How To Charge Your Electric Car Without A Driveway In 2026
Image source: Shutterstock
You can charge an electric car without a driveway, using public chargers, on-street chargers near your home and chargers at work. Between 25 and 40 per cent of UK households don’t have off-street parking, and the UK had 39,859 on-street chargers at the end of June 2026. Public charging averaged 75p per kWh in September 2026, and The Charge Scheme from The Electric Car Scheme lets you pay for it from gross salary, typically saving 20-50%. In 2026, not having a driveway is no longer a reason to rule out going electric, particularly when you’re using an electric car salary sacrifice scheme.
Home charging is often positioned as the ideal, but the reality of UK housing means millions of drivers rely on street parking, shared bays, or workplace car parks. Instead of limiting savings to home charging, The Charge Scheme allows you to salary sacrifice your EV charging costs wherever you charge. Public networks, workplace chargers, and destination charging. By paying from your gross salary, you make EV ownership practical without home infrastructure. This guide explains exactly how it works and why not having a driveway no longer needs to hold you back.
How Does The Charge Scheme Solve The No-Driveway Problem?
Most charging advice still assumes you’ll plug in at home. The Charge Scheme doesn’t. It’s built for real-world driving, especially for people who park on the street or rely on workplace charging.
Source: The Charge Scheme
The Charge Scheme allows salary sacrifice for all EV charging, including:
Public charging networks
Workplace chargers
Destination charging at supermarkets, gyms, and hotels
Charging costs are deducted from your gross salary, typically delivering 20–50% savings depending on your tax band. If you rely on public charging, this difference is more noticeable.
Why This Works So Well Without a Driveway
No requirement to install a home charger
One card or app across multiple networks
Predictable monthly charging costs
Fully integrated with The Electric Car Scheme
You charge where it suits you and The Charge Scheme keeps costs under control.
Charging Costs: Traditional Vs The Charge Scheme
| Estimated charging costs and savings | Typical PAYG cost | Estimated saving with The Charge Scheme | Estimated cost with The Charge Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public 7kW (34kWh) | £18.36 | £3.67 to £9.18 | £9.18 to £14.69 |
| Public 60kW (34kWh) | £26.86 | £5.37 to £13.43 | £13.43 to £21.49 |
| Annual public charging | £1,200 to £1,800 | £240 to £900 | £600 to £1,440 |
These figures are estimates. They're based on average pay-as-you-go prices in September 2026 (Zapmap Charging Price Index) and the typical 20 to 50% saving on charging costs. Your own saving depends on your tax band, where you charge and how much you drive.
Can You Install Home Charging Without a Driveway? (2026 Update)
In some cases, yes, but it’s no longer essential. Local councils continue to roll out residential solutions using government funding.
Available options include:
Cable gullies installed beneath pavements
Wall-mounted chargers reaching kerbside parking
Lamp-post charging integrated into street lighting
The government confirmed in September 2026 that it will introduce a permitted development right for cable channels set into the pavement, but the legislation hasn’t yet been laid, so councils and installers still need Highways Act 1980 permissions in the meantime.
How The Charge Scheme Makes Cable-Free Charging Work
If none of these is available nearby, The Charge Scheme removes the pressure. You can rely on public or workplace charging, without paying premium public rates.
Running A Cable Across The Pavement
Running a cable across a public pavement isn’t generally permitted without council consent, and councils strongly discourage it due to safety and liability concerns. Trip hazards, insurance risks, and potential council action make this a last-resort option.
Why The Charge Scheme Eliminates the Need for Pavement Cables
By using workplace and public chargers supported by The Charge Scheme, many drivers avoid pavement cables altogether, opting for a safer, simpler, and often cheaper solution.
How Do Public Charging Networks Work With The Charge Scheme?
Public charging has expanded rapidly. The UK has over 121,171 public chargers as of July 1st 2026, covering residential streets, retail destinations, workplaces, and motorways. On-street chargers numbered 39,859 at the end of June 2026 and had the highest year-on-year growth of any category, at 18%. Typical PAYG costs averaged 75p per kWh across all chargers in September 2026, rising to 79p per kWh at 50kW and above. With The Charge Scheme, those same chargers typically cost 20–50% less because charging is paid for via salary sacrifice.
The Charge Scheme vs Traditional Public Charging Costs
Public chargers fall into three broad groups, and knowing which suits your routine makes it easier to plan around not having a driveway.
En-route charging (rapid and ultra-rapid, 50kW and above) suits longer journeys and is the quickest way to add range
Destination charging (typically 7kW to 22kW) suits topping up while you shop, eat or work
On-street charging, through lamppost and dedicated roadside posts, is the closest equivalent to a home charger if you park on the road
Which group you rely on most depends on where you park and how far you drive, and the same salary sacrifice saving applies across all three. Public chargers each have different speeds and costs, so it helps to match them to your weekly routine. You still use the same networks, just without the high cost.
