Getting a home EV charger installed: what to know first
Why EV charger installation is licensed electrical work, what drives the quote, and the questions to ask before the sparky arrives.
A standard power point will charge an electric car the way a garden hose fills a pool — technically, eventually. A dedicated wall charger, usually a 7 kW unit, does the job overnight properly, and getting one on the wall is a genuine electrical project: a dedicated circuit from your switchboard, safety protection, and a compliance certificate at the end.
That last part is not optional. In Australia, EV charger installation is licensed electrical work, full stop. The good news is that once you understand the two or three things that drive the quote, it's a straightforward job to buy well.
What the installation actually involves
The installer runs a dedicated circuit from your switchboard to the charging location, protected by its own breaker and safety switch, mounts and connects the charger, tests everything and issues a certificate of compliance. Most homes take a single visit; the charger itself can be supplied by the installer or bought separately with the electrician doing install only.
Two site factors decide how big the job is. First, distance: every metre between switchboard and parking spot means more cable, conduit and labour, and brick walls, ceiling spaces and underground runs to carports slow it further. Second, your switchboard: older boards without spare capacity or modern safety switches need an upgrade before they can safely take the load — a separate chunk of work worth knowing about before anyone quotes.
What it tends to cost
Install-only with a short, simple run typically sits in the hundreds. Supply and install of a quality 7 kW charger usually lands in the low thousands, and complex jobs — long runs, three-phase chargers, or a switchboard upgrade in the mix — climb from there. All indicative; the site visit is what turns these into a real number.
Charger choice moves the price too. Basic units cost less than smart chargers with load management and solar integration — though if you have solar panels, a charger that diverts excess solar into the car can pay its premium back over time. Some states and energy retailers offer rebates, so check before booking rather than after.
Checking your installer
This is licensed territory: only a licensed electrician can legally do the work, in every state. Check the licence number before accepting a quote, and confirm you'll receive the certificate of compliance — it matters for insurance and resale, and a legitimate electrician issues it as a matter of course.
Beyond the licence, look for EV-specific experience. Ask which charger brands they've installed, whether they'll assess your switchboard capacity as part of quoting, and how they'd handle load management if your home's supply is tight. An installer who asks for a photo of your switchboard and the parking spot before quoting is showing you exactly the diligence you want.
Mistakes to avoid
Most EV charger regrets are buying decisions, not workmanship problems — the wrong unit, the wrong wall, or a quote that didn't mention the switchboard until the day of install.
- Letting anyone unlicensed touch the job, or skipping the compliance certificate
- Accepting a quote that never assessed your switchboard's capacity
- Buying a charger online before checking it suits your home's single or three-phase supply
- Ignoring solar integration if you have panels — retrofitting smarts later costs more
- Mounting the charger where the cable won't comfortably reach the car's charge port
- Not checking state or retailer rebates before the install is booked
Indicative range only, not a quote — see the full guide for worked scenarios and what moves the price.
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