You’ve decided to install an EV charger at home, you’ve chosen your unit, and you’ve received your quote. Now you’re probably wondering: how long will this actually take? Will you need to take a day off work? Can you use your car in the evening? What exactly happens during the installation?
Understanding the timeline and process helps you plan accordingly, set realistic expectations, and ensure you’re available when needed. While every installation is slightly different depending on your property’s specifics, there’s a fairly predictable pattern to how the process unfolds.
This guide walks you through each stage of the installation, from the initial survey to plugging in your car for the first time, so you know exactly what to expect and when.
The Quick Answer
For a straightforward installation in a typical UK home, the actual installation work takes 3-5 hours from arrival to completion. However, the entire process from first contact to charging your car typically spans 1-3 weeks when you factor in surveys, quotes, scheduling, and any necessary notifications to your Distribution Network Operator.
In more complex situations—properties requiring electrical upgrades, long cable runs, or difficult access—installation might take a full day, and the overall timeline could extend to 3-4 weeks.
Let’s break down what happens at each stage.
Stage 1: Initial Contact and Survey (Week 1)
Making Contact: Same Day
When you first reach out to an installer, you’ll typically receive a response within a few hours to one business day. Good installers will ask some basic questions over the phone or email:
- What type of EV do you drive?
- Where do you park (driveway, garage, street)?
- What’s your typical daily mileage?
- Do you have any preference for charger type or brand?
This initial conversation takes 10-15 minutes and helps the installer prepare for the survey.
Site Survey: 1-7 Days to Schedule
Most installers can schedule a site survey within a few days to a week of your initial contact, depending on their workload and your availability. Some installers offer same-day or next-day surveys if you’re in their local area and they have availability.
The survey itself takes 30-60 minutes depending on your property’s complexity. During this visit, the installer will:
Assess your parking arrangements—they’ll look at where you park, measure distances, and identify the best location for mounting the charger.
Examine your consumer unit (fuse box)—they’ll check its age, condition, available space for additional circuits, and whether it meets current regulations.
Trace the cable route—they’ll work out the most practical path from your consumer unit to the charger location, identifying any obstacles or complications.
Check your electrical supply—they’ll verify whether you have single-phase or three-phase power and assess your supply capacity.
Discuss your requirements—they’ll ask about your charging habits, budget, and any specific features you want.
You don’t need to take time off work for the survey unless you specifically want to be present. Many installers are happy to conduct surveys when you’re not home, as long as they can access the relevant areas (garage, driveway, consumer unit).
Quote Provision: Same Day to 48 Hours
Most professional installers provide a detailed written quote within 24-48 hours of the survey. This quote should include:
- The specific charger model and price
- Installation costs broken down by labour and materials
- Any additional work needed (consumer unit upgrades, earthing improvements, etc.)
- Total cost with no hidden extras
- Warranty information
- Expected timeframe for installation
If you receive a vague quote without specific details or broken-down costs, that’s a red flag. A professional installer will be completely transparent about what you’re paying for.
Stage 2: DNO Notification (3-10 Days)
Once you accept the quote, your installer must notify your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) before installation can proceed. This is a legal requirement for chargers over 3.5kW (which includes all 7kW home chargers).
What Is DNO Notification?
The DNO is the company that owns and operates the local electricity distribution network in your area (companies like UK Power Networks, Scottish Power Energy Networks, or Northern Powergrid). They need to know about significant new electrical loads like EV chargers so they can manage the local network capacity.
This isn’t asking for permission—it’s a notification process. The DNO needs to acknowledge that they’re aware of the installation, but they rarely refuse or delay.
How Long Does It Take?
The official process allows DNOs up to 28 days to respond, but in practice, most respond within 3-7 days, and many respond within 24-48 hours. Some DNOs have automated systems that provide instant acknowledgment for straightforward installations.
Your installer handles this entire process—you don’t need to do anything. However, this is often the longest wait in the overall timeline, which is why the gap between accepting a quote and installation day can be 1-2 weeks even when installers have immediate availability.
