The accurate prediction of stress in fiber-reinforced laminates through finite element analysis is of critical importance for the design of lightweight automotive components, as it allows for better prediction of damage such as delamination. However, standard (Reissner–Mindlin) shell finite elements, while efficient, consider only a reduced stress state and neglect the transverse normal stress. This contribution investigates the potential of higher-order 3D-shell elements to improve stress prediction in laminates. In order to assess the efficacy of higher-order 3D-shell elements, their results are compared with those obtained from standard shell finite element simulations and fully 3D solid element simulations. The findings demonstrate that the use of cubic 3D-shell elements can be beneficial for simulating laminated materials, as they lead to a more accurate stress prediction in comparison to standard shell finite elements. In particular, the shear stress and normal stress in thickness direction of the laminate can be predicted with a higher degree of accuracy.