Quick answer
Pull over somewhere safe, switch off the ignition, put it in Park with the handbrake on, and get everyone out and well away from the car. If you see flames, or the smoke keeps coming, call Triple Zero (000) and don’t lift the bonnet. Don’t drive the car again, or reconnect anything, until an auto electrician has found and fixed the cause.
Is this a DIY job?
- Difficulty: Pro only
- Time: Your part takes minutes: get safe, then arrange a tow
- Tools: phone; a vehicle fire extinguisher only if you already carry one and feel confident using it
- Skills: none: this is about staying safe, not repairing
A burning plastic smell or smoke from wiring means something is overheating: a short circuit, a failed component, a loose high-current connection, or wiring that has rubbed through or been chewed. Any of these can start a fire. Finding the cause takes the right test equipment and wiring information, so leave the diagnosis and repair to a professional. This article covers only what you should do.
Step by step: what to do right now
- Pull over safely. Indicate, get off the road as soon as it’s safe and stop away from dry grass, buildings, fuel bowsers and other cars.
- Ignition off. Turn the engine off, put the car in Park (or in gear for a manual) and apply the handbrake.
- Get everyone out. Get all passengers out, including children and pets, and move well away from the car, to the side away from traffic. Take your phone. Leave belongings behind.
- Don’t breathe the smoke. Burning plastic gives off toxic fumes. Stay upwind if you can.
- Call 000 if there’s fire. If you see flames, or the smoke is increasing, call Triple Zero (000) and ask for the fire service. Tell them where you are and, if relevant, that the car is a hybrid, EV or runs on LPG.
- Don’t lift the bonnet if there are flames. Opening the bonnet lets in a rush of air that can make a fire flare up and cause serious burns.
- Use an extinguisher only if it’s safe. Only if you carry one and feel confident. Fire Rescue Victoria’s advice for a fire under the bonnet is to release the bonnet catch but not lift the bonnet, and aim the extinguisher through the gap. For a fire in the cabin, aim it at the fire and then close the door. If in doubt, stay back and wait for firefighters.
- LPG cars: turn off the gas at the main valve, but only if you know where it is and can reach it safely.
- If there are no flames and the smoke has stopped, stay away from the car for a while and watch it from a safe distance. Wiring can keep smouldering after you switch off.
- Disconnect the battery only if it’s safe. Only once there are no flames, the smoke has stopped and nothing is hot to touch. Remove the negative terminal first, then the positive, and tuck both leads away from the posts. Don’t do this on a hybrid or EV: their high-voltage systems are professional only. If you’re not sure, leave it.
- Don’t restart or reconnect. Don’t start the car “to see if it happens again” and don’t reconnect the battery. The fault is still there.
- Arrange a tow. Have the car taken to an auto electrician or workshop rather than driving it.
- Tell your insurer if there was any fire damage.
- Check for recalls. Some vehicles have been recalled because of wiring or component fire risks. You can search by make and model on the Australian Government’s vehicle recalls website (see Sources).
Hybrids and electric vehicles
Hybrids and EVs have high-voltage batteries and wiring (usually in orange covering) as well as the normal 12V system. Never touch high-voltage parts, cut cables or disconnect anything on these cars after smoke or a fire. Fire Rescue Victoria warns that a damaged EV battery can catch fire hours, days or even weeks after the event, and advises keeping a damaged EV in the open, at least 15 metres from other vehicles, buildings and anything that can burn. If the battery itself is smoking or burning, call 000 and wait somewhere safe.
Specs table
What to do in each situation
| What you notice | What to do |
|---|---|
| Flames anywhere | Get everyone out and away, call 000, don’t lift the bonnet |
| Smoke from under the bonnet or dash, no flames | Pull over, ignition off, everyone out, call 000 if it keeps coming or gets worse |
| Burning plastic smell, no smoke | Pull over, ignition off, get out and check from outside; don’t keep driving |
| Smell comes back each time you use one accessory | Stop using it, pull the accessory’s fuse if you can reach it safely, book an inspection |
| Rotten egg smell near the battery | Battery may be overcharging or failing; keep away from sparks and flames |
| Smoke or smell on a hybrid or EV | Everyone out and away; call 000 if smoking or burning; don’t touch high-voltage parts |
Fire extinguisher for a vehicle
| Item | Fire Rescue Victoria advice |
|---|---|
| Type | Dry powder portable extinguisher rated 1A 5B(E) |
| Where | Somewhere easily reached in the vehicle |
What you’ll need
This isn’t a DIY repair, so there are no parts to buy for the fix. To be prepared:
- vehicle fire extinguisher dry powder with a mounting bracket
- battery isolator switch: turning it off cuts the battery off from the whole vehicle in seconds, without spanners. It also stops small background current draws from flattening the battery while the vehicle is parked for long periods, which makes it popular on 4WDs, caravans, boats and vehicles that sit unused. Have an auto electrician fit it, because it carries the full starter current.
