Do Cars Really Explode After Collisions Like in Movies?

Contrary to popular belief (as set by movies), cars are not very prone to explosions, and even a car that is on fire is very unlikely to explode. The necessary conditions for an explosion to take place are not met after a car experiences a major impact.

Cars wouldn’t fly all over the place after a collision unless there was an explosion, and given that an explosion is not a likely outcome, airborne cars are also quite unlikely. Even setting a car on fire doesn’t cause it to explode; it just burns so long as there is fuel in the car. So, not unlike most things shown in movies, cars that blow up and fall down as shrapnel over the scene just isn’t a realistic outcome.