Does Insurance Cover Misfuelling?

Misfuelling and Insurance: The Complete Guide

One of the first questions people ask after putting the wrong fuel in their vehicle is: "Will my insurance cover this?" The answer depends on several factors — your policy type, your insurer's specific terms, and how you handle the situation.

Comprehensive Insurance

Most comprehensive (fully comprehensive) policies cover misfuelling as a form of accidental damage. This is the most common policy type, and it generally offers the broadest protection.

What's Typically Covered

• The cost of draining and flushing the fuel system
• Replacement of contaminated fuel with the correct type
• Towing to a repair facility if needed
• Damage to fuel system components caused by the wrong fuel
• Labour costs for repairs

What May Not Be Covered

• **The fuel itself** — you paid for the wrong fuel, and most insurers won't reimburse the cost of the petrol or diesel that was drained
• **Consequential losses** — rental car costs, lost business, missed flights (unless you have separate coverage)
• **Pre-existing issues** — if your fuel system already had problems, the insurer may dispute the claim

Third Party Policies

Third party, fire and theft policies generally do NOT cover misfuelling. These policies only cover damage you cause to other people's property, theft of your vehicle, and fire damage. Accidental damage to your own vehicle — including misfuelling — is excluded.

If you have third-party-only coverage, you'll likely need to pay for the fuel drain and any repairs out of pocket.

How to Make a Claim

Step 1: Document Everything

Before anything else, gather evidence:

• **Keep the fuel receipt** — it proves what fuel you purchased and when
• **Photograph the pump and nozzle** you used
• **Note the station name, address, and pump number**
• **Record the time and date**
• **Keep the invoice** from the fuel drain service — we provide detailed documentation

Step 2: Contact Your Insurer

Call your insurance company's claims line and report the incident. They'll need:

• Your policy number
• When and where it happened
• What fuel was put in what vehicle
• Whether the engine was started or driven
• What remedial action was taken

Step 3: Follow Their Process

Some insurers will:

• **Reimburse you** after you've paid for the drain and provide receipts
• **Send you to an approved repairer** for any additional work
• **Arrange the fuel drain directly** through their own network (less common)

Step 4: Pay the Excess

Your policy excess (deductible) will apply. For many policies, the excess is $300–$500. If the fuel drain alone costs $350 and your excess is $400, it may not be worth claiming — especially considering the impact on your premiums.

Is It Worth Claiming?

This is the key question. Consider:

• **Your excess amount** — if the excess is close to or more than the repair cost, claiming doesn't make financial sense
• **No-claims bonus** — a misfuel claim may affect your no-claims discount, costing you more in higher premiums over subsequent years
• **Total damage** — if the engine was started and driven, and you're looking at injector or pump replacement, the cost may well exceed your excess significantly, making a claim worthwhile

Rule of Thumb

• **Drain only (engine not started):** Probably not worth claiming — the cost ($200–$600) is often close to the excess
• **Drain plus component damage (engine was run):** Usually worth claiming — repair costs can reach $2,000–$8,000+

Documentation We Provide

When you use our fuel drain service, we provide a detailed invoice that includes:

• Date, time, and location of the service
• Vehicle details (make, model, registration)
• Type and approximate volume of contaminated fuel removed
• Work performed (drain, flush, filter replacement, etc.)
• Cost breakdown

This documentation is designed to support insurance claims and is accepted by all major insurers.