EV charger checklists
Four checklists cover the job: buyer (daily miles, car's onboard AC limit, safety certification), pre-install (panel capacity, mounting location, wire run), contractor vetting (license, permit in their name, itemized quote), and safety (outdoor-rated if outside, certified equipment, inspection sign-off kept).
Buyer checklist. Your average daily miles. Your car's maximum onboard AC charging rate. Whether you need Level 2 at all under ENERGY STAR's ~40-mile guidance. Whether the unit carries certification from a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Indoor or outdoor rating. Hardwired or plug-in.
Pre-install checklist. Panel capacity confirmed in person. Mounting location chosen and the wire run measured - at $6 to $12 per linear foot, distance is money. Parking position and cable length checked against each other. Whether a panel upgrade at $1,500 to $4,000 is in scope.
Contractor vetting. License number verified on the state board, not a photo of a card. Permit pulled in their name. Itemized quote separating hardware, labor, wiring, permits and any panel work. Reference to which NEC edition your jurisdiction enforces. A site visit before the number, always.
Safety and closeout. Outdoor-rated equipment if it's mounted outside - AFDC confirms outdoor use is safe with the right equipment. Inspection completed and the sign-off filed with your house records. Manufacturer registration done. Cable stored off the ground and out of the vehicle path.
Choosing EV Chargers checklists
The judgement calls that decide the bill, before anyone quotes you.
- Verify the license yourself Search the number on your state licensing board and confirm the name matches the company on the invoice.
- Require an itemized quote Hardware ($600-$1,200), labor ($1,200-$2,000), wiring ($6-$12 per foot), permits ($100-$200), panel work. Five lines. If they won't itemize, that's the answer.
- Measure the cable reach against real parking Cable length is the most common post-install regret. Park the car, then pick the mount.
- Keep the inspection paperwork It's your proof the circuit was permitted and inspected, which matters for insurance and resale.
- Confirm certification before purchase, not after ENERGY STAR warns some chargers sold by large retailers are not safety certified. Returns are a hassle; check first.
All EV Chargers checklists
EV Chargers Buyer Checklist
EV Chargers Safety Checklist
EV Chargers Pre-Install Checklist
EV Chargers Contractor Vetting Checklist
Where these figures come from
Sources last checked
- Bob Vila - Cost to Install an EV Charger at Home · retrieved 2026-07-26
- ENERGY STAR - Electric Vehicle Chargers · retrieved 2026-07-26
- U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center - Charging Electric Vehicles at Home · retrieved 2026-07-26
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