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Running out of petrol and misfuelling

Running out of fuel is an easily avoidable mistake, but one that could land you in a tricky situation because many breakdown insurers take a dim view of motorists who need assistance after silly petrol problems.

Don’t run out of fuel

Over 14% of breakdown policies won’t provide cover if you allow your car run out of petrol or diesel, according to a recent study of 288 motor breakdown policies by research firm Defaqto.

Breaking down because you’ve run out of fuel would doubtless be embarrassing, but it’s easy to get distracted when on long or important journeys - so always pay close attention to your car’s petrol gauge.

Diesel drivers can carry a small tank of emergency fuel, but petrol drivers must not carry extra tanks of petrol because the fuel is highly flammable.

Misfuelling - filling you car up with the wrong fuel - is another common mistake. And according to Defaqto something that 23% of motor breakdown policies will refuse breakdown cover for.

Royal and Sun Alliance, Churchill and Esure all cover misfuelling, however. But you could complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FSO) if the exclusion wasn’t pointed out to you when you signed the policy.

Of the breakdown providers that will, Defaqto found that most only provide basic cover - perhaps by only towing you to the nearest garage.

Each year over 100,000 drivers put the wrong fuel into their cars (according to AA figures) and the mistake can be extremely expensive to repair.

Compare breakdown deals.

Popular Breakdown Deals

Company	Package Name	From	Roadside repair	Online Discount	Tow to nearest garage
	Recovery Plus	£60.00		33%
	Roadside, Recovery & Home Cover (Personal Cover)	£105		27.34%

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