Cheapest off-peak EV tariffs in the UK: how they work and how to choose

If you pay a standard variable rate for electricity, you are paying the Ofgem price cap. From 1 October to 31 December 2026 that averages 26.32p per kWh for Direct Debit customers in England, Scotland and Wales, with a 54.83p daily standing charge. Ofgem also notes that the government has removed VAT from electricity bills from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, and that rates vary by region.

EV tariffs offer a much cheaper rate for a few hours each night. On the official supplier pages we checked on 3 October 2026, advertised off-peak rates ranged from about 6.7p to 9.5p per kWh, which is roughly a quarter to a third of the capped average. This guide explains how these tariffs work, what the main types are, and how to choose one without getting caught out by the small print.

How off-peak EV tariffs work

An EV tariff is a time-of-use tariff: you pay one price for electricity in a set off-peak window and a different (usually higher) price the rest of the day. To bill you correctly, the supplier needs to know when you used each unit, so nearly every EV tariff needs a working smart meter that sends half-hourly readings. Octopus, for example, says it can connect to second-generation (SMETS2) meters and some first-generation (SMETS1) meters.

There are three broad types.

• Fixed-window tariffs. The cheap hours are the same every night, and they usually apply to your whole home, not just the car. You simply set a charging schedule in the car or charger. They work with any EV and any charger. Examples: Octopus Go, EDF GoElectric, British Gas EV Power and E.ON Next Drive.
• Smart-charging ("intelligent") tariffs. You plug in, say how much charge you need and by when, and the supplier controls charging through your car's or charger's connection. In return you get a low rate, sometimes outside the normal night window too. These need a compatible car or charger. Examples: Intelligent Octopus Go and E.ON Next Drive Smart.
• Add-ons and bundles. These sit on top of a normal home tariff and discount only the electricity used for smart charging. One example is OVO Charge Anytime, where the discount shows up as a credit on your next bill. Some suppliers also bundle a charger with a tariff.

Older two-rate meters (Economy 7) also give cheaper night electricity, but the times are set by the meter and the night rate varies by supplier. Compare it with a dedicated EV tariff before you assume it is the best deal.

Rates we checked on official pages (3 October 2026)

These are the off-peak figures each supplier shows on its own public tariff page. They are national or headline figures. Your quote will vary by region, and the day rate and standing charge matter too. Prices change often, so treat this table as a starting point and get a live quote.

We have not included tariffs whose current price we could not see on an official page today. Other suppliers offer EV tariffs too, so check a comparison site or your current supplier.

What the difference is worth

Here is a simple example. Say you drive 8,000 miles a year in a car that averages 3.5 miles per kWh. That is about 2,290 kWh a year at the plug, plus a little extra for charging losses.

• At the 26.32p capped average: about £600 a year.
• At 9.5p off-peak: about £217 a year.
• At 7.6p off-peak: about £174 a year.

That gap of roughly £380–£430 a year is why home charging on an EV tariff is usually what makes an EV cheaper to run than petrol. It is also why the home-rate field in our EV Cost Comparison moves the result so much.

How to choose: a seven-point checklist

• 1. Is your car or charger compatible? Smart tariffs only work with supported cars or chargers. Check the supplier's compatibility checker before you switch. If you are not supported, a fixed-window tariff will work with any EV.
• 2. Will the window fit your charging? A 7 kW charger delivers at most about 35 kWh in a 5-hour window, 42 kWh in 6 hours and 49 kWh in 7 hours. Most daily driving needs far less than that. 30 miles a day at 3.5 mi/kWh is under 9 kWh. Longer windows help if you have a big battery or high mileage.
• 3. How much do you use during the day? Day rates on EV tariffs are often higher than a standard tariff. If you work from home or have electric heating, look at the day rate and not just the headline night rate. EDF suggests GoElectric makes sense if at least 6% of your electricity is used off-peak. British Gas bases its EV tariff estimates on 46% off-peak use.
• 4. Fixed or variable, and exit fees. Several EV tariffs are fixed for 12 months or more, and some charge an exit fee (£50–£75 in the table above). Fixing protects you from price-cap rises but makes switching away cost money.
• 5. Whole home or car only? Fixed-window tariffs usually make the whole house cheap at night, which helps if you can move the dishwasher, washing machine or a hot-water timer. Add-ons only discount the car.
• 6. Other kit at home. Storage heaters, solar panels, home batteries and export tariffs can all affect which EV tariff makes sense. For example, British Gas says its EV tariff does not work with Economy 7 storage heaters, and Octopus says Go can only be paired with certain export tariffs.
• 7. Standing charge. A cheap unit rate with a high daily standing charge can cost more than it looks for low-mileage drivers. Compare the yearly total, not just the pence per kWh.

Common mistakes

• Boost charging at peak rates. One "charge now" session at a 30p+ day rate cancels out several cheap nights.
• Forgetting the schedule after a software update. Check that the car or charger timer still matches your window.
• Assuming you need a wallbox. Fixed-window tariffs work with a 3-pin cable too, but slower charging fits fewer kWh into the window. See what a home charger costs.
• Ignoring public charging. A great home tariff will not fix the maths if most of your miles are on rapid chargers. Read the public charging reality check.

Related guides

• Home charging basics: wallbox vs 3-pin, and what your home needs.
• How much does a home EV charger cost to install?
• EV winter range: why you use more kWh in cold weather.
• EV vs petrol: what actually drives cost

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