Our Audi A3 caught fire in the middle of the night - who can we claim from for possession damage and a hire car? | Ask Honest John

Our Audi A3 caught fire in the middle of the night - who can we claim from for possession damage and a hire car?

My partner's three-year-old Audi A3 caught fire on our drive at 4am (it was stationary and switched off at the time) and has been written off. The car was leased through my partner's work and we've been told that as the car is irreparable they will not provide a hire car. The maximum they cover for possessions in the car is £250 as well, but the fire destroyed our our daughter's child seat and Isofix base, numerous possessions and our one year old's buggy (cost £650). We've been pushed from pillar to post and cannot get a hire car. We will be out of pocket to replace both the possessions and car through no fault of our own. Can we claim anything from anyone?

Asked on 30 August 2018 by Steven Barrett

Answered by Honest John

Presumably the car was provided on a salary sacrifice scheme, so your partner was paying for having it. If that is the case then her employer may be legally liable for the lost personal possessions. However, we have one previous report of this: 27-10-2016: Report of underbonnet fire breaking out in September 2013 Audi A4 1.4TSI 140 ACT. Appears that turbo bearing oil seal or oil feed and return pipes broke, spilling oil onto the hot exhaust. When bonnet was opened the heat shield was on fire (www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/audi/a3-2012/good/). You should insist that the insurer investigates properly because if the fire broke out as the result of a problem with the car then the supplying dealer could be held liable.

Tags: liability fire

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Audi A3 (2012 - 2020)

Comfortable and high quality premium hatchback, low emissions diesel engines including economical 1.6 TDI, very refined at speed yet handles well in corners.