Planning an EV charging gully? 4 insurance pitfalls to know

Key takeaways

• EV owners in England can now install approved cross-pavement charging solutions without needing planning permission.

• Charging cables aren’t automatically covered by car insurance, and protection can vary between insurers and policies.

• How and where an EV charging cable is stored could affect a claim, making it important to check your policy before installing a gully.

As of the 21^st October, electric vehicle (EV) owners in England without a driveway will no longer need planning permission to install a home charge point that runs to their parked vehicle via a cross-pavement solution (e.g. a gully), potentially saving them up to £300 on installation¹.  

However, with online search interest in cross-pavement gullies increasing by 24% over the past three months² , there is some important information to know for any existing or future EV owners who may be considering using the charging method.   

The change in legislation to remove the need for planning permission to install charging gullies is one that should make things easier for EV owners moving forward.

However, this isn’t a blanket removal of the rules; councils still need to approve the installation of the channels, and EV owners still need to pay attention to the terms of their car insurance policies. 

EV charging cables and car insurance

When it comes to car insurance, the cover you get for charging cables isn't always straightforward. Not all insurance policies are alike, and you can find differences not just in how much cover you get be the terms and limitations – in what situations your insurance would cover you.

So you're not left questioning your cover, here are four things EV owners should know about their charging cables and their insurance cover considering the changes:

1. Your cable may not be covered by your car insurance policy 

If car insurance does provide cover for charging cables, it is usually only for portable cables. Cables permanently affixed to a wall-mounted charging station would typically fall under the cover of a home insurance policy instead.

Coverage is also often limited to original manufacturer-supplied charging cables and does not include aftermarket, non-standard, or replacement cables.

2. Don’t leave the cable in the gully 

Many comprehensive EV insurance policies will cover charging cables for standard fire, damage, and theft, provided they were stored safely and securely, with the car or property locked.

Policies may also cover cables while they are in use, however, leaving a cable in a gully while it’s not in use could be considered storing it ‘improperly’.

When not in use, cables should be stored safely out of reach of thieves.

3. A cable claim could affect your no-claims bonus 

Unless your no-claims discount is protected, a claim for the loss or damage of a charging cable could affect your no-claims bonus.

If a third party wasn’t involved in the incident, it is typically treated as a ‘fault’ claim, and so will impact your no-claims bonus - though the impact it will have will depend on the rules of your specific provider.

4. Check your policy coverage before starting the gully-installation process 

The level of cover for charging cables and any exclusions can vary significantly between insurers, so it’s always worth drivers checking whether their insurer provides any specific cover for charging cables, including theft, accidental damage, and liability arising from their use.

Claims could be affected if cables are left unsecured, used in a way that creates a hazard, or used contrary to manufacturer guidance. A cable gully can help to reduce trip hazards, but it doesn't automatically guarantee that every cable-related incident will be covered.

_Sources

<sup>1. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/drivers-to-save-up-to-300-when-installing-ev-chargers-at-home-as-government-slashes-unnecessary-red-tape 
2. Search data: Google Keyword Planner, UK, three-month change to September 2026</sup>