How Workplace Charging Integrates With Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Schemes
Workplace charging is a practical solution for drivers without driveways and a major advantage of a company electric car scheme.
Many Employers:
Offer free or subsidised workplace charging
Install chargers on site
Support charging as part of sustainability strategies
Source: Tesla Media Gallery
Employer Responsibility and Protection
Charging at work fits seamlessly alongside Complete Employer Protection, removing the financial risk if an employee leaves mid-lease and ensuring the scheme remains employer-friendly.
For employees, it means dependable charging without needing home access. For employers, it’s a low-cost, high-impact benefit.
How Does Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Work for Drivers Without Off-Street Parking?
An electric car salary sacrifice scheme has no home charging requirement. What matters is that you can keep the car charged, and that can happen at work, on the street, or on public networks.
What’s Included:
The car, insurance, servicing and maintenance, breakdown cover and road tax (VED), with tyres available as an optional extra
Charging cost savings via The Charge Scheme
Complete Employer Protection from day one
What Are The Real Costs Of Charging An Electric Car Without A Driveway?
| Estimated annual running cost | Estimated cost per year |
|---|---|
| Public charging only (PAYG) | About £2,140 |
| Public charging with The Charge Scheme | £1,070 to £1,710 |
| Petrol equivalent | £1,700 to £2,200 |
These figures are estimates for 10,000 miles a year. They assume an average of 3.5 miles per kWh, public charging at 75p per kWh (Zapmap Charging Price Index, September 2026), a typical 20 to 50% saving with The Charge Scheme, and petrol at 167p per litre (RAC Fuel Watch, September 2026) at 35 to 45 mpg. Your own costs depend on your car, mileage and where you charge.
Even without home charging, EVs remain cheaper to run, especially when charging costs are salary-sacrificed.
Council-By-Council Guide: On-Street Charging Availability 2026
Local councils play a key role in supporting drivers without driveways. Funding through national schemes continues to accelerate on-street charger deployment.
Where Is Public Charging Provision Highest?
Provision varies widely across the UK, and the Department for Transport’s figures for 1 July 2026 show where drivers without a driveway currently have the most public chargers nearby.
London has the highest provision in the UK, at 345.1 public chargers per 100,000 people, and much of it is standard on-street charging
Scotland follows at 231.6 per 100,000, and Wales has 185.5, both above the UK average of 174.9
Provision is lower in the North West (112.1) and Yorkshire and the Humber (110.7), so drivers there may rely more on workplace and public rapid charging
Your own council’s provision is shown on DfT’s local authority charging map.
How to Request On-Street Charging
Most councils allow residents to:
Submit a request via the transport or sustainability team
Demonstrate local demand (often multiple households)
Await feasibility checks and funding approval
Source: Shutterstock
Availability varies by council, but provision is expanding year-on-year!
Employer Guide: Supporting Employees Without Driveways
For employers, supporting EV drivers without home charging is both practical and tax-efficient.
Why Employers Should Act
Encourages EV adoption across all housing types
Reduces emissions and supports net-zero goals
Improves employee retention and engagement
The Tax Advantage
The electricity for workplace charging is generally exempt from benefit in kind when it’s provided at or near the workplace. When combined with The Electric Car Scheme, employers can offer a compelling benefit with no net cost to the business to run the scheme.
Technology Solutions: Smart Charging for City And Town Drivers
Urban EV charging continues to evolve.
Key innovations include:
Lamp-post charging is expanding across residential streets
Smart load balancing to protect local grids
Wireless charging pilots in dense urban areas
As infrastructure and vehicle efficiency improve, charging without a driveway becomes easier every year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Image source: Tesla Media Gallery
Can I Get an Electric Car Through Salary Sacrifice If I Don’t Have a Driveway?
Absolutely. The Electric Car Scheme does not require you to have a home charger or a driveway to join. The scheme is designed to work for real UK living situations, including flats, terraced houses, and street parking.
With access to workplace charging, expanding on-street infrastructure, and The Charge Scheme, public charging costs are reduced by 20–50%. This means you can confidently run an electric car without charging at home. Many drivers already do.
How Does The Charge Scheme Work for Drivers Without Home Charging?
The Charge Scheme allows you to salary sacrifice your EV charging costs across all charging types, not just at home.
That includes:
Public charging networks
Workplace chargers
Destination charging at supermarkets, hotels, gyms, and car parks
Because charging is paid for from your gross salary, you save on Income Tax and National Insurance, making public charging significantly cheaper and more predictable if you don’t have a driveway.
What’s the Cheapest Way to Charge an Electric Car Without a Driveway in 2026?
