If your car catches fire in Germany, partial cover (Teilkasko) pays for it, whether a technical fault, arson or an accident started the fire, minus your deductible and without affecting your no-claims class. If the fire spreads to other cars or a building, your car liability pays when the fire started in the car's own equipment. With liability only, nobody pays for your own car.
Average annual premiums in Germany, showing what fire protection through hull cover costs.
Example
Typical range
Car liability only, average
about EUR 256 to 290 a year
Liability with partial cover, average
about EUR 450 a year
Liability with comprehensive cover, average
about EUR 590 a year
Averages from published market overviews, as of October 2026.
Your premium depends on car, location and no-claims class.
The figures in the worked example are guide values from quoting practice.
Worked example
Four year old estate car, cable fire in an underground garage
The car burns out at night, the fire damages the neighbouring car and the garage ceiling.
Replacement value of your car
EUR 18,000
Salvage value and partial cover deductible
EUR 300 and EUR 150
Payment from your partial cover
EUR 17,550, no-claims class unchanged
Neighbouring car and garage
about EUR 12,000 from your car liability, with loss of no-claims years
You pay EUR 150 and lose no-claims years in liability. Without partial cover the EUR 18,000 for your car would be gone.
Your car: partial cover pays for fire
Fire and explosion are covered by partial cover in Germany, and comprehensive cover always includes partial cover. A fire under the model terms is a fire with flames that can spread on its own. Where it came from does not matter: a cable fire, a hot catalytic converter on dry grass, arson by strangers or a fire after an accident.
Scorching and singeing without open flames, such as a melted cable, do not count as fire. Short circuit damage to the wiring is covered separately, but only the cables. If the car is a write off, you get the replacement value minus the salvage value and your deductible.
Cause of the fire
Your car
Damage to others
Technical fault in a parked car
partial cover
your car liability
Arson by unknown persons
partial cover
usually not your liability, the arsonist is liable
Fire after an accident
partial cover
liability of the driver who caused the accident
Fire spreads from a neighbouring car
that car's liability, otherwise your partial cover
not your case
Set on fire deliberately by yourself
nothing, intent is excluded
criminal proceedings
When the fire spreads to others
If your parked car burns in an underground garage and damages other cars or the building, you are liable as the keeper when the damage arose from the operation of the car. The Federal Court of Justice ruled on 21 January 2014 that this includes the fire of a parked car if it is linked to the car's equipment, such as the electrics. Your car liability then pays.
Arson by strangers is different, because the risk of the car itself did not cause the damage. Those affected then have to claim from the arsonist or their own insurance. A payment from your liability usually costs you no-claims years, even if you did nothing wrong.
What to do after a car fire
Get everyone out, keep your distance and call the fire brigade on 112. Do not open the bonnet if the engine bay is on fire, the extra air feeds the flames. Report the fire to the police: under the model terms, fire damage above an amount set in your policy must be reported to the police without delay.
Report the damage to your insurer at once and leave the wreck where it is until it has been inspected. Electric cars are no different for insurance, the fire brigade decides on cooling and removal. Photos and witnesses help to find the cause.
Limits of the cover
If you caused the fire through gross negligence, for example with a fan heater inside the car, the insurer may reduce the payment unless your policy waives this. Items in the car such as a laptop or luggage are not covered by hull insurance, contents insurance (Hausratversicherung) may help.
Fitted parts and accessories are included, later modifications often only up to a limit. With very old cars the deductible can eat up most of the payout.
When you do not need partial cover against fire
If your car is only worth a few hundred euros, partial cover just for the fire risk rarely pays off. Damage to other cars and buildings is covered by compulsory liability anyway.
For newer or financed cars partial cover matters, because a total loss by fire would otherwise cost you the full value. Leasing contracts usually require hull cover.
Step by step
Leave the car, keep your distance, call 112.
Inform the police, report arson if suspected.
Take photos and note witnesses.
Report the damage to your insurer at once, partial cover and liability if others are affected.
Scrap the wreck only after the insurer agrees.
Checklist
Partial or comprehensive cover for cars of real value
Waiver of the gross negligence defence in the policy
Accessories and modifications declared with their value
Contents insurance checked for items in the car
A deductible you can always afford
Common mistakes
Opening the bonnet of a burning car
Scrapping the burnt out car before the insurer has seen it
Not reporting arson to the police
Believing liability also pays for your own car
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Will I lose no-claims years after a fire?
Not for your own car if partial cover pays.
If your liability pays for other cars, you usually lose no-claims years there.
Does insurance pay if someone set my car on fire?
Yes, partial cover pays for arson by strangers.
Report it to the police.
What is scorch damage?
Damage from heat without open flames, such as a melted cable.
Under the model terms it does not count as fire.
Does comprehensive cover pay more than partial cover for a fire?
No, fire is already in partial cover.
Comprehensive pays the same but may have a different deductible.
Who pays if a car next to mine catches fire?
If the fire came from that car's equipment, its liability insurer pays.
If the cause is unclear, your partial cover pays and tries to recover the money.
