Title: Public charging and charge cards: frequently asked questions Canonical: https://erevergelijken.eu/en/faq/public-charging/ Language: en Last modified: not dated in the sitemap Source: EREVergelijken.eu (the ERE Team), CC BY 4.0 for the data Frequently asked questions # Public charging and charge cards Charging without a card, what it costs, how to see the price beforehand and what to do when it goes wrong. [Everything on this topic Charging prices What public charging costs, per network and city Read the full guide](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/charging-prices/) 11 questions ## Can I charge at a public charger without a charge card? Yes. Under the European AFIR regulation (Art. 5(1)) every publicly accessible charger must offer ad hoc charging: without registering, without a contract and without a subscription. According to the European Commission, an app that requires an account does not count as ad hoc, and cash-only does not either. In the Netherlands the rule was already in the Decree on alternative fuels infrastructure (Art. 4). Free charging points are exempt. ## What does public charging cost without a card? Each network sets its own ad hoc price. At the 3 networks that publish a price for regular (AC) charging it is between €0.36 and €0.62 per kWh; at the 4 fast-charging networks between €0.54 and €0.86 per kWh, including VAT (checked on 21 October 2026). Municipal chargers often have their own concession tariff. Our charging prices page lists every network from low to high, with sources. ## How do I know beforehand what a charging session costs? At fast chargers of 50 kW or more installed from 13 April 2024, the operator must show the ad hoc price per kWh and any blocking fee per minute at the station, on a screen or sticker; only pointing to a website is not enough. At chargers under 50 kW all price components must be available beforehand, digitally via a QR code is allowed, in a fixed order: per kWh, per minute, per session and then other costs (AFIR Art. 5(4)). ## Can I pay at a charger with my bank card? At chargers installed from 13 April 2024, ad hoc payment must be possible with a common means of payment: a card reader, a contactless reader, or (only under 50 kW) a secure online payment, for example via a QR code. From 1 January 2027 older fast chargers of 50 kW or more along the European TEN-T road network must also have a card or contactless reader. Older chargers off that network and under 50 kW are not covered by that obligation. ## Is charging with a charge card cheaper than without? It depends on your card and the charger. With a card you pay your charging service provider’s tariff, sometimes with a start fee or subscription; without a card you pay the operator’s ad hoc price. Under AFIR (Art. 5(5)) card providers must show you every price component before the start, including roaming costs, so you can compare. On our charge cards page we work out per card what you pay for the way you charge. ## Why does the charging price differ per municipality? Municipalities and regions tender their public chargers in concessions. The operator and the tariff differ per concession, and they can change monthly or quarterly. That is why you pay more per kWh in one city than in another. The tariffs per city and region, with sources, are on our charging prices page. ## May an operator charge a start fee or higher prices for card holders? Under AFIR (Art. 5(3)) prices must be reasonable, easily comparable, transparent and non-discriminatory, and price differences between users or service providers are only allowed if proportionate and objectively justified. At fast chargers of 50 kW or more installed since 13 April 2024 the ad hoc price is per kWh, with at most a blocking fee per minute; per-session transaction fees are excluded there according to the European Commission. At chargers under 50 kW a per-session price is allowed, as long as it is known beforehand. ## The charger charged more than shown. What can I do? According to ACM ConsuWijzer: first file a complaint by email or letter with your charge card provider (or with the operator if you paid ad hoc). If you cannot resolve it together, you can seek redress another way. Also report the problem to ACM ConsuWijzer so the ACM can see which companies break the rules. According to the ACM you must be able to see after charging how many kWh you took and what you paid. ## Does public charging earn ERE too? Not for you as a private driver. The leaflet Inboeken elektriciteit particulieren of 2 February 2026, read on 15 October 2026, names a home charger with an integrated kWh meter, ownership of the grid connection and a MID meter (https://www.emissieautoriteit.nl/documenten/2026/02/02/inboeken-elektriciteit-particulieren). The Government of the Netherlands writes that since 1 January 2026 you can take part with your own charger and a built-in MID meter, through a registration provider, and that you cannot sell the ERE yourself (https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/vraag-en-antwoord/energie-thuis/kan-ik-geld-verdienen-met-mijn-eigen-laadpaal). Electricity from public chargers, fast chargers on the road or a charger at work is not that household case. The price of public charging is separate, at /en/charging-prices/. ## Does charging on the road or at work count for you? The leaflet Inboeken elektriciteit particulieren of 2 February 2026, read on 15 October 2026, names three conditions: a home charger with an integrated kWh meter, ownership of the grid connection at your address, and a MID meter (https://www.emissieautoriteit.nl/documenten/2026/02/02/inboeken-elektriciteit-particulieren). The Government of the Netherlands writes that the example is your own charger, and that you cannot sell the ERE yourself (https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/vraag-en-antwoord/energie-thuis/kan-ik-geld-verdienen-met-mijn-eigen-laadpaal). Charging on the road or at work is not that household case. The price of public charging is at /en/charging-prices/. ## May I refuse automatic charging, such as plug and charge? Yes. If an operator offers automatic authentication, such as plug and charge or autocharge, under AFIR (Art. 5(2)) you may always opt out and charge ad hoc instead, or use another contract type offered at that charging point. The operator must show that choice clearly and easily at every charging point with automatic authentication. ## Question not listed? Search all questions, or ask yours through the contact form. [All questions](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/faq/) [Ask your question](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/contact/) ## Other topics - [ERE explained 10](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/faq/ere-explained/) - [Conditions and eligibility 10](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/faq/eligibility/) - [MID meter and charge point 10](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/faq/mid-meter-and-charger/) - [Charging data and registration 10](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/faq/charging-data-and-registration/) - [Earnings and calculation 10](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/faq/earnings/) - [Providers and contracts 11](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/faq/providers-and-contracts/) - [Payout, administration and tax 10](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/faq/payout-and-tax/) - [Household situations 10](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/faq/household-situations/) - [HOA, employer and fleet 10](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/faq/hoa-employer-fleet/) - [Problems, safety and the future 10](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/faq/problems-and-future/) - [Home battery and solar panels 10](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/faq/home-battery-and-solar/) - [Buying an electric car 10](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/faq/buying-an-electric-car/) - [Bidirectional charging 10](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/faq/bidirectional-charging/)