Can You Speed This Up?
Not really. The DNO notification is required by law and there’s no way to bypass it. Some installers have better relationships with local DNOs and can expedite the process slightly, but you’re generally looking at several days minimum.
The good news is that this happens in the background while you carry on with your daily life—it doesn’t require any input or availability from you.
Stage 3: Scheduling Installation (Week 2-3)
Once DNO notification is confirmed and the installer has availability, you’ll schedule the actual installation date. Lead times vary depending on:
Time of year—spring and summer are busier for installers as people think about home improvements. Winter months often have shorter wait times.
Installer workload—popular installers might be booked 2-3 weeks ahead, while others have availability within days.
Your flexibility—if you can accommodate midweek appointments, you’ll typically get scheduled sooner than if you need weekend installations.
Most installers will give you a morning (8am-12pm) or afternoon (12pm-5pm) arrival window, with a call 30 minutes before arrival.
Stage 4: Installation Day (3-8 Hours)
This is when the actual work happens. Here’s what to expect from start to finish.
Arrival and Setup (15-30 Minutes)
The installation team (usually 1-2 qualified electricians) will arrive with all necessary equipment, tools, and your charger. They’ll:
- Introduce themselves and confirm the installation plan
- Set up protective covers for flooring if working inside
- Review the cable route and charger location with you
- Answer any last-minute questions
Electrical Work: Running the Cable (1-3 Hours)
This is typically the longest part of the installation. The electricians will install a new dedicated circuit from your consumer unit to the charger location.
For straightforward installations (charger location near consumer unit, clear cable route through garage or loft):
- Run the cable through existing conduits, loft space, or along walls
- Install any necessary cable protection or trunking
- This takes 1-2 hours
For more complex installations (longer distances, multiple obstacles, exterior wall drilling):
- May require drilling through exterior walls
- Running cable underground across gardens or driveways
- Installing extensive protective conduit for exposed cable runs
- This can take 3-4 hours
The electricians will do their best to make cable runs as neat and unobtrusive as possible, but there’s always a practical element to electrical work—cables need to go somewhere, and complete invisibility isn’t always possible.
Consumer Unit Work (30-60 Minutes)
The electricians will install:
- A new circuit breaker or RCBO (Residual Current Breaker with Overcurrent) for the charger circuit
- Appropriate surge protection if not already present
- Verification that earthing arrangements are adequate
If your consumer unit is older or doesn’t have spare capacity, this stage might take longer and could involve replacing the entire consumer unit (which your quote should have already included).
Mounting the Charger (30-45 Minutes)
Once the cable is in place, the charger unit is mounted to the wall:
- Mark and drill mounting holes
- Secure the backplate firmly to the wall
- Connect the cable to the charger terminals
- Attach the charger unit to the backplate
- Ensure the unit is level and securely fixed
This is relatively quick for experienced installers. The charger needs to be at an appropriate height (typically 1.2-1.5 metres from ground level) and positioned for convenient cable reach to your car’s charging port.
Testing and Commissioning (30-45 Minutes)
Before they leave, the electricians will thoroughly test everything:
Electrical testing: Verify all connections are secure, test earth continuity, measure insulation resistance, and confirm the circuit breaker operates correctly.
Functional testing: Power up the charger, test charging with your vehicle if available, and verify all indicators and controls work properly.
WiFi setup (for smart chargers): Connect the charger to your home WiFi network and verify connectivity.
App setup (for smart chargers): Download the app if you haven’t already, create your account, and pair the charger with your phone.
This stage is crucial—you don’t want the installers to leave before confirming everything works perfectly.
Demonstration and Documentation (15-30 Minutes)
Before leaving, good installers will:
- Demonstrate how to use your charger
- Show you how to start and stop charging
- Explain any LED indicators or display functions
- Walk through the app features (for smart chargers)
- Provide all documentation including:
- Electrical Installation Certificate (proving compliance with BS 7671)
- User manual for your charger
- Warranty information
- DNO notification confirmation
- Installer contact details for future support
Don’t hesitate to ask questions at this stage. It’s much easier to clarify something now than to figure it out later when you’re alone.
