With electric vehicles, a few extra items decide whether a handover holds up later: if the supplied charging cable is missing or the state of charge is disputed, it quickly gets expensive. A good record captures exactly those points.
Handing over or taking back an electric car follows the same basic rules as with a combustion engine: record the condition, attribute responsibility clearly, document everything. But with an electric car there are additional items that are often missing from the classic handover record — and it is precisely those that spark the arguments later. This article shows what should additionally be documented for electric vehicles, why that matters especially for lease returns, rentals and fleets, and what a solid capture looks like.
The accessories checklist can be extended with charging cable, adapters and state of charge.
The charging accessories supplied are a value item in their own right with an electric car. If they are missing at the return, the additional charge is expensive. So record them individually:
Mode 2 charging cable (domestic socket) — present, condition, serial number where applicable.
Mode 3 charging cable (type 2, for wallbox and public charging point) — present, length, condition.
Adapters (e.g. for different plug types) and portable charging boxes with accessories.
Bag or storage case for the charging accessories.
The state of charge (SoC) is the electric car's equivalent of the fuel level — and just as contentious. Record it separately at handover and at return:
State of charge in per cent as displayed — documented with a photo of the display, not just noted as a number.
Remaining range displayed in kilometres according to the on-board computer, likewise by photo.
Separate capture at issue and at return, so that the difference can be documented.
The charging socket and flap are used at every charge and are correspondingly vulnerable:
Charging socket: visible damage, bent pins, dirt.
Charging flap: opens and closes cleanly, the lock works.
Tyres and rims: tread, visible damage, kerb damage — electric cars are heavier, and tyre wear is a frequent point of dispute.
Underbody: visible condition around the battery, signs of grounding — document as far as this is visible without a lift.
An electric car is linked to accounts and services. If that is overlooked at the return, the previous keeper stays connected to the vehicle:
At the issue the mood is usually amicable — the conflicts arise at the return. Three points cause arguments particularly often with electric cars:
Missing charging cable: a mode 3 charging cable is a noticeable value item. Without a record of what was supplied it is hard to establish later whether it was ever included.
Arguments about the state of charge: whether the vehicle was handed over at 80 % or 20 % makes a difference for rentals and fleets — without a photo it is one person's word against another's.
Battery condition: in lease returns the condition around the battery is a sensitive point. Visible damage to the underbody or charging socket should be documented so that it can be attributed clearly.
“Accessories complete” is not enough. Better: record and photograph every cable and every adapter individually.
If the state of charge is contested later, the proof is missing. Better: photograph the display and bind the value to that photo.
These parts are stressed at every charge but rarely appear in the standard form. Better: include them as fixed items.
Without a documented initial condition, “it was already there” cannot be refuted. Better: the same walk-around at issue and at return.
If the vehicle stays in the previous keeper's account, data protection and attribution problems arise. Better: include signing out as an item in the record.
Comcentra Logs guides you step by step through every item — including the electric-specific ones such as charging cable, state of charge and charging socket — in under three minutes, offline too. The accessories checklist records which cables and adapters are included. Photos are taken live on site with place and time (Certified Capture), including of the display and its readings — Comcentra Logs documents the displayed values by photo and does not measure battery health itself. Every item of damage is marked individually, and an AI-assisted before/after comparison detects new damage between issue and return. The finished record is sealed immutably with SHA-256 and anchored publicly — so every party can verify its authenticity independently. The template becomes solid evidence.
Charging cable and adapters, the state of charge in per cent and the range — in addition to the usual points of a handover record.
As with the fuel level, a documented state of charge avoids later discussions at the return.
Absolutely — missing or damaged charging accessories are a frequent and expensive point of dispute at returns.
The walk-around is the same; it is supplemented by electric-specific accessories and the charging information.
This article gives a practical overview and does not replace legal advice in an individual case. It refers to German law.