The £500 EV Charger Grant Is Here. Are You Eligible?
Great news for anyone thinking about getting a home or workplace EV charger. The UK government has just announced a significant boost to its chargepoint grants. From 1 April 2026, eligible households and businesses will be able to claim up to £500 per charge point socket, up from the previous cap of £350. That's an increase of over 40%, and it could cover almost half the cost of a typical installation.
What's Changing?
The Department for Transport confirmed on 25 February 2026 that grants for renters, flat owners, homeowners without driveways, and businesses are all going up. The uplift will be available until March 2027, giving you a solid window to plan and apply.
At the same time, the government has simplified the grant system. What used to be eight separate schemes has been streamlined into five, making it far easier to understand what you're eligible for:
- Chargepoint grant for renters and flat owners
- Chargepoint grant for residential landlords
- Chargepoint grant for households with on-street parking
- Workplace Charging Scheme
- Workplace Charging Scheme for state-funded education institutions, extended for another year with grants of up to £2,000 per socket
Some existing grants, including the infrastructure grant for commercial landlords and the grant for staff and fleets, will close to new applications on 31 March 2026. So if you fall into those categories, the time to act is now.
Why Does This Matter?
With a typical home charger installation costing around £1,000 to £1,200, a £500 grant can slash your out-of-pocket cost dramatically. When you factor in the savings from charging at home, as little as 2p per mile using a smart EV tariff, the economics are hard to ignore. The government estimates that's roughly equivalent to driving from London to Birmingham for just £3.50.
For businesses, the enhanced Workplace Charging Scheme means installing chargers for staff, fleet vehicles, or customers just got more affordable. You can still claim for up to 40 sockets across all your sites.
How to Apply
From 1 April 2026, a new "Find a Grant" service will replace the current application portal. The key change is that customers will apply for the grant directly, rather than receiving a link from their installer.
Here's what you should do right now:
- Check your eligibility. Renters, flat owners, landlords, on-street parkers, and businesses all qualify.
- Get a site survey booked. This ensures you have an accurate quote ready before the new portal opens.
- Choose an OZEV-approved installer. This is essential for grant eligibility.
How Plug In Stations Can Help
At Plug In Stations, we handle the entire process, from your initial site survey through to grant applications and installation. With over 25,000 installations completed across the UK, we'll make sure you get the right charger at the right price, with maximum grant savings.
Ready to take advantage of the new £500 grant? Get a free quote from Plug In Stations today.
