Fires are a real fear for many homeowners, but what about car owners? You may never have considered fire damage as a concern for your vehicle.
However, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a shocking 209,500 vehicle fires were estimated in 2020 alone. Responsible for 15% of all fires during the year, car fires are a very real threat.
So that begs the question: if your car catches on fire, does insurance cover it?
The short answer? Yes, most auto insurance policies will cover vehicle fires in most incidents. But like all insurance incidents, the full answer is much more complicated.
Read on to learn:
- What causes a car fire?
- What types of insurance cover car fires?
- When doesn’t auto insurance cover car fires?
- How to file a claim for car fire damage
WHAT CAUSES A CAR FIRE?
Before we dive into specific insurance coverage plans for car fires, let’s review potential causes for a car fire. Some may be covered by your insurance policy, while others will not.
Arson
Intentionally setting fire to a car is a serious crime that can obviously cause tremendous damage to a vehicle. There are two types of arson when it comes to your vehicle: a fire you set yourself and a fire that a criminal sets. Provided you didn’t knowingly park your car near a dangerous situation, arson by another person is often covered by car insurance (depending on your policy), while fires you purposely set would not be covered (no matter what your policy).
Car Accidents
When your vehicle is involved in a collision that is covered by your policy, any resulting fire should also be covered.
Garages
A common cause of car fires, garage fires are often covered by insurance, but dependent on who owns the vehicle and who owns the garage.
Natural Disasters
Depending on your policy, natural disasters like lightning or earthquakes that result in a car fire may or may not be covered by your car insurance. It’s important to review your plan closely to determine your coverage.
Negligence
When it comes to vehicle fires, auto insurance coverage is tricky. Negligence assumes the car owner takes reasonable steps when it comes to preventing fire damage.
Should the insurance company determine you were negligent about a car fire, your claim could be void.
WHAT TYPES OF INSURANCE COVER CAR FIRES?
Like many other incidents, coverage for a vehicle fire ultimately depends on what caused the fire. As we’ve seen, there are certain situations where no plans are going to cover a burnt car, while other circumstances are up to the discretion of your policy.
As always, please consult with your unique policy or auto insurance carrier to ensure your vehicle is covered in the event of a fire (and under which situations).
Collision Car Insurance
As the name suggests, collision insurance will cover a vehicle fire if it’s the result of an accident with another vehicle.
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive can cover a wide variety of damage caused by a car fire. After all, comprehensive auto insurance is intended to cover any unforeseen damage outside of a collision. However, comprehensive coverage isn’t required in any state, so you may not currently have it. Examples of comprehensive coverage that will cover a burnt vehicle include:
- Arson after a theft
- Mechanical issue that causes an engine fire
- Vehicle was too close to a sudden fire (e.g. house fire or forest fire)
Supplemental Car Insurance
Supplemental insurance often fills the gaps that both collision and comprehensive coverage don’t protect against. Supplemental policies are incredibly unique, so always read yours carefully.
Some examples of supplemental coverage include:
- Damaged possessions in the vehicle during a fire
- Fire in a rental vehicle
- Liability for other drivers
WHEN DOESN’T AUTO INSURANCE COVER CAR FIRES?
Even though there are many reasons insurance will cover vehicle fires — as well as plenty of policies — there are still instances when your vehicle won’t be covered for a fire.
Here are reasons your vehicle fire claim will be rejected:
- Damage purposely committed or at fault by owner
- Inactive or canceled policy
- Policy exclusions
- Violation of terms
HOW TO FILE A CLAIM FOR CAR FIRE DAMAGE
The claims process for a burnt vehicle is similar to many other incidents. After you’ve called the authorities, follow these steps if your vehicle has been burned:
- Call your insurance company and ask to submit a claim.
- Your carrier’s representative will ask a series of questions regarding the claim, then ask you to provide additional documentation.
- Submit applicable documents (such as the claim form, incident reports, repair bills, etc.).
- An adjuster or surveyor will investigate the damage and cause of the fire. Always be honest throughout the process.
- Your auto insurance carrier will either approve or deny your claim.
(In some situations, the vehicle manufacturer may be responsible. This would be the case for an engine fire due to mechanical issues.)
When a vehicle fire occurs, your car may also be classified as a total loss. In this case, as long as your insurance covers it, your provider will pay out the value of the car.
Any kind of fire is a terrifying, but realistic, thought. Now that you have a better sense of whether your auto insurance covers fires, it’s time to consult your policy closely and ensure you’ll be taken care of if the worst should happen.
If you need help finding the best auto insurance coverage for the best price, start by speaking to a SimplyIOA agent at 833.872.4467 or get an auto insurance quote online now.
