Does Car Insurance Cover Engine Fires?

Comprehensive insurance typically covers damage from car engine fires, though it can depend on the circumstances.
Written by Jacoba Bood
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
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Comprehensive insurance policies will cover car fires under most circumstances, including engine fires. If you want to be certain that your car is covered for car fires, you may want to consider investing in collision
car insurance
, as well.
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What is comprehensive car insurance?

Comprehensive car insurance
covers damage to your car that isn’t the direct result of a collision.
A comprehensive policy will cover you up to your policy limit for damage that results from things like theft, vandalism, extreme weather events, and fires.
You don’t have a legal obligation to purchase comprehensive insurance, but if you’re leasing or financing your vehicle, your loan contract may require it. And since it’s optional coverage, you’ll have to purchase it in addition to a basic liability insurance plan.
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Key Takeaway A comprehensive policy will cover you up to your policy limit for damage that results from things like theft, vandalism, extreme weather events, and fires.

Car engine fires || Engine fires

Under normal circumstances, mechanical failure isn’t covered by car insurance. But if your car catches on fire because of mechanical failure, comprehensive insurance will cover you up to your policy limit. So, if you have the right package, engine insurance is a reality.
If you don’t have comprehensive insurance on your policy, you’ll be responsible for any damage out of pocket.

Arson fires

If your car was set on fire in an act of arson, comprehensive insurance will likely cover it—as long as you take the proper steps beforehand.
The idea of setting a car on fire intentionally might seem far-fetched, but it does happen. Since arson is considered a form of vandalism, you will have to file a police report to access your car insurance coverage.

Garage fires

Homeowner’s insurance won’t cover damage to your car from a garage fire, but comprehensive car insurance might.
Garage fires can cause a lot of collateral damage—and your home and your car are especially at risk. Home insurance policies don’t cover automobiles, so it’s a good idea to invest in a comprehensive insurance policy if you have a garage.

Fires resulting from car accidents

If your car catches on fire after an accident, either comprehensive or
collision car insurance
may cover the damage.
The coverage that will apply in this situation depends on the circumstances surrounding the fire and the details of your insurance policy.
The best way to ensure that you’re always insured for fires is to upgrade to a full-coverage policy that includes both comprehensive and collision insurance. If you’d rather leave the hard work of gathering quotes to someone else, use
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What if my car is a total loss after a fire?

It’s not uncommon for insurance companies to decide that a car is a total loss after catching fire. Fires can cause a lot of damage very quickly, and repairs often aren’t worth it. And car fires are stressful enough without having to worry about buying a new car out of pocket.
Comprehensive insurance will cover the damage costs under most scenarios and give you one less thing to worry about. If your policy covers you for the fire, your insurance company will pay you for the
actual cash value
of your car, minus the deductible.
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How to find the best car insurance coverage for fires

If you want to ensure that you’re covered for car fires, upgrading to a comprehensive insurance policy is a good start. You might also want to consider investing in collision coverage as well.
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The average Jerry user saves $879 a year on car insurance!
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