Total Installation Time: Typical Scenarios
Simple installation (charger in attached garage next to consumer unit):
- 3-4 hours total
- Minimal disruption
Standard installation (charger on exterior wall, 10-15m from consumer unit):
- 4-5 hours total
- Most common scenario
Complex installation (detached garage 25m from house, old consumer unit requiring upgrade):
- 6-8 hours total
- Full day presence recommended
Very complex installation (buried cable across large garden, full consumer unit replacement, multiple obstacles):
- 8+ hours, possibly split across two days
- Rare, but possible for unusual properties
What You Need to Do on Installation Day
Be available for access—someone needs to be home to let the installers in and provide access to the consumer unit, garage, loft, or wherever they need to work.
Move your car—park your EV nearby but out of the way of the installation area. If the installers want to test charging, you’ll need your car available at the end.
Provide WiFi details—if you’re installing a smart charger, have your WiFi network name and password ready.
Clear the work area—move any items that might obstruct the installation route or charger location.
Ask questions—if you’re unsure about anything, ask during the installation. Good installers are happy to explain as they work.
You don’t need to supervise constantly—the installers will get on with the work and will call you if they need anything or when they’re ready for final testing and demonstration.
What Happens After Installation?
Immediate use—you can start charging right away. Most people plug in that evening and enjoy their first overnight home charging session.
Registration—register your charger’s warranty if the installer hasn’t already done so on your behalf.
Tariff optimization—if you haven’t already, consider switching to an EV-friendly electricity tariff to maximize savings.
Documentation storage—keep your electrical certificates safe. You’ll need them if you sell your property or make future electrical modifications.
Feedback—reputable installers appreciate reviews and feedback, particularly if the installation went smoothly.
Common Delays and How to Avoid Them
DNO Notification Delays
Cause: Busy periods, incomplete information, or slow DNO response.
Solution: Work with experienced installers who know the process and have good DNO relationships.
Part Shortages
Cause: Specific charger models out of stock.
Solution: Ask about availability when accepting the quote. Be flexible on exact model if necessary.
Weather Delays
Cause: Heavy rain or extreme weather during installations involving outdoor work.
Solution: Build some flexibility into your schedule, particularly for winter installations.
Unexpected Electrical Issues
Cause: Survey identifies issues but more problems emerge during installation.
Solution: Choose experienced installers who conduct thorough surveys. Good surveys minimize surprises.
Access Problems
Cause: You’re not available, or access to required areas is blocked.
Solution: Confirm your availability and ensure clear access before installation day.
Can You Speed Up the Overall Process?
Choose installers with immediate availability—some installers are booked weeks ahead, others have capacity within days.
Be flexible with scheduling—accepting the first available slot rather than insisting on specific dates speeds things up.
Have a straightforward installation—properties with simple cable routes and modern electrical systems install faster.
Make quick decisions—promptly accepting quotes and providing necessary information keeps things moving.
However, you can’t rush the DNO notification process, which is typically the longest single wait in the timeline.
The Bottom Line
From first contact to charging your car, expect 1-3 weeks for a typical installation, with the actual installation work taking 3-5 hours on the day. More complex installations might extend the timeline to 3-4 weeks and require a full day’s work.
The process is straightforward and minimally disruptive. Your installer handles all the administrative requirements, you need to be home only on installation day, and you can typically charge your car that same evening.
The wait might feel frustrating when you’re eager to start enjoying home charging, but proper surveys, DNO notifications, and careful installation work ensure everything is done safely and correctly—protecting both you and your investment for years to come.
Ready to get started with your EV charger installation? Local EV provides free surveys with detailed quotes, handles all DNO notifications, and completes most installations within 3-5 hours. We’ll give you a clear timeline from survey to completion so you know exactly when you’ll be charging at home. Get in touch today to schedule your free survey and receive your detailed quote within 48 hours.