MaintainlyHow often should you inspect your EV charger?
Inspect the EV charger and cable once a year. The commonly recommended range is yearly, and after any damage to the cable. A crushed cable or a worn connector at 7 to 22 kW is an electric shock and fire risk in the garage or driveway. This is a safety-critical task, so do not let it slip.
A home charger pushes a large current for hours at a time. The yearly check is about the parts that take the wear: the cable, the connector and the wall mounting, plus the built-in protection test.
Why does inspecting your EV charger matter?
A crushed cable or a worn connector at 7 to 22 kW is an electric shock and fire risk in the garage or driveway.
What happens if you skip inspecting your EV charger?
A cable run over by a car or a connector with bent pins can overheat, and water getting into a damaged housing is an electric shock risk. These problems develop slowly and are easy to spot early.
How do you do it?
- Inspect the cable end to end. Look for flattened sections, cracks, cuts or exposed inner layers. A damaged cable should not be used.
- Check the connector and inlet. Pins should be straight and clean, and the connector should show no discolouration or melted plastic.
- Check the mounting and housing. The unit should be firm on the wall with no cracks, gaps or signs of water inside the cover.
- Run the protection test. Many chargers have a test button or an app function for the residual current protection. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly.
- Update the firmware and tidy the cable. Install updates, and store the cable on its holder so it is not left on the ground to be driven over.
What does it take?
How do you know inspecting your EV charger is overdue?
- The charger trips or stops charging part way
- The connector feels hot after charging
- Visible damage to the cable or housing
What do people get wrong?
- Using an extension lead to reach the car
- Carrying on charging with a damaged cable or connector
When should you stop and call someone?
For scorch marks, a hot connector, repeated trips or any internal damage. Charger wiring is a job for a qualified electrician.
Does this differ in the US, UK, Australia or Canada?
United States
Level 2 chargers should be installed under a permit where your local jurisdiction requires one; keep the permit with the home records.
United Kingdom
Have the charger installed and repaired by a registered electrician. Home charge points sold in Great Britain since 30 June 2022 must meet the smart charge point regulations, which include default off-peak charging hours that the owner can change.
Australia
A wall-mounted charger is installed by a licensed electrician. The NSW Government advises using only chargers that carry the Regulatory Compliance Mark.
Canada
In Ontario the Electrical Safety Authority says the installer must be a Licensed Electrical Contractor who files a notification of work with ESA before starting, and the charger must carry a recognised certification mark. Other provinces set their own permit rules.
Frequently asked questions
Why does inspecting your EV charger matter?
A crushed cable or a worn connector at 7 to 22 kW is an electric shock and fire risk in the garage or driveway.
What happens if you skip inspecting your EV charger?
A cable run over by a car or a connector with bent pins can overheat, and water getting into a damaged housing is an electric shock risk. These problems develop slowly and are easy to spot early.
Does inspecting your EV charger differ by country?
Universal. Chargers carry their own residual current protection; follow the manufacturer's test instructions and have an electrician check anything that trips or scorches.
How we put this together
The figures, intervals and legal points on this page were checked against the sources listed below. The default interval and accepted range are the ones Maintainly uses in its task library. Costs and times are typical ranges and vary by region and by home. Your own manufacturer's instructions come first, and gas, electrical and structural work belongs with a qualified professional. How we research and write.
Sources
- Regulations: electric vehicle smart charge points, GOV.UK (Office for Product Safety and Standards). Checked 11 October 2026.
- Install a home electric vehicle charger, NSW Government (NSW Climate and Energy Action). Checked 11 October 2026.
- ESA ramps up electric vehicle charging safety in Ontario, Electrical Safety Authority (Ontario). Checked 11 October 2026.
Next steps
Put this on a schedule so it does not depend on memory. Maintainly keeps this task and 65 others on time for your home's systems, climate and country, and reminds you before each one is due. It is free for one home and needs no account.
Add this reminder to Maintainly