Why You're Putting Off the Home Charger (And Shouldn't)

The five reasons people wait

Plenty of EV owners drive for months — sometimes years — without a home charger, overpaying at public chargers and Superchargers the whole time. The reasons for holding off fall into five familiar shapes. Here is how each one tends to resolve.

1. “It’s Too Expensive”

This is the big one. And on the surface, it seems reasonable. A home charger costs £800–1,200 fully installed.

But here’s what that number misses: the charger pays for itself in 6–9 months.

Switching from Supercharging a Model 3 to home charging on an off-peak tariff saves roughly £914 a year. On an £800–1,200 charger that is a 75–100% annual return on the spend.

Renters and flat owners can claim the £500 OZEV grant against installation, which brings the out-of-pocket down to roughly £300–700.

Put differently: not having a home charger is usually the more expensive option. Every month without one costs roughly£60–80 in unnecessary charging fees.

2. “I’m Renting — I Can’t Get One”

This used to be true. It isn’t anymore.

The OZEV grant was specifically expanded to cover renters and flat owners — that’s the target audience now (homeowners aren’t eligible for the grant).

Here’s how it works as a renter:

1. You get written permission from your landlord (a simple letter or email is fine)
2. Your installer handles the OZEV grant application
3. The grant covers up to £500 of the installation cost
4. The charger is installed on the property

Many landlords are happy to agree because it adds value to their property at no cost to them. If your landlord is hesitant, the landlord infrastructure grant covers up to £30,000 for electrical upgrades to rental properties — there’s a strong financial incentive for them too.

Template email to your landlord: “Hi [Landlord], I’d like to install a home EV charger at the property. There’s a government grant (OZEV) that covers £500 of the cost, so there’s no expense to you. The charger stays with the property and adds value for future tenants. I’d just need written permission to proceed. Happy to discuss.”

The upshot: renters end up in a better position than homeowners, qualifying for the£500 grant that homeowners don’t.

3. “The Process Seems Complicated”

It’s not. Here’s the entire process:

1. Get quotes (2 minutes): Fill in your details and we’ll match you with certified installers
2. Pick an installer (1 day): Compare up to 3 quotes and choose one
3. Get installed (2–4 hours): The installer handles everything — wiring, mounting, testing, certification, and grant paperwork

That’s it. From first quote to charging at home typically takes 2–3 weeks, and most of that is just waiting for the installation date.

You don’t need to understand anything about electrical wiring, consumer units, or RCDs. You don’t need to apply for the OZEV grant yourself. You don’t even need to choose a charger in advance — your installer can recommend one during the survey.

In practice, installing a home charger is simpler than fitting a new boiler or a kitchen appliance.

4. “I’m Not Sure Which Charger to Get”

This is the one that leads to analysis paralysis. There are 21 chargers on the market, all with different features, prices, and compatibility claims.

Every charger on our site works with every Tesla, so the downside risk is small. The differences are at the margins — smart tariff integration, solar compatibility, cable length, app polish.

If you want the answer in 30 seconds, take our charger quiz. It asks 3 questions and recommends the best charger for your specific situation.

Or if you want the shortcut:

• Best overall: Tesla Wall Connector — £425, smooth Tesla app integration
• Best for saving money: Ohme Home Pro — automatic smart tariff scheduling
• Best for solar: myenergi Zappi GLO — diverts surplus solar to your car
• Best value installed: Wallbox Pulsar Max — compact, reliable, competitive price

See our full charger comparison or best Tesla home charger guide for detailed rankings.

Any home charger on an off-peak tariff beats no home charger by a wide margin. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

5. “I’ll Do It Eventually”

This is the most expensive reason of all.

“Eventually” has a cost. Here’s what “eventually” looks like in real money:

Waiting a year costs almost as much as the charger itself. Every month of “eventually” is another £76 on top of what home charging would cost.

There’s no benefit to waiting. Charger prices aren’t dropping significantly. The OZEV grant is available now but government schemes don’t last forever. And electricity costs are unlikely to get cheaper.

The ideal time to install a home charger was when the Tesla arrived. The second-best is now.

Where this leaves you

Most of the reasons for holding off either no longer apply (rental eligibility, grant availability) or cost more than acting does. The honest next step is either a quote or a charger shortlist — the comparison page is a good place to start if you're still narrowing down.