OZEV grants, explained for NI
EV charger grant Northern Ireland: every scheme in 2026
The EV chargepoint grant in Northern Ireland is worth 75% of the cost to buy and install a chargepoint socket, capped at £500 per socket, and that cap has applied since 1 April 2026. What it does not do is cover everyone: there is no single "home charger grant" any more, so whether you can claim depends on your property. This page lays out every OZEV scheme that applies in Northern Ireland, who qualifies, how much you get and how to claim. Funding is confirmed to 31 March 2027.
If you see a £350 cap quoted elsewhere, that was the previous figure. It ended on 31 March 2026, and the cap has been £500 per socket since.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
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Find the scheme that fits your property
Most NI schemes pay 75% off, up to £500 per socket. Pick the description that matches you: the renters and flat owners grant, the landlord chargepoint grant, the on-street cross-pavement grant and the Workplace Charging Scheme each have a full page setting out the conditions and the exact steps to claim.
Renters & flat owners
Grant availableYou rent your home or own a flat or apartment with dedicated off-street parking.
75% off, up to £500
Renters and flat owners grantResidential landlords
Grant availableYou let residential property to tenants and want to add chargers for them.
75% up to £500 per socket, up to 200 sockets a year
Landlord chargepoint grantOn-street (no off-street parking)
Grant availableYou park on the street and need a cross-pavement charging solution.
75% off, up to £500
On-street chargepoint grantWorkplace Charging Scheme
Grant availableYou run a business, charity, public-sector body or small accommodation business.
75% up to £500 per socket, up to 40 sockets
Workplace Charging Scheme detailsHomeowners with a driveway
Not eligibleYou own your home and have a private driveway. The old EVHS grant was withdrawn for this group.
No grant, but EV tariffs still save you money
See costs and tariff savingsWho can claim in Northern Ireland: the key facts
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
One rule catches most people out. The sourced facts, plainly.
- Homeowners with a private driveway in Northern Ireland are not eligible for an EV chargepoint grant.
- The old home grant was withdrawn for owner-occupiers with private off-street parking. Sources: gov.uk and Infrastructure NI.
- Grants do exist for flat owners, renters, on-street households, landlords and businesses.
- Each of these can claim under an OZEV scheme. If one of them is you, the cards above link straight to your exact scheme and how to claim.
- The grant is worth 75% of the cost to buy and install a socket, capped at £500 per socket.
- The per-socket cap rose from £350 to £500 on 1 April 2026 (for installations completed on or after that date), so the £350 figure still quoted in plenty of places is the old one and has not applied since 31 March 2026. State-funded schools and colleges can claim up to £2,000 per socket. Funding is confirmed to 31 March 2027. Sources: gov.uk and Find a Grant.
- An OZEV-authorised installer claims the grant for you and deducts it from the bill.
- You never fill in a government form and a DIY fit cannot be funded. Every installer we match you with is registered.
The OZEV schemes side by side
Every NI scheme pays the same headline rate. What changes is who qualifies and how many sockets you can fund.
| Scheme | Rate | Cap | Socket limit | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renters & flat owners | 75% | £500 per socket | 1 socket per applicant | Renters (with landlord permission) and flat owners with off-street parking |
| Residential landlords | 75% | £500 per socket | Up to 200 sockets a year | Companies House or VAT-registered landlords |
| On-street | 75% | £500 per socket | 1 socket per applicant | Homes with no off-street parking, using a cross-pavement solution |
| Workplace (WCS) | 75% | £500 per socket (£2,000 for state-funded schools) | Up to 40 sockets across all sites | Businesses, charities, public sector, small accommodation businesses |
The £500 per-socket cap has applied since 1 April 2026 and figures are valid to 31 March 2027. Confirm current eligibility on the OZEV / Infrastructure NI guidance before you apply.
Myth vs reality
Is EV charger installation ever "free"?
You'll see "free EV charger" and "free installation" ads. In Northern Ireland, almost none of them mean free the way you'd hope. Here's what those claims usually translate to, and what the grant actually does.
What "free" usually means
- The grant applied for you. "Free" often just means the OZEV grant (75%, up to £500) has been deducted. It's a discount, not a zero bill, and only if you qualify.
