Car insurance covers fire damage to your vehicle, but only if you carry comprehensive coverage. Liability coverage — the minimum required in most states — does not pay for damage to your own vehicle under any circumstances, including fire. If you are unsure whether your policy includes comprehensive, check your declarations page or call your insurer before you need to find out the hard way.
Comprehensive Coverage and Fire Damage
Comprehensive coverage is the part of an auto policy that covers damage to your car from causes other than a collision with another vehicle or object. Fire — whether from an electrical fault, an engine malfunction, arson, a wildfire, or a natural disaster — is one of the core perils covered under comprehensive. The coverage applies regardless of fault because fire damage is not caused by a driving error.
Types of Fire Damage Typically Covered
Comprehensive covers a wide range of fire damage scenarios:
- Engine and electrical fires caused by mechanical failure or wiring faults
- Arson — a fire intentionally set by someone other than you
- Wildfire — a vehicle destroyed or damaged in a wildland fire event
- Garage or structure fire — a vehicle parked inside a structure that catches fire
- Flood-related fire — in some cases, vehicles that were flooded and then caught fire due to electrical damage
Exclusions and Gray Areas
Fire damage caused by your own intentional act is excluded and constitutes fraud if you file a claim. A vehicle fire that originates from a collision (e.g., the car catches fire after being struck by another vehicle) is covered under collision coverage, not comprehensive. Fires caused by improper modifications — custom fuel systems, aftermarket electrical installations — may be subject to coverage disputes if the insurer can demonstrate the modification caused the fire. Manufacturer defects that cause fires create a separate legal avenue (product liability) that can run alongside or instead of an insurance claim.
How the Claims Process Works
Report the fire to your insurer as soon as it is safe to do so. If police or fire department responded, get a copy of their report — insurers request it as supporting documentation for fire claims. Photograph the vehicle thoroughly before it is moved. Your insurer will send an adjuster to inspect the damage and determine the payout. If the vehicle is repairable, they will authorize repair through an approved facility. If it is a total loss, you will receive the actual cash value of the vehicle before the fire, minus your deductible. Settlement disputes — where you believe the ACV assessment is too low — can be addressed with an independent appraisal.
If a fire also damaged your home or belongings, the process differs. Our fire insurance claims guide covers the homeowner and renter process in detail. For the specific question of what to do when your car specifically caught fire, see will my car insurance cover a car fire. If a fire adjuster is involved for your home, see how to deal with an insurance adjuster after a house fire.