A charger fitted to an existing house is normally a standard-rated supply for VAT. The zero rate for installing energy-saving materials does not list a domestic EV charger as a general energy-saving material in the way insulation or a heat pump can be. HMRC's energy-saving materials notice is the place to check, and the practical answer for most retrofit driveways is 20 per cent VAT on the install. Anyone offering 0 per cent on a normal existing-house wallbox should show the HMRC basis, not a hunch.
Check vAT on a retrofit home EV charger before you accept a price
Ask for the VAT treatment in writing on the quote, with the rate. If you are a business, say so. A commercial bay is not a house.
The price effect of vAT on a retrofit home EV charger
The VAT line is part of the price you compare. A quote that looks £200 cheaper and has forgotten VAT is not cheaper.
A miss that shows up later: vAT on a retrofit home EV charger
The mistake is demanding 0 per cent because a heat pump next door was zero-rated, or because a social post said all green kit was exempt until 2027.
Write vAT on a retrofit home EV charger into the quote
Keep the VAT invoice. If you later have a genuine reason to question the rate, the invoice is the document, not the advert.
VAT on a retrofit home EV charger
New-build and some conversion work can be different, because a chargepoint incorporated in a qualifying dwelling can fall under the construction rules. That is not the same job as retrofitting your current home.
- Retrofit houses are normally 20 per cent
- ESM relief is not a blanket EV discount
- New dwellings can be a different rule
- The quote should show the rate
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2027 date change home chargers?
The energy-saving materials zero rate has an end date in the legislation for the materials it actually covers. It does not, by itself, zero-rate a retrofit charger. Check the notice.
What about a charger sold with a heat pump?
Each supply is judged on its own rules. Bundling them on one invoice does not automatically zero-rate the charger.
Are grants VAT-free?
A grant may reduce what you pay the installer. It does not rewrite the VAT rate. Ask how the invoice will be drawn.
I am a charity.
Charitable buildings have specific VAT reliefs for some installations. They are not the same as a household driveway. Take advice on the building you have.
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.