Can I get a free EV charger? Government schemes explained
By EV Charger Directory Editorial Team
Independent EV charging research desk
Our editors research grants, hardware and installation practice across the UK, Germany and the Netherlands. We don't sell chargers or take installer commissions — the guides are funded by advertising, so the advice stays independent.
Updated: 27 June 2026
Type 'free EV charger' into a search bar and you'll find adverts promising exactly that. The honest version is less exciting. A genuinely free charger — fitted, at zero cost, no strings — is rare. What does exist, and what's worth your time, is a set of government schemes that knock a real chunk off the price. Knowing the difference saves you from both false hope and missed money.
Where 'free' actually comes from
When a charger really is free at the point of installation, it's almost always one of three things:
- An energy tariff bundle. Some suppliers fit a charger at no upfront cost if you sign a multi-year EV tariff. You're paying for it inside the tariff, not on the invoice — fine if the rates are genuinely good, expensive if they aren't.
- A workplace or pilot scheme. Employers and councils occasionally run funded trials. Limited places, specific areas, and they come and go.
- A grant that happens to cover the whole cost on a very simple install. Possible, not typical.
Everything else labelled 'free' is marketing. Read what you're signing before you celebrate.
United Kingdom: the chargepoint grant
The UK's main lever is the EV chargepoint grant, worth up to £350 toward a home charge point. It's deliberately targeted: people in rented homes and flats qualify, and there's a parallel scheme for landlords fitting points for tenants. Homeowners with their own driveway largely aged out of national support, so if that's you, the realistic saving comes from shopping around rather than a grant.
The money is claimed by an OZEV-authorised installer, not by you, so the route to it is choosing the right fitter in the first place.
Germany: the patchwork after KfW
Germany's big national programme, the KfW 440 wallbox subsidy, is closed — and it's worth saying plainly so you don't waste time chasing it. What's left is a rotating patchwork: individual Bundesländer, cities and municipal utilities (Stadtwerke) run their own schemes that open, fill up and close, sometimes within weeks. Some local energy providers also discount a wallbox if you take an EV tariff. Before you buy, check your Bundesland and your local Stadtwerke — that's where any live money sits.
Netherlands: the gemeente route
The Netherlands has no blanket national grant either, but it has something arguably more useful for many people. Plenty of gemeenten subsidise part of a home installation, and almost all of them will place a public laadpaal at the kerb on resident request where there's demand. For a flat-dweller or street-parker, a charger you don't pay to install or maintain is about as close to 'free' as this gets — you simply pay for the electricity you use.
What's realistically on offer
| Country | Main scheme | Roughly covers | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | EV chargepoint grant | Up to £350 | Renters, flats, landlords |
| Germany | Regional / Stadtwerke schemes | Varies, often a few hundred € | Depends on your city |
| Netherlands | Gemeente subsidy + kerbside laadpaal | Part of install, or a public point | Street-parkers, flats |
How to actually pay less
If truly free is off the table, the next-best moves are mundane but they work. Get the charger placed close to your supply so labour stays low. Buy the right unit, not the priciest. Claim whatever grant you qualify for — and claim it through an accredited installer, because most schemes only pay out that way. And get more than one quote: the spread on identical work is wider than people expect, and a local fitter who knows your grid often beats a national chain.
Grants shift every year, which is why we keep country-specific guides updated rather than printing figures that go stale. When you're ready to claim, our directory lists certified installers who handle the paperwork — the people who turn a headline grant into money actually taken off your bill.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I really get a completely free EV charger?
- Rarely, and usually with conditions. A 'free' charger normally means it's bundled into a multi-year energy tariff, part of a limited pilot scheme, or a simple install where a grant happens to cover the lot. Most offers advertised as free are paid for elsewhere, so read the terms before signing.
- What grant can I get in the UK?
- The EV chargepoint grant gives up to £350 toward a home charge point for people in rented homes and flats, with a separate scheme for landlords. Homeowners with a private driveway largely no longer qualify. The grant is claimed through an OZEV-authorised installer rather than by you.
- Is there still a wallbox subsidy in Germany?
- The national KfW 440 programme has ended. What remains is a changing patchwork of regional, city and Stadtwerke schemes, plus the odd tariff-linked discount. Availability depends heavily on where you live, so check your Bundesland and local utility before buying.
- How does it work in the Netherlands?
- There's no national grant, but many gemeenten subsidise part of a home installation, and almost all will place a public kerbside laadpaal on resident request. For street-parkers and flat-dwellers, a charger you don't pay to install or maintain is the closest thing to free — you just pay for the power.