Can I Take My EV Charger When I Move?

Moving your electric car charger

As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly popular in the UK, a growing number of households are deciding to make the switch to electric driving. Many EV drivers will install a home charger to benefit from the convenience and low cost of domestic charging. But what happens to your EV charger when you move?

The purchase and installation of a charger, even a basic model, will set you back hundreds of pounds. It’s an investment in your EV ownership, so you may be thinking about what you should do when the time comes to move. We’ll find out if it’s technically and logistically possible to take a chargepoint with you when you pack up and move to a new home.

Can you move an electric car charger?

The short answer is yes, it is in most cases physically possible to move a home charger to another home or spot on the same property. However, relocating isn’t always a straightforward process that is worth the time or cost.

For starters, modern regulations mandate that every EV charger sold must be ‘smart’, meaning it must include the ability to schedule a charge. So if you have an older charger that doesn’t have smart features, you can still move it, but you might be better off upgrading to a more modern home charger.

From a technical standpoint, cables will have to be left behind and new cabling will need to be installed in the home you’re moving to. If the current state of the property requires groundwork like digging a trench for cables, this will add extra time and another cost.

You’ll also likely have to pay a fee for relocating your EV charger when moving house. In some instances, this can cost as much as, or even more than, the original home charger purchase and installation. So, it could be worth leaving your charger behind and installing a new one at the home you’re moving to, especially as a chargepoint could add value to your new home.

There is also the warranty to bear in mind. Depending on the provider, your warranty could become void if you relocate it, or don’t follow their procedure.

Logistically, you will also need to time the move of your EV charger right. If you have a short window between moving out and moving into a new property, it may be challenging to arrange for an installer to relocate the chargepoint.

Tips for moving your EV charger

If you’re considering moving your EV charger to a new house, here are some practical tips to make the transition smoother:

• Check your warranty first - The warranty on a Pod Point home charger will be void if it’s relocated by an external electrician without Pod Point’s certification. This may be the same for other providers, so be sure to check this first before doing anything else.

• Consult with an expert – A qualified electrician will be able to evaluate how feasible it is to move an EV charger from one to another property. It’s important the existing wiring and fusebox are inspected to ensure moving the chargepoint is safe or to identify required work.

• Assess the cost – In some cases, the cost of moving an EV charger to a different home will be the same or more than a new charger. You can relocate your Solo charger by booking a certified electrician through us.

• Consider the value increase – If you’re selling your home, a chargepoint can increase the list price. Instead of moving your charger, you could use the higher selling price to buy and install a newer and potentially more modern charger once you’ve moved.

• Check local authority rules – You normally wouldn’t need permission to install an electric car charger. However, there are some exceptions like listed buildings or houses with on-street parking only, so it’s worth contacting the local authority to ensure you comply with the rules.