Let’s be honest - hiring a car should be the start of an adventure, not a source of stress. But one surprisingly common mishap is one of the most frustrating (and expensive) mistakes you can make: putting the wrong fuel in your hire car. It sounds like something only someone really distracted would do, but trust us, it happens all the time.
At Car Hire Excess Insurance, we include misfuelling cover as part of our policy - so if you're unlucky enough to make this mistake, we’re here to help soften the blow.
Simply put, misfuelling is putting the wrong fuel in your car - petrol in a diesel engine, or vice versa. When you’re travelling in an unfamiliar country, in a car that isn’t yours, maybe rushing to fill up, and refuelling in a petrol station that isn’t what you’re used to, it’s not surprising that it happens.
It might not sound like such a big deal, it can cause serious issues if you start the engine and drive off, which is why it’s important to act quickly. And the thing is, rental companies treat it as driver negligence, which means you’re likely to be held responsible for dealing with any immediate issues and the cost of fixing/cleaning the engine.
In an ideal world, you’ll realise almost immediately that you’ve put the wrong fuel in your hire car. If this happens, make sure you don’t start the engine. If you don’t start the car, the fuel won’t circulate, and you can avoid more serious damage. If you’re still at the pump, let the station staff know, and move the car to a safer spot (if you can). If you’ve already started driving, pull over as soon as it’s safe and turn the engine off.
In either instance, you’ll need to call your car hire company so that they can help arrange assistance. Make sure you keep all of your receipts and invoices too, so you can make a claim later.
Having car hire excess insurance in place means that you’re eligible for the repayment of additional costs directly associated with misfuelling your rented vehicle. This support is available not only to you, but also to any named drivers on your rental agreement. We’ll pay up to the amount shown on your Certificate of Insurance, specifically:
However, there are usually a few important exclusions to be aware of, so we’d always direct you to your Policy Wording for full details.
Misfuelling is one of those things that can happen to anyone. But when it does, having the right cover in place can save you time, stress, and money. With misfuelling protection included in our car hire excess insurance, you can relax knowing that you’ve got the right support if something goes wrong.
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