Car fires are rare and frightening — and the first ten minutes decide both your safety and your claim. Memorise these steps now; nobody wants to be reading them beside a smoking bonnet.
First: people, then the car
Pull over, switch off, get everyone out and 30 metres back, then call emergency services. Never open a burning bonnet — the rush of air feeds the flames — and never go back for belongings. Cars are insured; you are not replaceable.
Then: document for the claim
Once it is safe, photograph the scene, note the time, place and any warning lights or smells before the fire, and keep the tow receipt. Call us the same day: motor fire claims start with one phone call, and comprehensive policies include a hire car while yours is assessed.
How the claim settles
An assessor confirms the cause and whether the car is repairable or a total loss — most reports land within days. Agreed-value policies pay the figure on your schedule with no haggling; if the car is under two years old, new-car replacement applies.
