A car caught fire on Maunganui Road today just moments after the driver jumped out of the vehicle.

Michelle King was driving her friend's silver Mitsubishi Lancer along Maunganui Road around 12.15pm when the car starting filling with smoke.

Michelle King made a quick escape when the engine bay caught fire.

A car's bonnet was engulfed in flames.

She quickly pulled over to the side of the road just past Concord Avenue and jumped out before the engine bay was engulfed in flames.

'The car just started filling with smoke, and I knew something was wrong when the temperature gage didn't go up.

'Then I saw flames coming from under the bonnet. It was a bit of a shock.”

Mount Maunganui firefighters and police were called to the fire where one lane heading towards Bayfair was partially blocked to traffic while firefighters dealt with the fire.

Michelle was returning the car to friends in Papamoa after taking it to get a Warrant of Fitness when it caught fire.

'I was actually doing a favour for friends taking it to get a warrant. I had been waiting for 45 minutes but couldn't wait any longer as I had to get to uni.”

'I have spoken to them, they were a bit stunned but glad I was okay.”

Calvin Helms, 17, was walking along Maunganui Road when he rounded the corner to see flames coming from either sides of the bonnet.

'We were walking to the Mount and the car caught fire on the road.

'There were flames coming out from each side and smoke everywhere.”

Calvin says Mount Maunganui firefighters arrived in five to six minutes to put out the fire.

A tow truck has been called to remove the car, which Michelle says is completely destroyed at the front.