How Do You Pay for Public EV Charging in the UK?

There are four main ways to pay for public EV charging in the UK: tap a contactless card or phone, use the charging network’s own app, tap an RFID card linked to your account, or use a roaming card such as Octopus Electroverse that works across many networks at once. Since 24 November 2024, the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 require contactless to be accepted on all rapid chargers (50kW and above), so no account or app is ever legally required at those points. Which method you choose matters, because pay-as-you-go contactless is typically the most expensive route per kWh, while apps, subscriptions and free roaming cards from providers tracked by Zapmap can bring the cost down meaningfully.

Can you just tap a contactless card to pay?

Yes, and on most rapid chargers it is now your legal right. The Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 require contactless payment on all new public charge points of 8kW and above, and on all existing public charge points of 50kW and above, from 24 November 2024. You can tap a debit or credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a contactless smartwatch and start charging straight away, with no account required.

The same regulations require the price to be displayed upfront and fixed before you start, a free 24/7 helpline to be available, and rapid networks (50kW+) to maintain a 99% reliability average. Penalties for non-compliance range from £10,000 to £250,000.

Contactless is the simplest way to pay, but it is usually the most expensive per kWh. Network operators cite installation and card-processing costs as reasons for the premium. The key points:

• Contactless is available at any charger of 8kW and above installed after November 2024, and on all existing 50kW+ points.
• You never need an app or account to use a rapid public charger.
• Any debit or credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a contactless watch all work.
• Expect to pay the highest available rate per kWh compared with app or subscription options.

How do network apps and accounts work?

Every major charging network offers a free app, and signing up typically unlocks a lower per-kWh rate than the contactless price. You create an account, download the app, and start charging by scanning the charger’s QR code or selecting it within the app. Most apps also let you check charger availability in real time, monitor an active session, and download VAT receipts.

Network apps generally offer cheaper pricing per kWh than contactless, according to Zapmap. For drivers who use one network regularly, the saving adds up quickly. Some networks go further with monthly subscriptions: bp pulse charges £7.85 per month for a plan that saves members around 20% on contactless rates on average, with one month free for new members.

The main limitation is that each app covers only its own network. If you charge at several different operators, you end up managing multiple logins and billing accounts. Subscriptions only make financial sense if you use that specific network often enough to offset the monthly fee.

Whether a subscription pays off depends on where you charge most, so it is worth checking how the best public EV charging networks compare on price and reliability before you commit to one app.

What are RFID cards and roaming cards?

An RFID card is a physical card you register with a network or roaming provider, then tap on the charger’s reader to start a session. The cost goes to your linked account rather than being taken from your bank card directly at the point of charge.

Single-network RFID cards are issued by individual operators and work only on their own chargers. A roaming card works across many networks from one account. The difference matters:

• RFID cards typically arrive within 5 to 7 days of ordering and suit drivers who prefer not to rely on a phone signal or app at the charger.
• Octopus Electroverse gives access to over 950 charging networks across the UK and Europe on a single free card and app, with no monthly fee and no sign-up cost.
• Zapmap Pay works across over 40 UK charging networks from one app or card, also with no separate account needed per network.

A roaming card is especially useful for drivers who mix networks regularly. You get one bill and one login, while still accessing each network’s own rates. Octopus Electroverse and Zapmap Pay both remove the need to create individual accounts with each operator.

Which payment methods does each network accept?

The table below gives a current snapshot. All 50kW+ rapid chargers must accept contactless by law; app and roaming availability is based on published network information (figures vary, verify current data against each operator’s own site).

Network	Contactless	Own app	RFID/charge card	Roaming (Electroverse / Zapmap Pay)
bp pulse	Yes (50kW+ by law)	Yes	Yes	Yes
InstaVolt	Yes (50kW+ by law)	Yes	Yes	Yes
GRIDSERVE	Yes (50kW+ by law)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Osprey	Yes (50kW+ by law)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pod Point	Yes (50kW+ by law)	Yes	Yes	Partial
Tesla Supercharger	Yes (50kW+ by law)	Yes (Tesla app)	No	Limited
IONITY	Yes (50kW+ by law)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Shell Recharge	Yes (50kW+ by law)	Yes	Yes	Yes
ubitricity (on-street)	Limited	Yes (via app/QR)	Yes	Partial

Note: on-street and lamp-post chargers such as ubitricity often operate via a QR-code or dedicated app flow rather than a conventional contactless terminal, so contactless availability at these points varies by installation.

What is a pre-authorisation hold and how much does it cost?

When you pay by contactless at a public charger, the network places a temporary pre-authorisation hold on your card before the session starts, typically around £30 to £50. This is a standard check that you have enough funds available; it is not the actual cost of your charge.

First-time EV drivers sometimes see this hold appear on their banking app and assume they have been charged the full amount. They have not. Once your session ends, only the real cost is taken and the hold is released, usually within 3 to 5 working days, though it can occasionally take up to 10 working days depending on your bank. The details to remember:

• The hold amount (typically £30 to £50) is a security check, not the charge cost.
• The actual amount billed will almost always be less than the hold, unless you have a very large battery and an unusually long charge.
• Release timing varies by bank; using a credit card means the hold does not immediately affect your current account balance.
• App and account payments generally take the exact session amount rather than holding a round-up sum, so you avoid the hold entirely.

If the hold causes concern, switching to the network’s app or creating a free account resolves it for future sessions.

What is the cheapest way to pay for public charging?

The honest answer is that it depends how often you charge publicly and which networks you use. As of April 2026, the weighted-average pay-as-you-go price was around 54p/kWh on 3 to 49kW chargers and around 79p/kWh on 50kW+ rapid and ultra-rapid chargers, according to the Zapmap Price Index.

Against those benchmarks:

• Occasional users who charge publicly a few times a year will find contactless simplest; the price premium is real but the absolute cost is low across a small number of sessions.
• Regular users of one network gain most from its app or subscription. bp pulse subscribers save around 20% on contactless rates, and the £7.85 monthly fee breaks even relatively quickly for drivers who charge on the network frequently.
• Multi-network drivers benefit most from a free roaming card. Octopus Electroverse carries no monthly fee and accesses over 950 networks, so it brings breadth without extra cost.

The contactless premium is not trivial at motorway rapid speeds. At 79p/kWh contactless, a 50kWh top-up costs around £39.50. A subscription or roaming account that shaves 20% off that saves roughly £8 per session.

Before you commit to one app or subscription, it pays to know where you will actually charge most. Our guide to the best public EV charging networks compares them on price, speed and reliability so you can choose the payment method that suits your routes. For a broader overview of how public charging works in the UK, see our public charging guide.

Useful Resources

GOV.UK Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-public-charge-point-regulations-2023-guidance/public-charge-point-regulations-2023-guidance

Zapmap Charging Price Index https://www.zapmap.com/ev-stats/charging-price-index

Octopus Electroverse https://electroverse.com/