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uk Transport & mobility emergencies

What to do if…
you smell burning from your vehicle and have pulled over safely

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Treat it as a possible fire risk for now. Keep everyone out of the vehicle, move well away from the vehicle and traffic, and call 999 if you see smoke or flames, the smell is strong or worsening, or you feel unsafe where you have stopped.

Do not do these things

  • Do not keep driving to see if it goes away.
  • Do not open the bonnet if you suspect smoke or fire from the engine bay.
  • Do not lean over the grille, bonnet seam, wheels, or vents to find the smell.
  • Do not try to fix wiring, battery connections, fuel lines, leaks, brakes, or engine parts at the roadside.
  • Do not go back for belongings if you see smoke or flames, hear popping or crackling, or the smell is getting stronger.
  • Do not smoke or use a lighter near the vehicle.
  • Do not place a warning triangle on a motorway.

What to do now

  1. Put your hazard lights on. Turn the engine off, remove the key if there is one, and apply the parking brake.
  2. Get everyone out if it is safe to do so. Move well away from the vehicle and moving traffic, ideally behind a safety barrier if there is one. Keep children close to you. Keep pets under control only if they are already with you or can be moved without going back into danger.
  3. If you are on a motorway, hard shoulder, emergency area, or other fast road, stay away from the carriageway. Use an emergency roadside telephone if one is nearby and safe to reach; otherwise call 999 if you are exposed to traffic or cannot get safely away.
  4. Look from a distance for smoke, flames, hissing, sizzling, dripping fluid, a hot wheel area, or a burning smell that is getting stronger.
  5. If you see smoke or flames, or the smell is strong or worsening, call 999. Say there may be a vehicle fire, ask for Fire and Rescue, and give the road number, direction of travel, nearest junction, marker post, sign, landmark, or map location.
  6. If you are on a motorway or fast road and the vehicle is creating a traffic danger, tell the 999 operator that you are exposed to traffic and follow their instructions.
  7. If there are clear fire signs and you can release the bonnet catch immediately from inside or from beside the door without delay, you may do that, but do not open the bonnet. Step away straight after.
  8. Do not try to fight the fire unless it is tiny, just starting, you have a suitable dry powder or foam extinguisher, you have a clear way to move away, and you feel safe. If the fire may be in the engine compartment, do not open the bonnet; aim through the radiator grille or under the bonnet edge. If there is any doubt, move away and wait for help.
  9. If there are no smoke, flames, or other fire signs and the smell fades, still do not restart the vehicle yet. Arrange breakdown recovery or professional inspection before driving again.

What can wait

  • You do not need to work out the cause now, such as oil, clutch, brakes, wiring, coolant, or tyres.
  • You do not need to decide about repairs, insurance, complaints, or whether the car is worth keeping today.
  • You do not need to retrieve non-essential belongings while there may be a fire risk.
  • You do not need to drive slowly to the next garage if there was smoke, a strong burning smell, or any sign of overheating or leaking.

Important reassurance

A burning smell does not always mean the vehicle is on fire, but treating it cautiously for the first few minutes is the safest choice. Getting distance, keeping away from traffic, and calling for help early are reasonable actions.

Scope note

These are first steps for the immediate situation while you are safely stopped. Later decisions about recovery, inspection, repairs, insurance, or complaints may need a qualified mechanic, recovery service, insurer, or other specialist help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, mechanical, emergency-service, insurance, financial, medical, therapeutic, or other professional advice. Follow instructions from emergency services, police, traffic officers, and recovery professionals at the scene.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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