EV owners should check their home and motor insurance separately rather than assume one policy covers the car, charger and house, the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) said following the Alam Damai fire in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
The two-storey terrace house was destroyed on Aug 16. Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department initially said the blaze was believed to have started while an EV was being charged at the front of the property. The cause has not been established.
The fire department is examining the vehicle, charging equipment and wiring.
PIAM said fire remains an insured peril under standard Houseowner and Fire policies even when an EV is involved. Whether a claim is payable still depends on the wording of the individual policy and whether any exclusion, deliberate act, fraud or policy breach applies.
The association had made the broader point in May: EV-related fires are not automatically excluded from standard building fire insurance.
A home wallbox raises a separate question. If it is permanently hard-wired, PIAM said it may be treated as a building fixture or fitting under the home policy. Portable or unattached charging cables may instead be covered through an EV motor policy or an add-on, depending on the insurer.
Owners fitting a permanent charger are advised to inform their insurer. They should also check whether the modification changes the amount for which the property needs to be insured.
The quality of the electrical work can become relevant during a claim. PIAM said insurers may consider Bomba’s investigation and whether an installation complied with statutory requirements when deciding a case.
Homeowners should also revisit the value shown on the policy. PIAM says the sum insured should reflect what the property would cost to rebuild today, rather than its market value. Its Building Cost Calculator can provide an estimate, although unusual properties may require a professional valuation.
Then there is damage beyond the owner’s property. PIAM said standard Houseowner policies generally carry RM50,000 in public-liability cover per occurrence, with higher limits available through extensions. That figure is worth checking where homes sit close together, including terrace houses and condominiums.
Motor insurance is another piece of the picture. PIAM’s guidance says comprehensive policies cover fire damage to the insured vehicle. Third Party, Fire and Theft policies do, too.
For an EV owner charging at home, the paperwork therefore needs to cover three separate things: the vehicle, the charging equipment and the house.
