Charging at home
Charging electric cars
The most convenient and cost-effective way to charge your electric car is at home. You can get one if you have off-street parking, like a driveway or garage.
- In this page
Get a home chargepoint
You’ll need to have off-street parking next to your home, like a driveway or garage. You’ll also need permission if you do not own your home. Or it’s a freehold flat or a leasehold.
You can make sure your chargepoint is installed somewhere that gives you enough space to move around and plug in. Your chargepoint installer will guide you and answer your questions.
Cannot get a chargepoint?
We'll give you subscription to a network of public chargepoints, run by bp pulse.
How much an installation costs
If you lease a fully electric car on the Motability Scheme, we'll arrange a home chargepoint and standard installation as part of your lease.
You’ll need to pay if you’ve had a fully electric car on the Scheme before, you’re leasing a plug-in hybrid, or you need a non-standard installation.
What is a non-standard installation?
It’s a home chargepoint installation where more work is needed. You might need a non-standard installation if:
- Your parking space is not directly next to your home
- Your charging unit needs to be mounted on something other than your home, like a post. Your home chargepoint can only be installed on a permanent structure
- The cable route from your meter or unit is longer than 15 metres
- The chargepoint provider needs to drill through more than one wall for the cable route
- Your electrical equipment needs to be upgraded
You'll have to pay extra if you need one of these.
How a home installation works
After we’ve approved your car application, we’ll allocate you to one of our chargepoint providers. They’ll contact you and arrange to send someone out to install a chargepoint.
Generally, the installation can take up to two hours. If it’s more complicated, it could take up to five hours.
Charging costs
Your tariff will affect how much you pay. We’ve given you a rough idea of what you can expect, depending on your tariff, and how it compares to petrol and diesel.
Choose a tariff:
Choose a tariff:
Standard
Off-peak
Based on electricity price of £0.27 p/kWh*
| Car | Cost to charge | Cost per mile | Cost per mile (Petrol and diesel equivalents)** |
|---|---|---|---|
Small range electric vehicle (42 kWh battery) | £11.34 | £0.06 | £0.16 |
Medium range electric vehicle (50 kWh battery) | £13.50 | £0.06 | £0.19 |
Long range electric vehicle (65 kWh battery) | £17.55 | £0.08 | £0.21 |
*Cost of charging sourced from Ofgem(opens in a new window) average electricity prices. Charging costs are illustrative only and will vary depending on tariff, charging behaviour and other individual factors.
**Petrol and diesel costs per mile are averages based on UK average fuel prices as of May 2026 sourced from RAC(opens in a new window). Actual running costs will vary depending on fuel prices, vehicle efficiency, driving style and local conditions.
The figures shown are estimates only and are intended as a general comparison guide. Individual costs may vary.
The right tariff can help keep your costs low
Speak to your current provider: ask them about the tariff in your local area before you get a home chargepoint
Shop around for the best price: compare tariffs online, to find the best deal for you
"Using my home chargepoint is much easier. I think it’s cheaper and I can switch it on when I wish to.”
Kevin, electric car customer
Charging on the go
We understand there will be times when you’ll need to charge away from home, like when you’re on a long distance trip.
That’s not a problem, as you can still use the public charging network.
As part of your all-inclusive package, you’ll also get exclusive access to our app, Go with the Motability Scheme. This lets you public charge simply, at over 80,000 chargepoints. You’ll never pay more than the chargepoint operator’s ‘pay as you go’ tariff.
Find chargepoints near you
See if an electric car is right for you: check if there are chargepoints near you and on your usual routes.
Summary of things to think about
- You’ll need off-street parking, and permission to fit a chargepoint if you do not own your home
- You’ll need to pay extra if you need a non-standard installation
- Charging costs will vary, depending on the tariff you choose
Can you get a home chargepoint?
I can get one installed
Take five minutes to answer some questions and we’ll tell you whether we think an electric car could suit you. Or browse our electric cars.
I cannot get one installed
Even though you cannot get a home chargepoint, we still have other ways we can support you:
What is bp pulse?
We’ll give you access to the bp pulse network of public chargepoints.
Charging on the go