Should You Get a Home Charger Before or After Buying an Electric Car?

If you are buying your first electric car, you may wonder whether to fit a home charger before the car arrives or wait until you have it. There is no single right answer, but for most London households with off-street parking, planning the charger early saves time and stress. This post explains the pros and cons of each approach.

Why it helps to book the survey early

A survey checks your main fuse, consumer unit, earthing and cable route. If an upgrade is needed, such as a new consumer unit or a supply check by the network operator, that can take a few weeks. Booking the survey as soon as you order the car means the charger can be ready on delivery day. Our guide on whether you need a new consumer unit explains what the survey looks at.

Reasons to install before the car arrives

• You can charge from the first night instead of relying on public chargers.
• You avoid using a three-pin socket and extension lead as a stop-gap.
• Installation is easier to schedule when you are not waiting to use the car.

Reasons to wait

• Some car makers and dealers offer charger deals, so check before you book separately.
• If you are not sure which car you will buy, you may want to match the charger to its charging rate or tethered cable type.
• If you might move house soon, think about whether the charger will stay. See our post on moving house with an EV charger.

A charger suits almost any car

Most modern home chargers work with all electric cars sold in the UK, using the standard Type 2 connector. An untethered charger, which uses the car's own cable, gives the most flexibility if you are not yet sure which car you will choose. See our guide on tethered or untethered chargers.

Our advice

Book the survey as soon as you know you are getting an electric car, then install the charger a week or two before delivery. That way any surprises are sorted early, and the charger is waiting for you.

Energy North Ltd installs home chargers across North, East and West London with City & Guilds certified electricians. See our EV charger installation page to book a survey.