One in three
car insurance policies do not cover damage caused by the wrong fuel, new research has found.
According to a study carried out by the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA), just two-thirds of insurers would pay out such repairs.
It is estimated there are around 150,000 cases of misfuelling every year, with 95 per cent involving motorists putting petrol into their diesel vehicle.
BIBA has advised anyone who uses the wrong fuel to contact their breakdown company immediately and avoid starting the engine if possible.
The group points out that simply draining the fuel will cost around £300, a bill that can soar to some £5,000 if the vehicle is driven with mismatched fuel.
Graeme Trudgill, the BIBA Technical and Corporate Affairs Executive, said: "Nobody is immune to misfuelling, from TV celebrities like Philip Schofield to Wayne Rooney’s reported misfuelling mishap, it is easily done. Even the Metropolitan police have spent nearly £280,000 repairing vehicles filled with the wrong fuel since mid 2006."
He advised motorists to ensure they purchased a fully comprehensive policy that will cover such "unexpected risks".
Similarly, the findings revealed that 57 per cent of motorcycle insurance policies do not cover misfuelling incidents.
