Car fire - insurance

android-fan · 4 Feb 2022 at 07:48

My insurance company (Axa) opens at 9:00 so a quick question before they open (and I don't have access to my policy documents). In general, does fully comp insurance cover car fires?

Neighbour knocked on my door at around 4:30 p.m. yesterday, as they'd noticed smoke coming from my car, and sparks underneath. Smoke appeared to be coming from the boot so opened the boot and immediately closed as full of flames :-(

Called 999, fire engine turns up 10 minutes later and put the fire out in the boot. They did some checks and suggested electrical fault (electrical loom running in the boot next to the location of the fire). They've disconnected the battery and there is hole in my boot where the fire was.

Car is not worth much now (15 year old BMW 520d) but wondering how my insurance will view this? Will it be covered under insurance?

android-fan · 4 Feb 2022 at 08:08

Hopefully that was tongue in cheek.

Know issue apparently

https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/fire-from-battery-lead-on-my-e60-530d.610618/
https://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/66198-e60e61-recall/
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-17514172

android-fan · 4 Feb 2022 at 08:29

I spent £500 on getting it through the MOT literally a week ago which is not great timing. At that point I'd been debating scrapping it (£420 scrap value which is also ridiculously high) but last minute decided to repair as could not find another car at the right price.

android-fan · 4 Feb 2022 at 09:56

So the first response from Axa was that fire is not covered unless caused by an accident... She then decided to "double-check" and came back and confirmed that fire is covered unless caused by negligence. So their specialist fire department will be in touch to asses the claim. I'm sure @teenwolf will be pleased to hear that :-)

android-fan · 4 Feb 2022 at 10:40

Sent pictures to them of the damage (and the rest of the car). They'll decide if it's repairable or write off.

android-fan · 4 Feb 2022 at 12:19

So not sure why they've said it is covered? Waiting for their response to my pictures

android-fan · 4 Feb 2022 at 13:44

If the claim minus excess pays out less than the scrap value than I'll probably not pursue the claim (if that's possible)

android-fan · 4 Feb 2022 at 13:45

android-fan · 4 Feb 2022 at 20:55

My NCB is protected so won't be impacted, I hope.

android-fan · 10 Feb 2022 at 18:47

Brief update. Everything is going much slower than I'd like :-(

My broker is Swinton. Who outsource their call centre to Carpenters (think that's the correct spelling). My insurance is with AXA who outsource the investigation to Sedwick. And the inspection of the car is via Hooper's engineering. Trying to liaise with all these companies is a pain.

And on the advice of my insurance company, I've contacted BMW who may also want to examine my vehicle as it appears this very issue was the subject of a recall. So potentially BMW pay out and I keep my no claims in tact, but unsure on that.