Where can I charge my electric car for free?
July 25, 2025 by Siobhan Doyle
Learn how to easily find free EV charging points across the UK, keep your electric car powered, and save money with this handy guide.
As electric cars become an increasingly common sight on UK roads, one question is top of mind for many drivers: where can I charge for free?
With EVs now accounting for more than 20% of new car registrations, free charging has become a hot topic 鈥 but it鈥檚 also a shrinking perk.
The UK boasts over 82,000 public EV charging devices. However, as of May 2025, only 1,837 are free to use, according to Zapmap. This marks a significant decline from previous years, highlighting the growing scarcity of free charging options.
In this guide, we鈥檒l explore the current landscape of free EV charging in the UK, identify where these rare stations are located, and share tips to help you find them with ease.
Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on 莲花直播. And you can also sell your car, too. We鈥檙e here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.
Where are the most free EV charging points?
The availability of free EV chargers varies significantly across different regions. The areas with the highest number of free chargers are in the South East (249), Greater London (214), and Scotland (196).
However, it鈥檚 important to note a few key trends. For instance, Greater London鈥檚 214 free chargers make up just 1% of its total charging devices, highlighting the city鈥檚 heavy reliance on paid on-street chargers and rapid charging stations.
Here are the number of free chargers by area, according to Zapmap:
| Area | # of free chargers |
|---|---|
| South East | 249 |
| Greater London | 214 |
| Scotland | 196 |
| East of England | 163 |
| North WestSouth West | 157 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 157 |
| West Midlands | 149 |
| North West | 135 |
| Channel Islands | 124 |
| Wales | 118 |
| East Midlands | 77 |
| North East | 67 |
| Northern Ireland | 18 |
| Isle of Man | 5 |
Where you鈥檙e most likely to find free chargers
Accommodation sites 鈥 including hotels and B&Bs 鈥 host the highest number of free EV charging devices, with 352 available across the UK, according to Zapmap data from May 2025. You鈥檒l also find 318 free chargers at car dealership forecourts, though access is often limited to customers or restricted to business hours, and 252 at car parks nationwide.
Here are some of the other types of places you鈥檒l find the highest number of free chargers:
- Tourist attractions such as museums, garden centres, theatres, zoos, and National Trust sites often provide complimentary charging for visitors. These include places such as Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire.
- Many hotels and B&Bs offer free Type 2 EV charging for overnight guests, typically with guest-only access and possible advance booking required.
- Some universities and colleges offer free EV charging to students, staff, and sometimes even visitors.
- There are over 140 free EV charging points available across 23 UK national parks, and some of these are powered by solar energy.
Do UK supermarkets still offer free EV charging?
Supermarkets have scaled back free charging, but some exceptions remain:
| Supermarket | Free charging? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tesco | 鉂 | Partnered with Pod Point & VW; most sites now charge per kWh, typically around 44p. |
| 厂补颈苍蝉产耻谤测鈥檚 | 鉂 | Launched an ultra-rapid charging network; pricing around 75p per kWh. |
| Aldi | 聽鈿狅笍 Mixed | Some stores still offer free charging (usually slow ~7鈥痥W, often time鈥憀imited), but many now charge between 30鈥60p/kWh based on provider (Pod Point, Shell, etc.). |
| Asda | 聽鈿狅笍 Very limited | Extremely few free chargers remain, and are mostly restricted to a handful of stores (particularly in West Yorkshire). Most sites charge ~65p-79p/kWh. |
| Lidl & Co-op | 鉂 | Typically charge between 29p and 59p per kWh, depending on charger speed. |
| Morrisons | 鉂 | Uses the GeniePoint network, which charges per kWh (usually ~49p鈥59p). |
Pro tip: Always check your charging app or the location鈥檚 EV policy before setting off.
Types of free EV chargers you鈥檒l find
So, you鈥檝e found a free charging point 鈥 great! But how fast will it actually charge your car? The answer, unfortunately, is often: not very fast.
Most free chargers in the UK are 鈥渟low鈥 chargers, offering under 8kW. 1,254 of them make up over 66% of the free charging network, Zapmap says. These chargers, usually found at hotels, residential streets, and car parks, can take 6 to 12 hours for a full charge 鈥 ideal for overnight stops, but not for quick top-ups.
If you鈥檙e looking for something with a little more oomph, fast chargers (8-22kW) can recharge your car in 1 to 6 hours. While some of these are still free, they鈥檙e becoming increasingly rare. Note also that not all electric cars can utilise fast chargers.
But the real prize is free rapid chargers (50-90kW), which can charge your EV to 80% in just 30 to 40 minutes. But don鈥檛 get too excited 鈥 only 85 exist across the UK, and most are tucked away at dealerships with restricted access.
Do all free electric car chargers have access restrictions?
Yes, some free EV chargers come with strings attached 鈥 and it鈥檚 important to know before you go. Many are restricted to certain users, such as customers of a shop or hotel, and you may need an RFID card or app to activate.
And while the charging itself might be free, parking often isn鈥檛 鈥 so keep an eye out for potential fees.
How to find free EV charging points near you
There are many dedicated apps and tools to help you find free EV charging points. These include:
- Zapmap: The UK鈥檚 most popular EV charging map. Use the filter to select 鈥榝ree to use鈥 chargers and view live availability.
- PlugShare: Offers user reviews, access info, and lets you search specifically for free public chargers.
- ChargeFinder: Shows charging speed, cost, and availability in real time, with filters for free chargers.
莲花直播 also has an interactive map that shows your nearest EV charging stations. It provides details such as the number of bays, charger types, usage restrictions, and average charging costs.
Is free EV charging still worth it?
Free EV charging still exists in 2025 鈥 but it鈥檚 now more of a bonus than a given. For long-term savings, your best bet is to combine free public charging with efficient home charging 鈥 especially if you鈥檙e harnessing solar power.
As the public charging network grows smarter and faster, convenience and speed are increasingly trumping the lure of 鈥榝ree.鈥 Still, with a bit of planning and the right tools, there are plenty of ways to keep your EV running without draining your wallet.
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