What is an EV tariff?
Written by EV Charge Compare · Last reviewed 6 Nov 2026 · Live figures update from the prices we check
An EV tariff is a home electricity tariff with a much cheaper rate for a few hours, usually overnight, so you can charge your electric car for less. The cheapest overnight rate we track is typically about 7.9p per kWh, compared with the price cap rate on a standard tariff.
How an EV tariff works
You pay a low rate during set hours (for example 00:30 to 05:30) and a normal or slightly higher rate the rest of the day. If you charge your car during the cheap hours, most of your car's electricity costs a fraction of the usual price.
The two main types
- Fixed cheap hours. The cheap rate applies to everything in your home during set hours. You set your car or charger to charge then.
- Smart (supplier-controlled) tariffs. The supplier connects to your car or charger and decides when it charges. These can be cheaper, but only work with compatible cars and chargers. See is a smart tariff right for my car?
What you usually need
- A smart meter, so the supplier can tell when you used electricity.
- Somewhere to charge at home: a wallbox charger or, more slowly, a 3-pin plug.
- For smart tariffs, a compatible car or charger.
What to watch for
- A higher daytime rate, which matters if you're at home a lot.
- Limits on how much electricity you get at the cheap rate.
- Exit fees on fixed deals, and tariffs only open to existing customers.
Our calculator counts all of these for you, using your car, mileage and home use.
This is an estimate. Check final prices with the supplier. We don't cover every tariff.