Charging Guide
Helpful information about when and how to charge your Vay Car.
Guide content
At Vay, we make EV rentals worry-free. That means you don’t have to recharge the car before ending your rental. If you’re running low on battery, just follow this charging guide—and we’ll cover the charging fees.
Where to charge
Find nearby charging stations in the Vay app during your trip. Just look for pins with a lightning bolt on the map.
Charging is free. Learn how refunds work below.
Important:
- The charging stations listed in the app do not accept cash.
- Charging station availability can change. Before you go, check the station’s real-time availability on Google Maps or Apple Maps.
Fast Charging
- 30 mins charge –> ~100 miles additional –> ~40% of battery
- 60 mins charge –> ~200 miles additional –> ~80% of battery
For fast charging make sure the following filters are selected on the external website:
Don’t forget to check for slow chargers in the next section if you cannot find fast chargers nearby.
Slow Charging
- 30 mins charge –> ~12.5 miles additional –> ~5% of battery
- 60 mins charge –> ~25 miles additional –> ~10% of battery
- 8 hours –> ~200 additional miles –> ~80% of additional battery
Important: the charging stations listed only work with contactless bank cards (marked with a wireless-like symbol 🛜) or mobile wallet (Apple Pay or Google Pay)
For slow charging make sure the following filters are selected on the external website:
Start and end charging
Depending on which charging station you choose, the charging process may vary. You can find recommended charging stations directly in the Vay app during your trip. Look for pins with a lightning bolt on the map.
Electrify America
STEP 1
STEP 2
Open the charging cover and remove any plastic lids that cover the inlets.
STEP 3
Plug the cable in until you hear a “click” sound.
STEP 4
On the station screen you’ll see “Connecting to vehicle”.
STEP 5
After the station is connected, you’ll be prompted to pay with a credit card or a mobile wallet (Apple Pay/Google Pay).
STEP 6
Tap your card or mobile phone at the card reader.
STEP 7
Once your payment is authorized, the station will start charging. Press continue on the screen in order to proceed with the charging process. Do not unplug it after payment or it will restart.
STEP 8
Plug the cable in until you hear a “click” sound.
STEP 9
On the screen you’ll see the “Stop” button. Pressing it will end the charging session, and automatically bill your card.
STEP 10
You’ll see the summary screen and might hear a click on the charging inlet – meaning the cable is unlocked.
STEP 11
Take a picture of the summary so you can get a full refund.
STEP 12
Click the button on the cable head and take the cable out.
STEP 13
Don’t forget to close the plastic lids and the charging cover.
STEP 14
Please be a good citizen and return the cable to the station. 😀
Chargepoint
STEP 1
Make sure you park the car close, as the cables are heavy, stiff, and not very long (KIA’s charging inlet is in the front).
STEP 2
You need to activate that station by tapping a contactless credit card (marked with a wireless-like symbol) or mobile wallet (Apple Pay or Google Play) on the designated area.
STEP 3
Once your card is authorized you may hear a sound and the screen will change to say “Charging without an account”.
STEP 4
Press the physical button below the screen to accept.
STEP 5
The screen will change again accompanied with a click sound notifying you that it is waiting for you to plug the cable in.
STEP 6
Take the cable from the station.
STEP 7
Open the charging cover, and remove any plastic lids that cover the inlets.
STEP 8
Plug the cable in until you hear a “click” sound.
STEP 9
Once the cable is properly plugged in, the screen on the station will change to show the screen “Waiting for EV”.
STEP 10
The screen will then automatically change to “Charging”. If it doesn’t please try another station. Please charge as much as your time allows (you’ll be refunded for the whole charge anyway!).
STEP 11
Once you’re done charging, click the button on the cable head and take the cable out.
STEP 12
Don’t forget to close the plastic lids and the charging cover.
STEP 13
Please be a good citizen and return the cable back to the station. 😀
STEP 14
You’ll see the summary of your charge on the screen.
Get refunded for charging
Our customer support will reply in the shortest time possible. Refunds typically take up to 7 days.
Vay will fully refund you the follow fees:
- The charging fee
- The stopover fee for the duration of the charge
We proactively process charging refunds each week. If you’d like to help us process yours faster, send us either:
- a photo of the station screen showing the charging summary, or
- a screenshot of your bank statement showing the transaction.
When to charge
Our vehicles come charged and ready to go, with charging included in your trip price—plus, if you need a top-up, we’ve got you covered (here’s how).
You don’t need to recharge when returning the car, just remember to keep a little juice left (minimum 30 miles).
How long does charging take
Charging length depends on many factors (temperature, charge level, other cars using the same station, etc.), but the key factor is what type of charging station you chose. Below you can find a rough reference for the two main station types:
Fast charging stations
Also known as DCFC, Level 3
60 minutes = ~200 additional miles
Slow charging stations
Also known as AC, Level 2
60 minutes = ~25 additional miles
What if the car doesn’t charge
There is a number of known issues with our recommended charging providers, ranging from stations not working to broken cable heads and card readers. Please contact their support directly if you encounter any inconveniences.
Electrify America Support
24 hours a day / 7 days a week
Chargepoint Support
U.S. and Canada Toll Free
(24 hours a day / 7 days a week)
In case you cannot resolve the issues with the providers directly, please contact Vay’s customer support.
