Crucial thing you must not do if you put wrong fuel in your car
Soaring fuel prices are currently a primary concern for many motorists, but with online searches for “wrong fuel in car” rising by 163% between January and March this year compared to the previous quarter, drivers may also be making a costly error at the petrol station. So say experts at MoneySuperMarket.
Misfuelling is a pricey blunder that can cause severe engine damage if not addressed immediately. Specialist fuel rescue services charge anywhere between £120 and £1,000 to drain and flush the wrong fuel from the tank, and without adequate insurance, the driver is left to foot the bill.
Alicia Hempsted, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, has outlined exactly what motorists should do the moment they realise they’ve put the wrong fuel in their vehicle.
What to do if you put the wrong fuel in your car
Alicia advises that the very first thing to remember is not to start your car. Following misfuelling, keep the engine switched off. Should you have already started it, turn off the ignition straight away.
Move your vehicle to a safe location. Put the car in neutral and roll it away from the other pumps so your breakdown provider can reach you without difficulty.
Contact your breakdown provider. It will have specialist equipment to drain and flush the tank. Do not attempt to carry this out yourself.
Alicia said: “Misfuelling is a potentially expensive mistake that can catch drivers out all year around, although recently there has been an increase in online searches for information about what to do if you accidentally put the wrong fuel in your car.
“If it happens to you, it’s important to know how to respond, as misfuelling can seriously damage your car if not dealt with quickly. If possible, don’t start your car. Starting your engine after putting in the wrong fuel can increase repair costs by hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
“If you’ve already started it, switch off the ignition as soon as possible. Move your car to a safe place by putting into neutral and rolling the vehicle and call your breakdown provider or garage to drain and flush the tank.
“Misfuelling is not typically covered by car insurance, so it isn’t a mistake to take lightly. In most cases, you will need to add additional misfuelling insurance to your policy to include that protection, although some comprehensive policies may include misfuelling under accidental damage.
“Make sure you check your insurance cover to ensure you have the right protection in place should this happen to you.”
MoneySuperMarket said the Google search data used was correct as of April 2026.
