How Long Does Car Charger Installation Take? Weeks, Hours

Stage by stage

Stage	How long	Good to know
Quotes and choosing an electrician	1 to 2 weeks	Faster with photos of the board and the parking spot
Grant application to Letter of Offer	5 to 10 working days	No work before the offer's start date
Booking and fitting	2 to 4 hours on site	A full day with a trench or board work
Claim	Days	Certificate Number 3, Test Record Sheet, invoices, photos, Payment Request Form
SEAI pays	4 to 6 weeks	From the day SEAI has every document

The deadline that matters: 6 months from the date of the Letter of Offer to finish the work and send a valid claim.

Match a charger to your car and your house

Four quick taps. Your plan builds up as you go: the charger that suits your car, the price range for your house, the grant and the time on site. Your number is only asked for at the end, if you want a fixed price.

A fully electric car, a charger on the house wall a few metres from a newer fuse board: €1,000 to €1,500 fitted, €700 to €1,200 after the €300 SEAI grant, including VAT.

How this is worked out

We start from what a 7 kW smart charger costs fitted in Ireland, including VAT, with a standard fit: the charger, its own circuit from the fuse board and up to 5 metres of cable. A solar-aware charger costs more. Then we add what installers charge for a longer cable run, a trench to a garage or post, and fuse board work on an older board. The SEAI home charger grant comes off the charger and fitting, never off the board or earthing work. It is an estimate to plan with, never a quote: the electrician prices your house after looking at it.

What slows it down

Board work. A new fuse board or meter tails can add 2 to 3 weeks if it's done as a separate job.
A trench. Digging to a garage or post needs dry-ish weather and a full day.
Apartments. The management company's agreement comes before anything else.
A missing document. SEAI's 4 to 6 weeks only start when it has everything.

Home Car Charger Installation guides & price breakdowns

Straight answers to what people ask most: itemised costs, specifications, planning or grants, and what to check before you book.

Cost & Pricing GuideCar charger installation cost in IrelandWhat a home car charger costs fitted in Ireland: €1,000 to €1,500 incl. VAT for a 7 kW smart charger, €700 to €1,200 after the €300 grant, and the extras.Read the guide →Grants & RegulationsThe SEAI home charger grant: €300, and how to get itThe SEAI home charger grant: up to €300, who qualifies, off-street parking, the Smart Charger Register, the steps in order and what to send to claim.Read the guide →Grants & RegulationsSix ways to lose the €300 charger grantSix ways to lose the €300 SEAI home charger grant: starting early, the wrong charger or electrician, a second claim, the deadline and a weak claim.Read the guide →Specification GuideFuse board and earthing checks before a charger goes inThe four checks before a home car charger goes in: a spare way, RCDs, earthing and supply. What older boards need, and what the grant won't pay.Read the guide →Specification GuideWhat happens on installation dayWhat happens when a home car charger is fitted: the checks, the cable, the power off, the tests and the certificate. 2 to 4 hours for most.Read the guide →Timeline & PreparationHow long it takes: from the first quote to chargingFrom the first quote to charging at home: 3 to 6 weeks. Grant offer in 5 to 10 working days, 2 to 4 hours on site, SEAI pays in 4 to 6 weeks.Read the guide →

More guides & resources: The certificate and paperwork for a home charger · All guides & calculator hub · Technical & trade glossary · Frequently asked questions

Questions people ask

How long does it take to get a car charger installed?

Allow 3 to 6 weeks from the first quote to a working charger. The SEAI grant usually comes back in 5 to 10 working days, a standard fit takes 2 to 4 hours, and you have 6 months from the Letter of Offer to finish and claim. SEAI pays about 4 to 6 weeks after it has every document.

How long does the SEAI grant take to approve?

Usually 5 to 10 working days from applying to the Letter of Offer.

How long do I have to install after approval?

6 months from the date of the Letter of Offer.

How long until the grant is paid?

Typically 4 to 6 weeks from the day SEAI has every document.

Home Car Charger Installation across all 26 counties

Requests from all 26 counties go to one vetted local specialist who covers your county — from Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick to Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Waterford and Donegal. Pick your county below for local prices, specifications and advice.

How long it takes: from the first quote to charging