For most drivers, the cheapest approach is a combination of workplace charging (often free or subsidised) and The Charge Scheme for occasional public top-ups.
This mix typically costs less than running a petrol car, even without home charging. You benefit from low workplace electricity costs while using salary sacrifice to reduce the cost of public charging when needed.
Is It Illegal to Run a Charging Cable Across the Pavement?
Running a charging cable across a public pavement isn’t explicitly illegal in most areas, but it does create liability and safety risks. Local councils generally discourage it due to trip hazards and potential insurance issues.
If someone trips over your cable, you could be held responsible. For that reason, most drivers without driveways prefer safer alternatives such as on-street chargers, workplace charging, or public networks supported by The Charge Scheme.
Can My Employer Install Workplace Charging as Part of a Salary Sacrifice Scheme?
Yes. Employers offering The Electric Car Scheme can install workplace charging infrastructure, and many already do as part of their sustainability and employee benefits strategy.
Electricity provided at work for charging is generally exempt from benefit in kind when it’s provided at or near the workplace.
How Much Does Public Charging Cost Without The Charge Scheme?
Without salary sacrifice, public rapid charging typically costs around 79p per kWh at 50kW and above in September 2026. This can make regular public charging expensive if paid from take-home pay. With The Charge Scheme, those same charging sessions cost typically 20–50% less, because they’re paid from your gross salary instead.
What Happens If I Leave My Employer While Using an Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme?
The Electric Car Scheme includes Complete Employer Protection from day one, protecting both you and your employer if your circumstances change. If you leave your role, options are provided to ensure a smooth transition without unexpected penalties, giving employers confidence to support EV adoption and drivers’ peace of mind.
Can I Use On-Street Charging With The Charge Scheme?
Yes. The Charge Scheme works with public charging networks, including on-street residential chargers such as lamp-post and council-installed units. As on-street charging continues to expand across UK towns and cities, it’s becoming an increasingly convenient option for drivers without off-street parking.
How Do I Find Charging Points Near Me Without a Home Charger?
You can use popular UK EV charging apps and maps to locate nearby chargers by speed, availability, and connector type. The Charge Scheme integrates seamlessly with these networks, so you can focus on finding a convenient charger rather than managing multiple payment methods. This makes planning day-to-day charging simple, even without a dedicated home charger.
Is EV Ownership More Expensive Without Home Charging?
Not necessarily. While home charging is usually the cheapest option, salary sacrifice charging through The Charge Scheme closes much of the gap. When combined with workplace charging and lower running costs overall, many drivers without home charging still find electric cars cheaper to run than petrol or diesel alternatives.
Can I Salary Sacrifice My EV Charging Costs as Well as the Car?
Yes. That’s exactly what The Charge Scheme is designed for. Alongside your electric car salary sacrifice scheme, you can also salary sacrifice your charging costs, creating a joined-up solution that covers both the vehicle and the energy that powers it.
What Electric Cars Work Best for Drivers Without Home Charging?
Drivers without home charging often prefer electric cars with:
Fast or ultra-rapid charging capability
Strong efficiency (miles per kWh)
These features reduce the frequency of charging and make public and workplace charging more convenient. Small and mid-size electric cars often strike the best balance between range, cost, and charging speed.
Final Thoughts
Not having a driveway is a common problem, not a barrier to going electric. Between 25 and 40 per cent of UK households don’t have off-street parking, and the public network has grown to 121,171 chargers, 39,859 of them on-street. Public charging averaged 75p per kWh in September 2026, but The Charge Scheme lets you pay from your gross salary, so you typically save 20–50% on every session. Add workplace charging and a routine that matches where you park, and running an electric car without a driveway becomes practical and predictable. For employers, Complete Employer Protection removes the financial risk if an employee leaves mid-lease.
Explore how salary sacrifice could work for you, with or without home charging, by visiting The Electric Car Scheme’s quote tool and see how much you could save based on your salary and lease terms.
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SEE AVAILABLE CARSLast updated: 12.10.26
Our pricing is based on data collected from The Electric Car Scheme quote tool. All final pricing is inclusive of VAT. All prices above are based on the following lease terms: 10,000 miles pa, 36 months, and are inclusive of Maintenance and Breakdown Cover. The Electric Car Scheme's terms and conditions apply. All deals are subject to credit approval and availability. All deals are subject to excess mileage and damage charges. Prices are calculated based on the following tax saving assumptions: England & Wales, 40% tax rate. The above prices were calculated using a flat payment profile. The Electric Car Scheme Limited provides services for the administration of your salary sacrifice employee benefits. The Electric Car Scheme Holdings Limited is a member of the BVRLA (10608), is authorised and regulated by the FCA under FRN 968270, is an Appointed Representative of Marshall Management Services Ltd under FRN 667174, and is a credit broker and not a lender or insurance provider.
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