27 May 2025
Summary
For most homes, installing a charger is a simple 2 to 3 hour job for a qualified electrician. Complexity only increases if long cable runs, old fuse boxes, or shared parking are involved. Most UK homes with driveways are ready for fast, easy installations.
Installing a home EV charger is generally straightforward for qualified electricians. For a typical UK home with off-street parking, the process is relatively quick. Most home charger installs are “not as complicated as you might think” and often only take 2 to 3 hours on site. CarGurus likewise observes that in most cases with driveway access, a wall-mounted charger can be fitted in only a few hours. In practice, an electrician will survey your fuse box, run a dedicated cable to the car park, install an RCD (safety switch) and a new breaker if needed, and mount the charger unit.
Difficulty rises if your setup is unusual. For example, if your parking is far from the consumer unit, you might need extra cable or trenching (≈£30/m). If your home power supply is old or weak, an upgrade to the main panel or fuse may be required (typically £100 to £500 extra). Flats or rented homes add permissions complexity - you’ll need landlord or freeholder approval, and possibly a communal supply arrangement.
Despite these variables, most residential installations are routine. Electricians fit EV chargers regularly and follow a standard procedure. Checkatrade reports that a common installer day rate is about £400, so with a 2–3 hour job the labour cost is only a couple of hundred pounds. In fact, many providers (waEV-charge, etc.) can schedule an installation within a fortnight of ordering, with minimal home disruption.
In summary, the technical difficulty of installing a charger is low for professionals - it’s largely hard work and proper wiring. As long as you use an experienced, OZEV-authorised installer, the job will be safe and efficient. Any complications (trenching, power upgrades) will be identified in the survey stage.
Ready to power up? Get a professional installation from waEV-charge, the UK’s leading EV charging specialists. Request a quote today on our website and have an OZEV-approved charger up and running in no time.
This article was written by the waEV-charge Team. waEV-charge specialises in installing and manufacturing EV chargers for both home and commercial use in the UK. If you're interested in electric car chargers, click here to discover more about our products.