Short answer: most public chargers in Scotland are on the ChargePlace Scotland (CPS) network, and you have four ways to pay — contactless bank card where the charger supports it, the free CPS app, a £12 CPS RFID card, or Webpay for one-off pay-as-you-go. Contactless is simplest when it's there; the app plus an RFID card covers almost everything else.
Here's how each option actually works, what charging costs, and the one big change worth knowing about before you rely on any of them.
Your four ways to pay
1. Contactless bank card
Where the charger supports it — increasingly common on newer and rapid units since 2025 — you can simply tap a bank card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. No app, no account, no card to order. If a charger you're heading for has contactless, this is the simplest option by far.
2. The free ChargePlace Scotland app
The CPS app (iOS and Android) is free: register once, add a payment method, then start and stop charges from your phone. One catch that surprises people: some older chargers can't be started from the app at all — for those you'll need an RFID card, or to phone the operator on the number printed on the unit.
3. A ChargePlace Scotland RFID card
A physical tap card you hold against the charger to start a session. It costs a one-off £12 (billed to your registered account) and takes 10–14 business days to arrive in the post, so order it before you need it. It's the best backup if you charge in Scotland regularly or use older units — see do I need a card or app to charge in Scotland? for when it earns its keep.
4. Webpay — pay-as-you-go, no account
Go to webpay.chargeplacescotland.org in your phone's browser, enter the charger ID shown on the unit, and pay by card. No registration needed, which makes it handy for one-off use. One heads-up: Webpay now places a £75 pre-authorisation hold on your card, released after your session.
What it costs
There's no single national price. Since 1 July 2025, each site's owner — usually the local council — sets its own tariff. Rapid chargers are commonly around 70p/kWh, but minimum fees, connection fees, and overstay charges vary by site, so always check the price shown on the unit or in the app before you plug in.
The quickest route by situation
- One-off, or just passing through: contactless if the charger has it, otherwise Webpay. Visiting from Ireland or the rest of the UK? There's a dedicated visitor guide.
- Charging in Scotland regularly: register for the app, and order the £12 RFID card as backup for older units.
Worth knowing: the network is changing
ChargePlace Scotland is moving to new operators through 2026, and the CPS card and app are being phased out as sites migrate. Over time you'll increasingly pay by contactless or each new operator's own app or card — and roaming apps like Octopus Electroverse, Zap-Map, and Paua are handy for spanning networks with one account. We'll keep this guide updated as the transition unfolds.
EvEcho shows you which Scottish chargers are free right now and lets you watch a charger for a slot — so you spend less time guessing which one actually works.