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Motor trade insurance
EV repair insurance is garage or motor trade cover that has been arranged with your electric and hybrid work declared, so high-voltage, battery and fire risks are actually underwritten. Undeclared EV work can leave a claim exposed.
Part of: Motor trade insurance
In short
Working on electric and hybrid vehicles adds high-voltage, stored energy and battery fire risks. HSE splits EV work into four categories from valeting to high-voltage repair, and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require competence or supervision for electrical work. IMI TechSafe recognises technicians with IMI EV qualifications. Insurers commonly ask about qualifications, isolation procedures, battery work and how damaged vehicles are stored and charged. Declare EV work fully, check customer vehicle limits reflect EV values, and make sure test drives fall under your road risks.
HSE's guidance on electric and hybrid vehicles sets out why this work is different. Vehicle systems can run at up to 650V dc, and HSE warns that "in dry conditions, accidental contact with parts that are live at voltages above 110 Volts dc can be fatal". For the motor vehicle repair sector it treats 60 to 1500V dc as high voltage.
The other hazards HSE lists include:
Each of these is an insurance question as well as a safety one: injury to staff, fire damage to premises and customer vehicles, and liability for work that fails later.
See also motor trade insurance, garage and vehicle repair insurance, auto electrician insurance and high-performance motor trade insurance.
HSE splits EV work into four categories, each needing a different level of competence:
| HSE category | Examples | HSE's view of competence |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Valeting, sales and other lower risk activities | Valeting, showroom work | "An awareness of the additional risks is likely to be all that is required" |
| 2. Incident response | Emergency services, vehicle recovery | Depends on the work |
| 3. Maintenance and repair excluding high-voltage systems | Servicing, brakes, suspension on EVs and hybrids | A much greater level of competence than sales and valeting |
| 4. Working on high-voltage electrical systems | Battery, inverter and motor work | A much greater level of competence, specialist tools and equipment |
The underlying law is the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Regulation 16 says no one may do work where technical knowledge or experience is needed to prevent danger unless they have that knowledge or experience or are suitably supervised. Regulation 14 restricts work on or near live conductors to cases where it is unreasonable for them to be dead, reasonable to work live, and suitable precautions are taken. HSE adds that high-voltage systems should be isolated and proven dead by testing before work starts, using insulated tools and test equipment compliant with GS38, and that working live "should only be considered when there is no other way for work to be undertaken".
HSE points to the Institute of the Motor Industry for qualifications. IMI TechSafe is the IMI's recognition for technicians holding a valid IMI electric vehicle or ADAS qualification, which places them on the IMI Professional Register. Eligible qualifications include Level 2 (routine maintenance), Level 3 (system repair and replacement) and Level 4 (diagnosis, testing and repair) awards. Insurers commonly ask which level your technicians hold and match it to the work you declare.
Battery fire is a central concern for insurers looking at EV work, because a single thermal event can damage a building and every vehicle inside it. HSE's guidance gives several practical points:
Insurers commonly ask where EVs and hybrids are parked and charged, whether damaged or suspect vehicles are kept apart from other vehicles and buildings, what happens out of hours, and what fire detection is in place. Answers here can affect terms and whether cover is offered at all. See also a motor trade premises fire scenario.
Answer accurately. Under section 3 of the Insurance Act 2015 a business must make a fair presentation of the risk before cover starts; see fair presentation explained.
EVs tend to be higher value than the petrol and diesel cars many independents are used to, so check that the limits in your customer vehicles section reflect what is actually in your workshop. See customer vehicles in your care.
Test drives are use on a road, and section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 requires insurance for that use; motor trade road risks is the usual route. For consumer customers, the Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 requires services to be performed with reasonable care and skill.
Illustrative scenario: a garage replaces a high-voltage cable on a hybrid. Weeks later the car suffers an electrical fault and catches fire at the owner's home, damaging the owner's property. The owner's insurer may seek to recover its outlay from the garage. Whether the garage's liability policy responds depends on its terms, any exclusions for high-voltage work and whether that work was declared.
For bodyshop work on EVs see bodyshop and accident repair insurance and our automotive trade broker guide.
Apex arranges motor trade insurance for garages and mechanics, with premises, liability, customer vehicle and road risks cover. Tell us about any EV and hybrid work so it is declared. A broker reads your enquiry and comes back with options, and there is no fee for a quote. We need: what EV work you do, your premises and storage arrangements, technicians' qualifications, who drives (ages, licences, points), turnover, the value of your own stock and customers' vehicles, and your claims history. Cover is subject to the insurer's acceptance and the policy terms.
Not a separate product, but you must declare EV and hybrid work to your insurer, and some insurers restrict or exclude high-voltage work. Cover usually sits within a garage or motor trade policy, subject to the insurer's acceptance, technicians' qualifications and storage arrangements.
The legal duty comes from the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, which require people doing electrical work to have the knowledge or experience to prevent danger, or suitable supervision. IMI qualifications and IMI TechSafe recognition are a common way to show that competence, and insurers often ask for them.
HSE treats 60 to 1500V dc as high voltage for motor vehicle repair, notes systems can run at up to 650V dc, and warns that accidental contact with parts live above 110V dc can be fatal in dry conditions.
It can, but insurers commonly ask how. Expect questions on separation from other vehicles and buildings, out-of-hours storage, charging and fire detection. HSE advises checking for damaged high-voltage components and isolating the battery where safe to do so.
Do not assume it does. Some policies were written before EV work was common and may restrict high-voltage work or set lower limits for customer vehicles. Check the wording and declare the work; cover is subject to the insurer's acceptance and the policy terms.
Tell us what your business does, who drives, your premises and vehicle values. A broker reads every enquiry and comes back with options. No fee for a quote. Or call 0117 325 0027.
Start a motor trade enquiry Request a callbackApex Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales, company number 07014570. This page is general information, not advice on your individual circumstances, and it does not guarantee that cover will be available or on what terms.