Commercial and mining vehicles. Some vehicles must carry an extinguisher by law or by site rules:
- Vehicles carrying a placard load of dangerous goods must carry fire extinguishers under the Australian Dangerous Goods Code (chapter 12). The number and size depend on the load, from one 2 kg dry chemical powder extinguisher for packaged goods up to larger units in the load area for bulk flammable goods.
- Mine sites set their own requirements for light vehicles and mobile plant, and commonly require an extinguisher in every vehicle. Check the site’s rules before you go on site.
Browse vehicle fire extinguishers on Ozautoelectrics.
When to call an auto electrician
Always, after any burning smell or smoke from wiring. In particular:
- You’ve had smoke, melted wiring or a blown fuse that keeps blowing.
- The smell started after an accessory was fitted (driving lights, a dashcam, a dual battery, a stereo or a towbar harness).
- You’ve found signs of rodent damage under the bonnet. (see Have rats or mice chewed my car wiring?)
- The car has been in a flood or had water inside.
- The car is a hybrid or EV. High-voltage systems are professional only.
- Airbag/SRS wiring is involved (under the seats, in the steering wheel or dash). Airbag work is professional only.
Ask for the car to be towed rather than driven. Fire Rescue Victoria advises not driving a car after a fire until an auto electrician or qualified mechanic has checked it.
Need an auto electrician? Find local auto electricians and mobile services in your city.
Related questions
Q: Is it safe to drive with a burning plastic smell? A: No. Pull over, switch off and get out. A burning plastic smell usually means something electrical is overheating, and wiring can catch fire with little warning.
Q: Should I disconnect the battery after smoke from wiring? A: Only if there are no flames, the smoke has stopped and you can do it safely. Remove the negative terminal first. Never disconnect anything on a hybrid or EV’s high-voltage system.
Q: Why shouldn’t I open the bonnet if there’s a fire? A: Lifting the bonnet lets a rush of air reach the fire, which can make it flare up and cause serious burns. Call 000 and stay back.
Q: What causes car wiring to burn? A: Common causes include short circuits, poor connections that heat up under load, wiring rubbed through on metal edges, rodent damage, water damage, and accessories wired with cable that’s too thin or not fused properly. (see What size cable do I need for my 12V accessory?)
Q: Can I just replace the melted wire myself? A: It isn’t recommended. The melted wire is usually a symptom, not the cause. Unless the original fault is found, it can happen again.
Sources
- Fire Rescue Victoria, “Vehicles and boats” – what to do if a vehicle catches fire: ignition off, Park and handbrake, get out, call 000; release the bonnet catch only and don’t lift the bonnet; toxic smoke from burning plastics; remove battery leads after the fire is out if safe; don’t drive until checked by an auto electrician or qualified mechanic; 1A 5B(E) dry powder extinguisher; damaged EV batteries may ignite hours, days or weeks later; keep damaged EVs at least 15 m from other vehicles and buildings. https://frv.vic.gov.au/vehicles-and-boats (checked October 2026)
- Australian Government, Vehicle Recalls (Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts listed as regulator) – searchable vehicle recalls, including wiring and component fire risks. https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/ (checked October 2026)
- National Transport Commission, “Australian Dangerous Goods Code Review – Discussion Paper 5: Fire Extinguishers” – ADG Code chapter 12 (12.1.2, Table 12.1): fire extinguisher requirements for road vehicles carrying placard loads. https://www.ntc.gov.au/sites/default/files/assets/files/Australian%20Dangerous%20Goods%20Code%20Review%20-%20Discussion%20Paper%205%20-%20Fire%20Extinguishers.pdf (checked October 2026)