Andy Burnham has introduced new driveway rules this October (Image: Getty)
Andy Burnham’s new driveway rule change has come into effect in October, but not all drivers are not feeling the benefit of extra VAT price savings. The Prime Minister slashed VAT rates on domestic electricity at the beginning of October, with the move having a knock-on effect for electric car owners across the UK. VAT rates on domestic electricity were cut from 5% to 0% from October 1 in a move that experts previously suggested could save EV owners £40 per year.
However, motorists without access to a driveway or off-street charging are still forced to pay the hefty 20% VAT rates, with the so-called “driveway divide” increasing this Autumn. Motorists topping up at home pay around 7p per kWh to charge their vehicles, with those using public plugs paying closer to 50p per kWh.
Jake Lambert, temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover, has now revelaed that drivers could save on the extra costs by lending their EV to a family or friend. Asking loved ones or friends to chip in for electricity is absolutely fine and could be an easy way to recoup some of the lost money from costly public charging.
Speaking exclusively to The Express, Jake said: “For motorists without a driveway, the VAT gap on public charging is a real extra cost. But for people who only use their EV occasionally, lending it to family or friends is one way to help each other out.
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”If you lend your electric car to a friend or family member, it’s generally fine for them to chip in towards the electricity they use, as long as it covers no more than the actual cost of the charge and isn’t a way of making money from the car.”
Some friends or family members may also have access to home charging facilities and can top-up the battery before dropping it off. Many brand new homes in England and Scotland are now fitted with 7kW smart EV chargepoints and will be much cheaper than using public bays.
VAT rates were cut on domestic electricity, but those using public plugs have missed out (Image: Getty)
Community driveway-sharing apps suhc as CoCharger and JustCharge allow motorists without access to a driveway to use domestic plugs. Public chargers can also be cheaper at off-peak hours, while some areas also have free charging points.
However, Jake has warned motorists could still forget one crucial rule when handing over the keys to their EV.
He told The Express: “They’ll still need to be insured for the trip, so it’s worth making sure that’s in place before they set off, for example with temporary EV cover for just the time they’re using the car.”
Drivers Told How to Beat Andy Burnham’s New October Driveway Rule Change
Drivers across England are being urged to look carefully at their electric vehicle charging options as a series of October changes threatens to widen the gap between motorists who have a driveway and those who rely on public charging points.
The changes have put the spotlight on one of the biggest challenges facing electric car owners: the cost of keeping their vehicles on the road. While households able to charge at home could benefit from lower electricity costs, motorists without off-street parking may continue to face significantly higher prices at public charging stations.
For drivers who live on terraced streets, in flats or in homes without private parking, the situation could prove particularly frustrating. They may want to make the switch to an electric vehicle, but the savings often depend on where and how they can charge it.
The good news is that there are practical ways to reduce those costs. From sharing private charging facilities to using cheaper charging periods and checking new pavement-crossing arrangements, motorists have several options worth exploring before assuming that expensive public charging is their only choice.
What Is Changing in October?
Two developments are central to the debate.
First, domestic electricity VAT has been reduced from 5 per cent to zero for a six-month period beginning on October 1, 2026. This can reduce the electricity costs faced by households, including those charging electric vehicles at home. The precise savings depend on how much electricity a household uses, its tariff and the amount of charging it does.
Second, changes due to take effect in England on October 21 are intended to make certain electric vehicle charging installations easier to arrange for households without driveways. Under the new planning rules, qualifying wall-mounted chargers and pavement-embedded cable channels can benefit from permitted development rights, subject to specific conditions.
The second change is especially relevant to drivers who park on the street outside their homes. Previously, arranging a safe way to run a charging cable across a pavement could involve complicated permissions. The new arrangements aim to remove some of that planning burden.
However, motorists should not mistake simpler planning rules for unrestricted permission to install a cable across a public footpath.
Highway authority approval and other applicable requirements remain important. The rules also contain restrictions for certain locations, including conservation areas and properties with particular heritage protections.
In other words, drivers could have more options, but they must still check what their local authority permits.
Why Drivers Without Driveways Feel Left Behind
For motorists who can charge at home, an electric car can be considerably cheaper to run than one that depends on public rapid chargers. Domestic charging can provide lower prices per unit of electricity, especially when a household has access to a suitable off-peak tariff.
Public charging, by contrast, can be expensive. Rapid charging stations often charge substantially more per kilowatt-hour than domestic electricity tariffs, although prices vary between networks, locations and charging speeds.
That difference can add up over the course of a year.
A motorist who charges an electric vehicle regularly at home may benefit from the reduction in domestic electricity VAT. Someone who lives in a flat without a dedicated parking space, however, may continue to pay the standard VAT rate applicable to electricity purchased through public charging services.
This creates what has become known as the driveway divide.
The concern is that people who already have the financial advantage of a driveway may receive additional savings, while those living in crowded urban areas or rented accommodation face higher running costs.
The distinction is not necessarily a matter of personal choice. Many residents cannot simply create a driveway, move house or install a private charger. Their parking arrangements are determined by the properties available to them and the layout of their neighbourhoods.
That is why the October changes have attracted attention. Making electric vehicle ownership affordable requires more than encouraging people to buy electric cars. It also requires practical charging options for people who do not have private parking.
Tip One: Check Whether a Home Charging Installation Is Possible
The first step for motorists without a driveway is to establish whether a compliant charging arrangement can be installed at their property.
The new rules expected to take effect on October 21 in England could make qualifying installations easier, but each household should check the requirements before spending money.
A dedicated charging point may be possible on an appropriate wall or elsewhere within the property’s permitted area. If the vehicle is parked on the street, a suitable pavement-embedded cable channel may also be an option where the relevant conditions and permissions are satisfied.
