Misfueling of Motor Vehicles

Motorists who accidentally fill up their vehicles with the wrong fuel are being warned that their insurance may not cover them for repair costs.

Latest figures published by the AA show that so-called misfuelling in on the increase with 150,000 drivers in the UK filling up at the wrong pump compared with 120,000 in 2004.

The cost of repairs can range from £150 to £300 for a fuel drain to more than £5,000 if the car is driven causing serious damage to the engine.

We at BiB Insurance Brokers are urging drivers to check their insurance policy or to seek advice to find a policy which covers a forecourt mistake.

Veronica Ryan, retail manager at BiB, said: “There is a lot of discrepancy between policies as to whether you are covered for the repairs as a result of filling up with the wrong fuel. Making the mistake is most common if there are several vehicles in your household or if it’s a new car and you accidentally go to the wrong pump.

“We always urge clients not to buy motor insurance on price alone because you get what you pay for. It’s highly likely that a cheap policy will leave you facing a potentially enormous bill of your own if you misfuel. We can trawl the whole market to find a policy that covers any costs.”

A survey by the British Insurance Brokers Association of the major UK insurers revealed that reference was made to misfuelling in only 22 per cent of comprehensive motor policies, leaving 78 per cent of drivers unaware if their claim would be met.

Forty per cent of insurers stated they would not meet a misfuelling claim, when contacted by BIBA.

It advises motorists who realise they have misfuelled to not start the vehicle and notify the petrol station and breakdown company immediately. Some insurers may refuse to pay out in the case of a motorist who knowingly drives their vehicle with the wrong fuel in it because they may be deemed to have failed in their duty of care.

Graeme Trudgill, BIBA technical and corporate affairs executive, said: “Nobody goes out to put the wrong fuel in their car and if the motorist is innocent the insurance industry would normally treat this as an accidental damage claim. However, if the policy contains a misfuelling policy exclusion, then the motorist is unlikely to be able to claim at all.

“The consumer has the right to complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service, if the exclusion was not brought to their attention at the point of sale. Where there is any doubt, a broker is best placed to argue on the policyholder's behalf.”