Refuelling mistakes not covered by insurance

British motorists are being warned their insurance may not cover the cost of repairs if they accidentally fill their cars with the wrong fuel.

Misfuelling is on the rise across the country, with 150,000 car owners filling up with the incorrect fuel annually, according to research from the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA).

The practice is now one of the top ten reasons for car breakdown in the UK, with repairs costing between £150 and £300 a time for a fuel drain.

Repairs can even cost up to £5000 if the car is driven, causing excessive damage to the engine.

Now motorists are being warned their insurance may not meet the cost.

"Nobody goes out to put the wrong fuel in their car, if the motorist is innocent the insurance industry would normally treat this as an accidental damage claim," said Graeme Trudgill, BIBA technical and corporate affairs executive.

"However, if the policy contains a misfuelling policy exclusion, then the motorist is unlikely to be able to claim at all."

Only 22 per cent of comprehensive motor insurance policies in the UK make explicit reference to misfuelling according to BIBA, leaving 78 per cent unaware if their claims would be met.

Some 40 per cent of insurers would not meet the cost when contacted by BIBA.

The AA had the following advice to avoid insurance costs.

"Make sure you’re aware of what fuel your car uses and double check the pump when you fill up, especially if you are in an unfamiliar vehicle," said John Close, insurer relations director at AA Insurance Services.

"Normally, you won’t be able to put a diesel nozzle in a petrol car’s filler because it’s bigger.

"The filler of modern cars is colour coded, too – if it’s green, it takes unleaded petrol so put the green nozzle in your tank.

"Diesel nozzles are black, but take extra care with older cars that do not have this feature."