Charging company EVs at home has long been common practice for many businesses. At the same time, there is still uncertainty about how to reimburse electricity costs correctly. Which metering solution is permitted, and when do metrology rules apply?
With an updated information sheet dated 09 January 2026, the German Arbeitsgemeinschaft Mess- und Eichwesen (AGME) has refined and clarified its previous guidance. The fundamental rules for typical home‑charging scenarios remain in place, but there are additions regarding the use of MID meters. This provides valuable guidance for companies and fleet managers.
Notice and Source Reference
This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The points summarized here refer to the AGME information sheet “Metering requirements for reimbursing home charging costs for electric vehicles from employees to employers” (as of 09 Jan 2026). The document is available via the official platforms of the German metrology authorities: https://www.agme.de/ or https://www.eichamt.de/
Why the New AGME Guidance Matters
AGME is the joint body of the German metrology authorities and promotes a consistent interpretation of metrology law. Its publications do not have the force of law but are widely used as authoritative guidance in practice. Also relevant is the legal framework itself: using or billing with metering devices contrary to the requirements can constitute an administrative offence under certain conditions, subject to fines under the German Metrology and Verification Act.
The updated note chiefly delivers one thing: greater clarity about which systems are acceptable and which are not.
Home Charging Is Not a Typical Public EV‑Charging Scenario
AGME clarifies that charging a company car at a private wallbox at home often does not fall directly under the strict requirements for “measuring instruments in the field of e‑mobility.” What matters is the usage situation: a permanently connected supply point, a single user or contractual party, and no changing vehicles. In this constellation, home charging is treated similarly to household electricity supply under metrology law.
For employer reimbursement, however, a proper measurement is still required. Reimbursement is always based on the difference between readings from the same meter.
When a MID Meter Is Sufficient for Reimbursement
A legally compliant electricity meter with MID conformity can be sufficient if the following conditions are met:
The meter is permanently installed.
It measures only the charging energy for the company vehicle.
The electricity is drawn by one contractual party.
The meter is conformity‑assessed or validly calibrated and used correctly.
If these conditions are fulfilled, there is no need for transaction‑level records of individual charging sessions, and a fully “eichrechtskonforme” wallbox is not mandatory.
Mobile MID Meters in the Charging Cable Are Not Permitted
AGME draws a clear line for mobile solutions. MID meters integrated into charging cables are considered not permitted. The reason is that this use does not correspond to the intended application under the Measuring Instruments Directive. Verbatim note in the AGME information sheet, dated 09 Jan 2026: “Using an electricity meter conformity‑assessed under the European Measuring Instruments Directive 2014/32/EU as a mobile measuring device in a charging cable does not correspond to the intended application and is therefore not permitted.”
Retrofitting with MID Meter, Legally Compliant Wallbox, or Charge Repay Service?
Discover your options for legally compliant billing of company car charging at home: When is retrofitting with an MID meter sufficient, when is a legally compliant wallbox required—and how does the Charge Repay Service bridge the gap without needing to replace your wallbox?
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The Electricity Tariff Model Also Matters
The link between tariff model and metering requirement is clarified.
With a constant price per kilowatt‑hour, a standard MID meter with a valid verification period is generally sufficient. If dynamic tariffs or frequent price changes are used for billing, additional national requirements for the meter may be necessary.
When a Fully Compliant Solution Is Required at Home
A MID‑only approach is adequate only in a clear one‑to‑one setup. Fully compliant solutions under the MessEV become necessary if at least one of the following applies:
Multiple users or vehicles share one wallbox or meter, for example in multi‑tenant buildings or when separating private and business charging. In these cases, individual sessions must be clearly attributed and persistently documented.
The household‑power analogy no longer holds, for example because more than one contractual party draws power or additional consumers are connected to the same circuit. In such cases the scope of measuring instrument type 6.8 for e‑mobility applies.
Dynamic tariffs with frequent price changes are used for billing. AGME mentions additional national requirements for the meter that go beyond the basic MID standard.
Transaction‑secure records are required because measurements are not repeatable and take place in the absence of one party. MessEV then demands persistent recording and provision of evidence by the measuring instrument.
In short, once you leave the one‑to‑one setup or introduce more complex billing models, a fully compliant solution under MessEV is required.
This is where the Charge Repay Service comes in. It enables legally sound reimbursement even outside the one‑to‑one constellation, provides the required records, and scales with growing user and tariff scenarios without necessarily replacing existing wallboxes. This keeps reimbursement compliant even with multiple users, multiple vehicles, or dynamic tariffs.
Conclusion
The updated AGME note does not introduce entirely new rules but provides much‑needed clarity. Home charging for company EVs can be settled more simply under clearly defined conditions than by defaulting to an expensive fully compliant wallbox. At the same time, the document clearly indicates which solutions remain out of bounds.
For companies seeking to accommodate growing vehicle numbers, varied tariffs, and low administrative effort, an automated reimbursement solution remains the most reliable path to lasting compliance.
