Charging a used EV at home: chargers, cables and costs
Granny cable or wallbox, Type 2 and CCS connectors, which cables come with a used EV, installation, the £500 GOV.UK grants and what home charging costs.
Updated
If you can park off the street, a wallbox charger is the usual way to charge a used electric car at home: it is faster than a household socket and is built for the job. A three-pin "granny" cable works for occasional top-ups or for a plug-in hybrid's smaller battery. Before you buy the car, check which cables come with it, whether your home can take a charger, and whether you qualify for one of the GOV.UK chargepoint grants, which at the time of writing pay up to £500.
Granny cable or wallbox
There are two ways to charge at home.
A three-pin cable
Many electric cars and plug-in hybrids come with a cable that plugs into an ordinary household socket, often called a granny cable. It needs no installation. It is also slow, and a full charge of a large battery can take a day or more. Manufacturers usually advise against using extension leads, and a socket used for long charging sessions should be in good condition and on a sound circuit. If you plan to rely on one, ask an electrician to check the socket and wiring first.
It suits:
- plug-in hybrids, whose batteries are smaller;
- drivers who cover few miles and can leave the car plugged in for long spells;
- occasional use away from home.
A wallbox
A wallbox is a dedicated chargepoint fixed to an outside wall or post and wired to its own circuit. It charges faster than a household socket, and most can be scheduled to charge when electricity is cheaper. It is the normal choice if you drive an electric car every day.
Some wallboxes have a fixed (tethered) cable. Others have a socket, so you plug in the car's own Type 2 cable.
Connectors and the cables that come with a used car
Most electric cars sold in the UK use two connectors:
- Type 2 for AC charging at home and at most public chargers. A Type 2 to Type 2 cable connects the car to an untethered wallbox or public post.
- CCS for rapid DC charging. The CCS socket includes the Type 2 shape with two extra pins beneath. Rapid chargers have their own fixed cables, so you do not carry a CCS cable.
Some older cars use a Type 1 socket for AC charging or CHAdeMO for rapid charging. Check which the car has, because it decides which public chargers you can use.
A used car may come with a three-pin cable, a Type 2 cable, both or neither. These cables are not cheap to replace. At the viewing, find the cables, check them for cuts, kinks and damaged plugs, and plug the car in to see it charge. If a cable is missing, ask for it or adjust your offer. Our guide to buying a used electric car lists the other checks.
What installing a wallbox involves
A typical installation looks like this:
- A survey. An installer checks where the car parks, the route for the cable, the capacity of your electricity supply and the consumer unit.
- Permission. If you rent or live in a flat, you need the landlord's or freeholder's agreement. Some installations need planning permission. Ask the installer whether yours does.
- The network operator. The installer usually notifies your electricity network operator, and some homes need a supply upgrade first.
- The install and a certificate. The installer fits the chargepoint and gives you the electrical certificate.
Get more than one quote. Ask what is included, especially cable length and any groundwork.
The GOV.UK chargepoint grants
At the time of writing, GOV.UK lists two household grants, each up to £500 towards installing a chargepoint, both running until 31 March 2027:
| Grant | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| EV chargepoint grant for renters and flat owners | People who own and live in a flat, or rent and live in any residential property, and have private off-street parking |
| EV chargepoint grant for households with on-street parking | People who own or rent their home, have only on-street parking and are installing a cross-pavement solution such as a charging gully |
Owners of houses with a driveway are not covered by these grants. Applications go through the Find a Grant service on GOV.UK. Eligibility and amounts change, so check the GOV.UK page before you plan around a grant.
Smart charger rules
Under the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021, chargepoints sold for home or workplace use in Great Britain since 30 June 2022 must be smart. GOV.UK summarises the main requirements:
- they must be able to send and receive information and respond to signals to change when and how fast the car charges;
- they must come with pre-set off-peak default charging hours, which the owner can change when setting it up;
- they must include a randomised delay function;
- they must measure the electricity used and how long charging lasts;
- they must meet a security standard, which applied from 30 December 2022.
Non-smart cables and rapid chargepoints meant for public use are not covered, and nor are chargers sold second-hand between private individuals. If the home you move into already has an older wallbox, find out when it was made and have an installer check it.
What home charging costs
The cost is the energy you put in, in kWh, multiplied by your electricity unit rate. Ofgem's price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 sets an average unit rate of 26.32 pence per kWh for electricity paid by Direct Debit, with a daily standing charge of 54.83 pence. Your rate depends on your region and your tariff.
So adding 10 kWh at that average rate costs about £2.63. Some suppliers offer tariffs with cheaper overnight rates for electric car owners, which a scheduled wallbox can use. Some energy is lost as heat while charging, so the meter shows a little more than the battery receives.
For how far that charge takes you, see our guide to electric car range in winter.
Frequently asked questions
Can I charge an electric car from a normal plug?
Yes, with the three-pin cable many cars come with. It is slow, and manufacturers usually advise against extension leads. Have an electrician check the socket and wiring if you will use it often.
Do used electric cars come with charging cables?
Often, but not always. A used car may come with a three-pin cable, a Type 2 cable, both or neither. Check at the viewing and ask for any missing cable before you agree a price.
Is there a grant for a home EV charger?
At the time of writing, GOV.UK lists grants of up to £500 for renters and flat owners with off-street parking, and for homes with only on-street parking that fit a cross-pavement solution. Both run until 31 March 2027. Homeowners with a driveway are not covered.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?
Multiply the kWh you add by your unit rate. At Ofgem's average cap rate of 26.32 pence per kWh for October to December 2026, 10 kWh costs about £2.63. Overnight tariffs can cost less.