The important point is that the cable must cross the footway through an authorised solution. Simply running an ordinary charging lead across a pavement, even if a driver places a loose mat over it, is not a safe or automatically lawful alternative.
A cable can create a serious trip hazard for pedestrians, particularly people with sight loss, wheelchair users, older residents and parents pushing prams.
Drivers should contact their local highway authority to establish its application process, technical requirements and any fees. They should also check whether their property falls within an excluded area.
Although the planning changes may remove one administrative hurdle, they do not eliminate every requirement. A council may still need to approve work affecting the public pavement.
Tip Two: Consider Sharing a Private Charging Point
For drivers who cannot install their own charging equipment, sharing an existing home charger could be a practical alternative.
A friend, relative or neighbour with a driveway and suitable charging equipment may be willing to allow another motorist to charge there by arrangement. Community charging platforms can also help connect electric vehicle owners with people who have spare charging capacity.
The financial advantage is straightforward: domestic charging may be cheaper than relying on a public rapid charger.
However, drivers should agree on the arrangements in advance. They need to know how charging costs will be calculated, when the vehicle can be connected and whether the host has enough capacity to accommodate another car.
Insurance is equally important if a vehicle is being lent to someone else. Anyone considering lending or borrowing a car should check that the driver is properly insured for the journey. Sharing access to a charger is different from lending the vehicle itself, and the two arrangements should not be confused.
A well-organised charging agreement can help both parties, but it should never depend on assumptions about insurance, electrical safety or payment.
Tip Three: Look for Cheaper Charging Periods
Motorists who must continue using public charging stations should compare prices rather than automatically using the nearest charger.
Some charging networks offer different rates according to charging speed, location, membership status or time of day. Certain locations may also offer discounted charging through subscriptions or loyalty schemes.
Drivers should compare the total cost, including any membership fees, parking charges, connection fees or penalties for leaving a vehicle connected after charging has finished.
Off-peak charging may provide savings where a particular provider offers lower rates at quieter times. However, discounts are not universal, so motorists should check the actual tariff rather than assume that charging overnight is always cheaper.
Planning charging stops can also help. A driver who regularly charges at an expensive rapid charger because the battery is nearly empty may benefit from topping up at a more affordable location whenever practical.
The aim is to avoid paying premium prices unnecessarily, not to compromise safety or make journeys more difficult.
Tip Four: Use the New Rules Without Breaking Existing Ones
The prospect of easier pavement-crossing arrangements could tempt some drivers to install charging equipment immediately. That would be a mistake.
Before arranging any work, motorists should confirm the date on which the rules apply, whether their location is covered and what their council requires.
The October 21 changes relate to England. Drivers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should check the rules applicable in their own jurisdiction rather than assume that the English arrangements apply nationwide.
The proposed installation must also meet relevant technical and safety standards. A qualified installer should advise on the charger, electrical supply, cable route and any work required at the property.
Drivers should not place a charging cable across a public footpath without an authorised arrangement. Nor should they assume that a landlord, property manager or neighbours have automatically approved work affecting shared areas.
Getting the details right at the beginning could prevent unnecessary expense and disputes later.
Tip Five: Calculate the Real Savings Before Spending Money
Another common mistake is to focus on a headline saving without considering the full cost of obtaining it.
A new home charger may involve equipment, installation and electrical work. A pavement-crossing solution could bring additional installation or approval costs. A public charging subscription may offer lower rates but require a regular fee.
Drivers should calculate their expected annual charging use and compare the available options.
For example, someone who drives only occasionally may find that paying for an elaborate installation does not make financial sense. A high-mileage motorist who charges frequently may have a stronger case for investing in a home charging solution, provided it is technically and legally feasible.
The domestic VAT reduction may also produce a relatively modest annual saving for some households. Estimates of savings of up to around £40 for electric vehicle drivers depend on individual mileage and charging patterns; they should not be treated as a guaranteed amount for every motorist.
Comparing actual tariffs and installation costs is the best way to determine whether a particular option will pay off.
The Risk of a Two-Tier Electric Car Market
The wider political issue is whether the changes will make electric vehicle ownership fairer or leave some drivers struggling to access the cheapest charging methods.
Supporters of the reforms can argue that reducing planning barriers is a useful step towards helping households without driveways. Easier access to safe pavement-crossing solutions could make home charging possible for some residents who previously had few options.
Critics, however, may point out that local approval processes, installation costs and restrictions on certain properties could prevent many people from benefiting immediately.
There is also a practical challenge for local authorities. They need to protect pedestrians and maintain accessible pavements while allowing residents to adopt new technology. Decisions must balance the needs of motorists with those of people who walk, use wheelchairs or rely on unobstructed footpaths.
If the process varies significantly between councils, drivers could face different costs and waiting times depending on where they live.
That would undermine the goal of making electric motoring more accessible.
What Drivers Should Do Next
For motorists concerned about the October changes, the most sensible approach is to act on confirmed information rather than alarming headlines.
Check whether a compliant charging installation is possible at your property. Contact the local highway authority before carrying out work across a pavement. Compare public charging tariffs, investigate community charging options and check the total cost of any installation before committing to it.
Most importantly, remember that the new planning arrangements do not give every driver an automatic right to run a cable across the pavement. Conditions and approvals still matter.
The October changes could provide a useful opportunity for some households, but they will not eliminate the difference between private and public charging overnight.
For drivers without driveways, the best way to reduce costs is to understand the options available locally and choose the arrangement that is safe, lawful and financially worthwhile.
The real test of these changes will be whether they make affordable charging accessible to more people—not simply whether they deliver savings to households that already enjoy the advantages of private parking.