A sensible schedule is a small commitment to survey and book, a deposit when a written scope and a start date exist, and the balance when the car has charged and you have the certificate and notification details. Paying 100 per cent on order to a stranger, or paying cash to a subcontractor the main firm will not name, is how people get stranded. Hardware can be paid for when it is on site if the firm is wary of special orders. It should be identified as yours if you have paid for it.
A miss that shows up later: payment schedule for an EV charger install
The mistake is a non-refundable full payment for a 'grant deal' that has not been approved.
Write payment schedule for an EV charger install into the quote
Write the stages on the acceptance email and pay traceably.
Payment schedule for an EV charger install
Match every payment to a deliverable you can see.
- Survey, then deposit, then balance on completion
- Completion means certificate and a working charge
- Traceable payments
- Network delays need a pause clause
Check payment schedule for an EV charger install before you accept a price
If a network operator delay stops the job, the contract should say whether you can pause without losing the deposit.
The price effect of payment schedule for an EV charger install
Staged payments cost you nothing if the firm is real, and they filter firms who are not.
Frequently asked questions
Is 50 per cent up front normal?
It is common and not automatically fair. Tie it to a date and a spec, and keep a retention for paperwork if you need to.
Can I pay the manufacturer directly?
Sometimes. Then be clear who warranties commissioning.
What if they want cash?
Prefer a method with a record. Cash is a bad idea for this size of job.
Do finance deals change this?
Read who you owe if the install is incomplete. Finance does not finish a circuit.
Core buying guides
Start with these high-intent guides, then dig into the rest of the library.
Related guides
Sources and further reading
How this guide was prepared
This guide was written by the Local EV Installers Editorial Team. We compare official guidance, legislation and established consumer information, separate general information from project-specific advice, and show publication dates and sources. We do not accept installer accreditation claims at face value.