Signs your switchboard probably needs work
Ceramic fuses, a wooden backing board, or asbestos backing — these boards were never designed for modern loads.
No main switch RCD (safety switch) covering the whole board.
The board is already full and there's no spare space for a new charger circuit.
Your main supply cable is undersized — most licensed installers will spot this on a site visit.
Typical upgrade costs
Adding a dedicated EV circuit and RCD in an already-modern board: usually included in the install quote.
A partial upgrade (new main switch, RCD, tidy-up): commonly $600–$1,200.
A full switchboard replacement: commonly $1,800–$3,500 depending on complexity and asbestos handling.
How to avoid surprises
Send installers a clear photo of your switchboard before they quote — most will price the job accurately from that.
Ask specifically whether the quote includes any switchboard work, or whether that would be a separate line item.
If two out of three installers flag the same issue, it's real — don't just pick the quote that ignored it.