Many straightforward UK home chargers are connected under a notify process rather than a long application. The installer assesses the supply and informs the network operator. That is not the same as waiting months for a bespoke design. Delays appear when the service is looped, the fuse is small, the cable in the street is tight, or someone has asked for three-phase or a large commercial load. Those jobs take as long as that operator's current queue, which is regional and changes. Nobody honest can promise you a national number of days.
A miss that shows up later: how long DNO approval takes for an EV charger
The mistake is starting a G99 form for a plain charger and then blaming the DNO for the confusion.
Write how long DNO approval takes for an EV charger into the quote
Get the path and, if there is a reference number, the number, in writing.
How long DNO approval takes for an EV charger
Ask the installer which path your job is on: notify, or apply and wait. Ask the operator for their current lead time if you are in the second group.
- Simple jobs are often a notification
- Loops, fuses and extra phases take longer
- Lead times are regional
- Ask which path you are on
Check how long DNO approval takes for an EV charger before you accept a price
Do not book a holiday around a guessed connection date. Do not buy a 22 kW charger while a single-phase notify job would have finished.
The price effect of how long DNO approval takes for an EV charger
The cost of a delay is diary and hire cars, not usually a fee to 'expedite' via the installer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I charge while I wait?
Only if the installer has connected you lawfully. Do not use a granny lead as a protest.
Does chasing help?
A polite request for the queue position helps. Daily emails do not build a cable.
Will a different installer be faster?
They cannot jump a network queue. They can avoid putting you in the wrong queue.
What should I budget for time?
A simple notify install can still be a single visit once surveyed. An upgrade can be weeks or longer. Get the local answer.
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.