CASCO insurance against car arson: what insurance covers and how to get payment in case of intentional damage

Introduction: Why car arson is a real threat in 2026

Ministry of Internal Affairs statistics show that the number of deliberate arson attacks on cars in Russia has increased by 18% over the last two years. The reasons vary: from revenge from neighbors to criminal disputes or even insurance fraud. But the result is the same - a burned-out car, losses worth hundreds of thousands of rubles and long paperwork. Many owners mistakenly believe that standard CASCO insurance will automatically cover damage from arson. In practice, everything is more complicated: insurance companies often refuse payments, citing “lack of proof of intent” or “violation of storage conditions.”

In this article we will look at what risks does CASCO cover in case of arson?, how to properly issue a policy to minimize failures, and what to do if your car is the victim of an intentional fire. We will pay special attention legal nuances (for example, the difference between “carjacking with arson” and “simple arson”) and technical details (what traces do experts look for to confirm intent).

Spoiler: even if you already have CASCO insurance, 90% of policies of cheap programs do not include protection against intentional actions of third parties - this risk must be specified separately. How to do this and how much it will cost - read on.

What is arson in the context of CASCO: legal definition

From a legal point of view, arson of a car is qualified under two articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

• 🔥 Article 167 — intentional destruction or damage to property. Punishable by a fine of up to 40,000 rubles or compulsory work of up to 360 hours.
• 🚗💥 Article 168 — destruction or damage to property due to negligence (for example, if someone set fire to garbage next to a car and the fire spread). Here the maximum penalty is a fine of up to 120,000 rubles.

For an insurance company, the key word is "intent". If the examination determines that the fire occurred due to negligence (for example, from a thrown cigarette butt), this is one scenario. If intentional arson is proven, another one. In the second case, the insurer may try to recover losses from the culprit, but this is a long process, and the car owner will still have to wait months for payment.

Important: in a CASCO policy, arson is usually considered a risk"intentional illegal actions of third parties". But not all insurance companies include this item in the basic package. For example, in RESO-Garantiya and Ingosstrakh protection against intentional harm is available as an option for +15–25% of the policy cost, and in AlfaInsurance it can be included in the Premium package at no additional cost.

Does CASCO cover arson: analysis of typical cases

Not all CASCO policies are the same. Let's consider in what cases insurance will cover damage from arson, and in what cases it will refuse.

Particularly difficult cases are when arson occurs during the hijacking. For example, if the carjackers set the car on fire to destroy evidence. What is important here is how the policy is formulated: if theft and arson are listed as separate risks, the insurer may try to refuse, citing the fact that “the car was not stolen, but burned.” To avoid such situations, look for the phrase in the policy: "theft, including with subsequent destruction of the vehicle".

⚠️ Attention: If the policy contains a clause “exceptions for gross violation of storage rules,” the insurer may refuse to pay if the car burned down in an unguarded parking lot or in a yard without video surveillance. For example, in SOGAZ This condition is specified for cars costing over 3 million rubles.

How to prove intentional arson: examination and collection of evidence

The main problem when making a payment is proof of intent. Insurance companies often blame a fire on "negligence" or a "technical fault" in order to reduce their payout. To avoid this, you need to properly record the consequences and collect evidence.

Here's what to do immediately after discovering arson:

Call the police (report a crime under Article 167 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation)|Take a photograph/record a video of the scene of the incident (general plan, hot spots, traces of a break-in)|Find witnesses and write down their contacts|Do not touch the car until the experts arrive (even if you want to “hide the tracks”)|Get a certificate from the fire department (if they left)-->

Key evidence to help prove intent:

• 🔍 Traces of a break-in — scratches on locks, broken glass, damaged doors. This suggests that intruders entered the salon.
• 🔥 Sources of fire - if the fire started from the passenger compartment (for example, from a rag on the seat being set on fire), this is a sign of intent. If it's from the engine compartment, it's more likely a technical fault.
• 📹 Video from surveillance cameras - even if the faces are not visible, the recording will show that the fire did not start on its own.
• 📄 Conclusion of fire-technical examination - a document that the insurance company will require without fail.

Insurance companies often hire their own experts who may “not notice” traces of intent. To be on the safe side, order an independent examination (cost - from 10,000 ₽). For example, in Moscow such services are provided NP "Federation of Forensic Experts" or Center for Independent Expertise "Avtotechekspert". Their conclusion will be a weighty argument in a dispute with the insurer.

How much does CASCO cost with arson protection: comparison of tariffs 2026

The cost of a CASCO policy with coverage for intentional damage depends on:

• 🚗 Car makes and models — the more expensive the car, the higher the risks (for example, Mercedes-Benz S-Class will cost 2–3 times more than Lada Vesta).
• 📍 Region — in Moscow and St. Petersburg, tariffs are 30–50% higher due to the greater number of crimes.
• 🔒 Storage conditions — if the car spends the night in a guarded parking lot, a discount of up to 15%.
• 📝 Franchises — the higher it is, the cheaper the policy (but you will pay more out of pocket in the event of an insured event).

Approximate prices for CASCO with protection against arson (for a car worth 2 million rubles, driver over 25 years old, experience more than 5 years):

As can be seen from the table, the inclusion of the risk of “intentional harm” increases the cost of the policy by 28–32%. But there are ways to save:

• 🔧 Set an alarm with GPS — discount up to 10% (for example, StarLine or Pandora).
• 📌 Store your car in a paid parking lot — some insurers give a discount of up to 15%.
• 📊 Choose a high deductible - for example, 30,000 ₽ instead of 10,000 ₽ can reduce the cost by 20%.

⚠️ Attention: Cheap policies (for example, from Zetta Insurance or Consent) often exclude intentional harm from coverage. Read the contract carefully: if in the “Insurance Risks” section there is no clause “intentional unlawful actions of third parties,” then arson is not covered!

Step-by-step instructions: how to receive a CASCO payment in case of arson

If your car is set on fire, follow this algorithm to maximize your chances of getting paid:

1. Step 1: Call the police and firefighters

   Call the police immediately (telephone 102) and report a crime under Art. 167 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. If the car is still on fire, call the fire department (101). Without a certificate from them, the insurance company may refuse to pay.

2. Step 2. Recording evidence

   Take photographs of the car from all sides, paying attention to:

   • 🔥 Fire spots (where the fire started).
   • 🚪 Traces of burglary (scratches, broken locks).
   • 📍 Location of the incident (link to address).
3. Step 3. Contacting the insurance company

   Call the insurer's hotline (the number is indicated in the policy) and report the insured event. Find out what documents are needed to process the payment. Typically required:

   • 📄 Insurance claim.
   • 📄 Police report.
   • 📄 Conclusion of fire-technical examination.
   • 📄 Certificate from the traffic police (if the car is completely burned out).