Should you buy an EV charger from a retailer like Bunnings or online, or get one installed by an installer? It's a bit of a trick question: buying the charger is just buying the box — you still legally need a licensed electrician to install it. So the real decision is where you buy the hardware, not whether you get it professionally installed.
What you actually get from a retailer
A retailer or online store sells you the charger unit itself. That's it — the hardware in a box. It does not include running a dedicated circuit, checking your switchboard, the safety testing, or the Certificate of Compliance. Because hardwiring a charger is licensed electrical work, a boxed charger from a shop can't legally be a DIY install; it still needs an electrician.
The install is a separate job — and the important one
Most of what makes a charger safe and reliable is the installation, not the box: the right cable for your run, a correctly sized circuit and safety switch, a tidy compliant mount, and the certificate. Buying the unit yourself doesn't skip any of that — so "buying from Bunnings" rarely saves what people expect, and it adds a risk the shop won't warn you about.
The catch: buying the wrong charger
- Wrong power for your home — a 22kW unit is wasted on single-phase power, for example.
- Missing features you wanted — no solar matching or load management when you needed them.
- No one to stand behind the choice — a box on a shelf can't tell you it's wrong for your car or switchboard.
Already bought a charger? That's completely fine — we install customer-supplied units all the time, so a retail or online purchase isn't wasted. We just make sure it's right for your setup first.
The simplest path
Either let us recommend and supply the right charger, or buy your own and we'll install it — same licensed install and Certificate of Compliance either way, and we check your grants first. Popular home chargers compared helps you choose, or get a quote.
Common questions
Can I buy an EV charger from Bunnings and install it myself?
You can buy the charger, but you can't legally install a hardwired one yourself — that's licensed electrical work. So buying from a retailer only gets you the box; you still need an electrician for the install and Certificate of Compliance.
Is it cheaper to buy my own EV charger?
Not usually as much as people expect, because the install — the biggest and most important part — is a separate licensed job either way. The bigger risk is buying the wrong charger for your car or switchboard. We're happy to install a unit you bought, once we've checked it suits your setup.
Will you install an EV charger I bought myself?
Yes — customer-supplied installs are common. We check the unit is right for your home and car, then install it on a dedicated protected circuit with a Certificate of Compliance.
Want this sorted for your home?
We check every grant you qualify for — free — then install before your car arrives.