Most people spend more time researching which EV charger to buy than who they hire to install it. That is backwards. The charger itself matters less than the quality of the electrical work behind it — and a bad installation can create real problems: failed inspections, voided rebates, insurance complications, and in the worst cases, fire hazards from overloaded circuits.

The good news: vetting an installer well does not take long if you know what to ask. Use this list before you book anyone.

1. Are You a Licensed Electrical Contractor in This State?

This is the non-negotiable question. EV charger installation is electrical work — it involves running new circuits, working in load centers, and pulling permits. All of that legally requires a licensed electrical contractor in every state.

Ask for their license number. Then verify it. Every state has a public lookup tool through the state licensing board (search "[your state] electrical contractor license lookup"). If the license is not current or does not exist, stop the conversation there.

Watch out for installers who describe themselves as "electricians" without clarifying their license status. Someone can spend years doing electrical work as an apprentice without ever holding a license. The license is what makes the work legal.

2. Are You EVITP Certified?

EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program) is the industry-standard certification for EV charger installers. It covers NEC Article 625, load calculations specific to EVSE, site assessment, and the permitting process — things that general electrical training does not always address in depth.

EVITP certification is not legally required in most jurisdictions, but it tells you something important: this electrician took the time to train specifically on EV installations rather than treating them as generic electrical jobs. More practically, several utility rebate programs require EVITP-certified installers. If you are planning to claim a rebate, hiring a non-EVITP installer can disqualify you from a $250 to $1,000 rebate.

If they are not EVITP certified, ask whether they have completed any EV-specific training. Not a disqualifier on its own, but worth knowing.

3. Do You Pull Permits?

If the answer is anything other than an immediate "yes," find a different installer.

Permits are not bureaucratic busywork. They trigger an inspection by your local building or electrical authority, which verifies that the work was done to code. That inspection protects you in three concrete ways:

Insurance: Unpermitted electrical work can void your homeowner's insurance coverage for incidents related to that work. If an unpermitted installation causes a fire, your insurer may deny the claim.
Rebates: Virtually every utility rebate program and the federal 30C tax credit requires permitted work. No permit, no rebate.
Resale: Unpermitted electrical work is a disclosure item in most states. It can slow or complicate your sale.

Installers who skip permits do it to save themselves time and hassle. That savings comes entirely at your expense.

4. Will You Do a Load Calculation Before Giving Me a Quote?

A load calculation determines how much electrical capacity your home currently uses versus how much capacity your panel has available. It is the basis for knowing whether your existing panel can handle a 40- or 50-amp EV charger circuit without issues — or whether you need a panel upgrade first.

Every reputable installer will do a load calculation before quoting you. An installer who quotes a price before looking at your panel or asking about your electrical service size is guessing. That guess might turn into a surprise panel upgrade cost after they have already started work.

The load calculation does not need to be a formal document — an experienced electrician can often eyeball your panel and run through the numbers quickly — but they should be able to tell you what your available capacity is and how that informed their quote.

5. What Charger Brands Do You Work With?

A good installer is brand-agnostic. They should be comfortable with ChargePoint, Enel X JuiceBox, Tesla Wall Connector, Emporia, Grizzl-E hardwired, and others. If an installer pushes one specific brand hard and seems unfamiliar with or dismissive of alternatives, ask why.

There is nothing wrong with an installer having a preferred brand they stock and recommend — some installers buy in bulk from a specific distributor and pass savings on to customers. But they should be able to explain the recommendation based on the charger's features, not just because it is what they happen to carry.

If you already know which charger you want (because you researched it, it is compatible with your car's app, or it qualifies for a specific rebate), the installer should be able to accommodate that choice.

6. What's Included in Your Quote — Materials, Permit Fees, and Wall Patching?

Get this in writing before work starts. EV charger installation quotes vary dramatically in what they include. A quote that seems low might exclude:

The permit fee (typically $75 to $200 depending on jurisdiction)
Conduit materials for longer runs
Wall patching if conduit runs through finished drywall
The charger hardware itself (some quotes are labor-only)

Ask specifically: "Does this quote include the permit fee? Conduit and materials? Any drywall patching?" An itemized written quote protects you from surprise charges at the end of the job.

7. What's Your Timeline from Signed Contract to Installation?

Standard lead time for a residential EV charger installation is 3 to 10 days — a couple of days to schedule, pull the permit, and get on the calendar. Timelines stretch in high-demand markets or during busy seasons.

What you are listening for: does the installer have a clear sense of their schedule and permit timelines? An installer who cannot give you a rough timeline has either an unclear schedule or limited permit experience. Neither is reassuring.

Also ask: does the permit need to be pulled before they start, or is your jurisdiction one that allows the inspection after? This affects timing.

8. Do You Carry General Liability Insurance?

Ask for a certificate of insurance (COI) showing at minimum $1 million per occurrence in general liability coverage. Any legitimate electrical contracting business carries this. It covers damage to your property that occurs during the work — a breaker that gets damaged, a wall that gets cracked, a vehicle that gets scraped in the driveway.

If the installer is a sole proprietor or small shop, workers' comp may not apply, but general liability is non-negotiable. An uninsured installer means that any damage that occurs during the job comes out of your pocket or a legal dispute.

9. What's Your Warranty on the Installation Work?

The charger manufacturer warrants the hardware — typically 2 to 3 years for most units, longer for some. But the manufacturer warranty does not cover the electrical work itself: the wiring, the breaker, the connections.

Your installer should offer at least a 1-year warranty on their labor and materials. This covers situations like a loose connection that causes intermittent charging, or a breaker that trips repeatedly because it was not correctly sized. A 2-year labor warranty is better and not unusual among established shops.

Get the warranty terms in writing, including what is covered and what the process is for service calls.

10. Can You Provide References From EV Charger Installs Specifically?

References from general electrical work are less useful here. You want to talk to homeowners who hired this person for an EV charger installation specifically — someone who can tell you whether the permit got pulled, whether the inspector found any issues, whether the charger has worked reliably since installation, and whether the installer was responsive when they had questions.

Ask for two or three references and actually call them. Most installers with strong track records are happy to provide references. An installer who deflects this question or provides vague references deserves more scrutiny.

Using This List

Print this out or save it on your phone before you get on a call with any installer. You do not need to interrogate them — most of these questions flow naturally in a pre-job conversation. What you are looking for is confidence, specificity, and consistency in the answers.

Red flags that should make you keep looking:

Hesitation about pulling permits ("We can probably skip it for a simple job")
Inability to verify their license number on the spot
Refusal to provide insurance documentation
Quoting a price without discussing your panel or doing a load calculation
Pushing a specific charger brand without being able to explain why

Green flags that signal you found a good one:

Mentions the permit and inspection process without being asked
Asks about your panel capacity and electrical service before quoting
Has verifiable online reviews mentioning EV installs specifically
Provides a written, itemized quote without being pressed

Good installers exist in every market. These questions help you find them faster.

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