- A charger bundled with a tariff. Some energy suppliers offer a "free" or heavily subsidised charger if you sign a fixed-term electricity contract. You pay for it through the tariff.
- Hardware free, install charged. The unit is thrown in, but the labour, cable and any board work (the bulk of the cost in NI) are still billed.
- Standard install only. "Free fitting" typically covers a short cable run to a modern board. Anything beyond that is extra.
What's actually true in NI
- There is no fully free home charger scheme. The OZEV Chargepoint Grant is the only public money, and it's a partial 75% / £500 grant, not a giveaway.
- Homeowners with a driveway get no grant at all. The old EVHS grant was withdrawn for them, so "free" claims aimed at that group are especially misleading.
- The NIE Networks notification is legally required and part of a proper job. A quote that's "free" by skipping registered work isn't a bargain, it's a risk.
- A typical 7kW charger is £800 to £1,500 fitted in NI, before any grant. That's the honest anchor to judge every "free" offer against.
Bottom line: treat "free" as "discounted, check the conditions". The genuine saving is the grant if you're eligible, plus a cheap overnight EV tariff. Our cost guide sets out what you pay after the grant on a typical NI install, which is the number to judge every "free" offer against, or you can get 3 quotes with your grant checked first.
How the grant actually reaches you
You never fill in a government form or wait for a cheque. The grant is handled by the installer and taken straight off your invoice.
- 01
You confirm you qualify
Your property type decides the scheme. Renters also need written landlord permission; landlords and businesses need to be registered.
- 02
An OZEV-authorised installer applies
The installer submits the grant claim on your behalf. Only registered installers can do this, which is why a DIY fit can't be funded.
- 03
It's deducted from your bill
You pay the reduced price, up to £500 lower per socket. The grant cannot be backdated onto a charger that's already installed.
The Northern Ireland rule everyone forgets
Every new home charger in NI must be notified to NIE Networks. It's a legal requirement, separate from the grant, and it's how the network keeps the local supply safe.
A registered installer handles that notification as part of the job, so you don't have to contact NIE Networks yourself. It's one more reason a grant-claim and a clean install go hand in hand.
How NIE Networks notification worksEV charger grants in NI: common questions
Are EV charger grants still available in Northern Ireland?
Yes. The OZEV Chargepoint Grant schemes are funded to at least 31 March 2027. Renters, flat owners, on-street households, landlords and workplaces can still claim. Always confirm the current rules on the OZEV / Infrastructure NI pages before you apply, as eligibility can change.
How much is the EV charger grant worth?
Most OZEV schemes pay 75% of the combined cost to buy and install a chargepoint socket, capped at £500 per socket. That cap rose from £350 to £500 on 1 April 2026, for installations completed on or after that date, so the £350 figure quoted on many older pages no longer applies. State-funded schools and colleges can claim up to £2,000 per socket under the Workplace Charging Scheme.
Can homeowners with a driveway get a grant?
No. The original Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme was withdrawn for homeowners with private off-street parking. If that's you, the saving comes from a cheap overnight EV tariff rather than a grant. We'll still get you 3 competitive installation quotes.
Can I get a free EV charger installation in Northern Ireland?
Not really. There is no scheme that fits a home charger for free in NI. "Free" ads usually mean the OZEV grant (75%, up to £500) has been deducted, or a charger is bundled into a fixed electricity tariff you pay for over time. Homeowners with a driveway get no grant at all. A standard 7kW charger is typically £800 to £1,500 fitted before any grant, so judge every "free" offer against that.
Do I claim the grant myself?
No. An OZEV-authorised installer applies for the grant and deducts it from your bill, so you pay the reduced price. That's another reason to use a registered installer, and every installer we match you with is registered.
Does the grant cover the NIE Networks notification?
The grant covers the chargepoint and its installation. A registered installer notifies NIE Networks of your new charger as standard, which is a legal requirement in Northern Ireland, and builds that into the job.
Not sure which grant you can claim?
Tell us your property type and we'll confirm the scheme and get you 3 free quotes from vetted NI installers. The grant comes off the price.
Free · No obligation · Takes about 60 seconds