You can charge an EV without a charging-provider app when the station offers direct payment, also called ad hoc charging. Depending on the charger, you pay at a bank-card terminal or through a mobile payment page. Check the displayed tariff first: the direct price can differ from the price in a roaming app.

Bank card, charging card or QR code?

A debit or credit card pays through a banking system. An RFID charging card identifies an existing charging account. Both can be contactless, but they are not interchangeable. Look for payment-card logos and the station’s instructions instead of assuming every reader takes your bank card.

A QR payment flow normally needs a phone, internet access and a browser, even though it does not require installing an app. If your phone is unavailable, choose a location with a suitable payment terminal and have an accepted card ready.

Does every German charger have a card terminal?

No. The Bundesnetzagentur’s AFIR guidance distinguishes commissioning date and power. For paid public charging points installed from 13 April 2024, installations whose highest-power point is at least 50 kW require card-reader or contactless card payment. Below 50 kW, a secure registration-free online payment option can also qualify. Older installations have transitional rules. A payment terminal may serve several chargers.

For drivers, this means checking the specific site rather than relying on “all chargers accept cards”. Read the current official guidance for legal detail; a photographed QR code is not proof that a physical card reader exists.

How to start a direct-payment session

• Identify the connector and bay you are actually using.

• Read the energy price and any time or session fees on the terminal or payment page.

• Follow the station’s order for connecting, authorising and starting.

• Confirm that charging has begun on the vehicle and charger, not just that payment was accepted.

• Keep the receipt link or session reference, then end the session through the specified method.

Check the payment page before entering details

Use the operator’s displayed address or official site to verify the payment destination. Treat a sticker placed over an original QR code or an unexpected request to install software as a reason to stop and contact support. HTTPS alone does not establish that a site belongs to the charging operator.

Why is a larger amount reserved on my card?

A payment hold reserves funds before the final consumption is known. It is not necessarily the final charge. Compare the completed receipt with the settled transaction, rather than treating every pending reservation as a second payment. The release process depends on the payment service and bank.

Save the charging receipt, compare it with settled transactions and ask support about a reservation that does not clear. Repeated authorisation attempts can make a banking app harder to interpret, so avoid repeatedly paying when the charger is already processing the first request.

When is direct payment the better choice?

It is useful for a spontaneous stop, a borrowed car or as a fallback when your charging card is rejected. For regular use, compare the final session total with your available tariffs. Our charging-price guide explains that comparison. If authorisation succeeds but no energy flows, use the charging-start troubleshooting steps.

Prepare your next stop in the app

For regular public charging, StromNow brings station search, prices and route planning together. Explore the app before your next journey and check the chosen point before starting. Explore StromNow and download the app.

Editorial review: 5 September 2026. Check current station conditions before charging.