Will my breakdown insurance cover me if my car runs out of petrol?
Most policies will attend, but on terms. Running out of fuel is treated as a driver error rather than a breakdown: the provider will typically bring enough fuel to get you to a filling station, and charge you for the fuel and sometimes a fee. A few budget policies exclude it altogether. Read the "running out of fuel" line in your policy; it is usually explicit.
Misfuelling — petrol in a diesel, or vice versa — is a separate matter and a more expensive one. If you realise at the pump, do not start the engine; the tank can be drained for a modest cost. If you have driven off, the fuel system may need flushing and components replacing. Breakdown cover will usually recover the car, but draining and repairs are extra unless you have a misfuel add-on, which the AA, RAC and others sell for a few pounds a year. It is worth having if you drive more than one car with different fuels.
The same logic now applies to electric cars running out of charge; see our EV breakdown guide.
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