The Gore District Council confirmed that if an offender was not found the pensioner would be liable for an estimated $3500 in damages to the road in front of his property.
Mark, who only wanted to give his first name, said he was awoken by a couple of "small explosions" around 1am on January 19.
He saw flames shooting above his hedge, followed by the "huge" bang of his 2018 Holden Captiva’s tyres and windows blowing out.
Mark called emergency services, who got the blaze under control, but his burnt-out shell of a car was left glued to the road.
He was later told by the council the cost of repairs to the road, an estimated $3500,
would be his responsibility.
"I wasn’t expecting that one, for sure," Mark said.
Council general manager corporate support Lornae Straith said no invoice had been issued yet, but repair costs were generally recovered from the at-fault party or through insurance.
If no offender was identified, the liability for repair costs "generally falls to the vehicle owner".
The $3500 was an approximation of the cost, she said.
Mark said he could not afford to renew his insurance when his policy last lapsed.
Police have opened an investigation into the fire as a suspected arson, but Mark said he had no idea why anyone would target his vehicle.
"I’ve got no ill-will towards anyone in town."
A police spokeswoman said police would like to see any CCTV or dashcam footage from Joseph, Frank and Thomas Sts around the time of the incident, or "any suspicious behaviour or activity before or after the car fire in the Frank St area".
