
It does not cover the cost of the car. The Electric Car Grant and other vehicle grants work differently: GOV.UK says the seller includes the grant as a discount in the purchase price, so you do not apply for it yourself.
It also does not cover the electricity you use once the charger is in. Your tariff decides that. Our guide to EV energy tariffs explains what to look for, and our public EV charging cost guide shows what the alternative looks like.
Before you commit, check the grant rules on the GOV.UK page, compare your installer quotes, and then look at your energy deal. A different tariff will not change the install bill, but it could change what every charge after it costs, depending on how you charge.
Frequently asked questions about the EV charger grant
- How much is the EV charger grant?
- GOV.UK says up to £500 towards the cost of installing a chargepoint for the flats and renters grant and the on-street parking grant.
- Can I get the EV charger grant if I rent?
- Yes, if you rent and live in a residential property and have private off-street parking. You will also need any third party permissions, such as from your landlord.
- Can I install the charger before I apply?
- No. GOV.UK says you must not have the chargepoint installed until you are told you are eligible for the grant.
- When does the EV charger grant end?
- Funding is available until 31 March 2027. The government says it can end or change the schemes, and aims to give four weeks’ notice.
- Does the EV charger grant pay for the electricity?
- No. It is a contribution towards installing the chargepoint. Your ongoing charging cost depends on your energy tariff.
Sources
- GOV.UK, electric vehicle chargepoint grants. Supports the two home grants, the up to £500 value, the eligibility rules for flats, renters and on-street parking, the 200 socket limit for landlords, the 31 March 2027 end date and final year wording, and the absence of a home grant for houses with a driveway.
- GOV.UK, changes to electric vehicle chargepoint grant schemes from 1 April 2026. Supports the rise from £350 to £500 per socket, the one socket limit for residents, the rule against installing before OZEV notification, the new application platform, the up to 10 working days estimate, and the four weeks’ notice commitment.
Checked 2 November 2026.
