German-law context: This page relates to German law and German automotive claims practice. It provides operational information, not individual legal advice.
The repair business should connect every high-voltage operation to a technical trigger, qualified personnel, a documented procedure and a clear billing position.
First priority: safe classification
The intake process must identify whether the vehicle can be moved, stored and worked on safely. Visible damage, warning messages, immersion, fire exposure or impact near the battery require escalation to the manufacturer procedure and qualified high-voltage personnel.
Isolation and diagnostic operations
De-energising, checking absence of voltage, securing against reconnection and restoring the system are separate technical steps. Diagnostic work may include guided tests, insulation measurement and battery-system evaluation. Each step should be documented.
Quarantine and storage
A damaged high-voltage vehicle may require a defined storage area, safety distances, monitoring or specialist handling. These requirements should be recorded at the time they arise, including duration, responsible person and technical basis.
Commercial control
EV cases can tie up space, equipment and qualified labour. Management should track high-voltage hours, external services, storage days and approval status separately. This prevents safety work from disappearing inside a general labour position.
Frequently asked questions
Does every damaged EV require quarantine?
No. The decision depends on the damage pattern and manufacturer or emergency guidance. The assessment should be documented.
Who may work on the high-voltage system?
Only personnel with the required qualification and authorisation for the task.
Can high-voltage operations be invoiced?
Necessary and properly performed operations should be included transparently in estimating and invoicing. Recoverability is case-specific.
What is the management risk?
Unplanned capacity use, delayed approvals, specialist subcontracting and weak evidence can materially reduce contribution margin.
Frank Roll, MSc, MBA
Automotive claims management specialist working at the interface between dealerships, insurers, automotive damage assessors and legal professionals since 1998. Author of Schadenmanagement im Autohaus and developer of the R-SOS management consulting system.
Last reviewed: July 2026 · The specialist book is currently available in German.