A good installer surveys before a fixed price: board, earthing, route, signal, bay and consent. Some do that free and recover the time in the job. Some charge a survey fee that is credited if you proceed. A large non-refundable deposit before anyone has opened the consumer unit is a poor trade. You are paying for a design, not reserving a mystery van.
The price effect of eV charger survey fees and deposits
A survey fee of a modest amount can be good value if the person is competent. A 50 per cent deposit to a marketplace seller with no survey is how unsuitable chargers get posted through the letterbox.
A miss that shows up later: eV charger survey fees and deposits
The mistake is a 'today only' discount that expires before the network operator has answered a looped-supply question.
Write eV charger survey fees and deposits into the quote
Write the payment stages next to the deliverable at each stage.
EV charger survey fees and deposits
Ask what the survey includes, whether you get the notes if you do not proceed, and whether the fee is deducted from the install.
- Survey before a fixed price
- Credit the fee if you proceed, or say you will not
- Do not pay everything up front
- Stages should match certificates
Check eV charger survey fees and deposits before you accept a price
Do not pay the full hardware cost up front to a business you have not checked. Stage the money: survey, then a deposit against a written scope, then the balance after certificate and a working charge.
Frequently asked questions
Should a survey be free?
It does not have to be. It should be explained. Free surveys that are only a sales visit are worth what you learned.
What if they find a board change?
The price should be allowed to change for a new fact. The mechanism for that belongs in the quote.
Is a card deposit protected?
Use a traceable method. A bank transfer to a personal account is a last resort you can refuse.
Can I use my own survey photos?
They help a desktop budget. They do not replace someone taking responsibility for the design.
Core buying guides
Start with these high-intent guides, then dig into the rest of the library.
Related guides
Sources and further reading
How this guide was prepared
This guide was written by the Local EV Installers Editorial Team. We compare official guidance, legislation and established consumer information, separate general information from project-specific advice, and show publication dates and sources. We do not accept installer accreditation claims at face value.