With many Brits still reluctant to adopt zero-emission vehicles, drivers are being told of the grants that could help them make the transition to electric vehicles.

Car insurance comparison experts Tiger.co.uk have revealed the government grants available to motorists hesitant about switching to electric vehicles.

This comes after a survey revealed that 90% of Brits don’t believe the UK is ready for EV adoption.

As of January 2025, there are fewer than 1.4 million fully electric cars in the UK – just 4.09% of all vehicles on the road** – further highlighting the reluctance among many motorists to embrace electric cars.

Public opinion reflects this hesitation, with 79% of survey respondents agreeing that the 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales is too soon.

Over half of those surveyed (54%) believe the government should offer more grants and incentives to boost EV sales – yet many drivers remain unaware of the support already available.

Government grants were introduced to help individuals, businesses, and local councils increase the number of EVs on the road by making them more affordable and accessible.

One of the grants, the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant (EVCG), was launched in April 2022 to provide funding for installing EV chargepoints in domestic properties. It is available to residential landlords, flat-owner occupiers, people living in rented properties, and residential car park owners.

Since its introduction, the EVCG has provided over £5m worth of funding across the UK.

Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant (EVCG). Charging sockets installed and total grant value between car park grants, flats and renter grants and landlord grants:

Region
Total Sockets Installed
Total Grant Value
London
1,610
£1,812,989
South East
1,285
£813,190
South West
848
£905,504
North West
795
£435,485
East of England
615
£398,223
Yorkshire and The Humber
591
£253,986
East Midlands
544
£229,182
West Midlands
535
£291,229
Scotland
401
£452,069
Wales
206
£104,623
North East
187
£87,462
Northern Ireland
63
£55,153
Unknown (a small amount of grants could not be attributed to a region)
58
£38,850
Total
7,738
£5,877,944

As of 1 July 2024

The motoring experts at Tiger.co.uk are urging eligible drivers to apply for this grant while they still can, as the EVCG closes applications on March 31, 2025.

Despite the investment in residential charging points, drivers are still hesitant. A huge 48% of those surveyed said they would be willing to make the switch if installing EV charging points were free.

It is clear concerns about cost and the availability of charging stations are among the top reasons people remain hesitant to buy an EV.

Ian Wilson, Managing Director and car insurance expert at Tiger.co.uk said: “With most people looking at cost when it comes to the purchase of an EV, the government grants are ideal incentives to encourage people to make the change.

“Although choosing to go green can be expensive, we wanted to share some of the EV grants put in place by the government in order to show drivers what is being done in the lead up to the 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles.

“There are also incentives in place for those already driving electric vehicles. The EVCG has provided funding for nearly 8,000 charging sockets, 1,610 sockets in London and 1,285 sockets in the South East – over £5million worth of funding support. The grant could not only incentivise petrol and diesel drivers to make the switch, but also provide at-home chargers for current EV drivers.

“If you drive a fully electric car and are a landlord, residential car park owner or renter or flat owner, you have just over a month to take advantage of the EVCG scheme, with applications closing on March 31, 2025.

“Other grants available to motorists include the LEVI fund and the Workplace Charging Scheme.

“This may help drivers weigh up their options and think more about whether making the big switch to electric is a good decision for them.”

Here are some of the grants currently available to help incentivise EV drivers:

Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant (EVCG)

This grant is designed to help both renters and homeowners install an EV chargepoint at home. It can cover up to 75% of the total cost of installation, helping to reduce the financial burden. The grant aims to make it more affordable for homeowners transitioning to greener, electric transportation. Whether you rent or own your home, this initiative supports making EV charging more accessible and can be broken down into three categories:

EVCGs for residential landlords: Grants of up to £350 per socket for existing properties the applicant owns but does not live in.

ECCGs for residential car parks: Grants of up to £30,000 off the costs of infrastructure needed to install chargepoints in residential car parks.

EVCGs for flat-owner occupiers: Grants of up to £350 for electric vehicle drivers who rent any residential property.

LEVI Fund

This grant supports local councils to install EV charging docks in areas where off street parking is not available. It provides both capital funding, which covers the costs of purchasing and installing the chargepoints, and capability funding, which helps build the necessary skills, resources and planning to manage and maintain the docks effectively. Designed to improve access to EV charging for residents in urban areas, on street parking zones, and other locations where private driveways are not an option. This funding aims to increase the availability of EV charging, and support communities transitioning to more sustainable transport options.

Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS)

This scheme provides vouchers that help assist companies with the installation of EV charging stations. The vouchers can cover a significant portion of the installation costs, helping companies and public sector organisations to install EV charging infrastructure more affordably.