Does insurance cover misfuelling?

covered. · 12-11-2011 12:49PM #1

Does insurance cover misfuelling?

Couldnt find an answer after searching the forums.

Tank was in the red zone, filled with petrol instead of diesel, driven about half a mile before noticing it was rough,, pulled in and parked... walked back to the garage to double check if petrol or diesel was put it... they confirmed it was petrol.

Informed the main dealer (Reg 11 car so could affect warranty to deal with anyone else) and they said to get it towed to the garage. The AA brought it there on a truck... Not sure about any damage because the garage cannot look at it untill Monday..

There is no exclusion in the insurance policy document about misfuelling... its comprehensive insurance... and i was thinking it should be covered under "accidental damage"

mathepac · 12-11-2011 12:59PM

covered. wrote: »

Does insurance cover misfuelling? ...

I'm afraid not.

covered. wrote: »

... There is no exclusion in the insurance policy document about misfuelling... its comprehensive insurance... and i was thinking it should be covered under "accidental damage"

Unless there is a specific inclusion to cover mis-fuelling, I think you're snookered. Your car's warranty may well be void too ... Sorry for the bad news.

covered. · 12-11-2011 01:11PM

mathepac wrote: »

I'm afraid not.
Unless there is a specific inclusion to cover mis-fuelling, I think you're snookered. Your car's warranty may well be void too ... Sorry for the bad news.

Do you work for an insurance company? Sounds like it:D

Some articles i read suggest its a grey area (I know they are British articles but interesting nonetheless)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2007/nov/04/cash1

http://www.stopdieselmisfuelling.co.uk/misfuelling-from-viewpoint-your-insurer-avoid-problems-with-fuelsure-a-63.html

pippip · 12-11-2011 01:15PM

Sister in law did this in their 11d Peugeot 5008 1.6d

Got it towed to the garage and 250euro later all was good as knew. Don't know exactly what was done but couldn't believe how cheaply it was sorted. Must have just been drained and new filters.

Good luck

bladespin · 12-11-2011 01:15PM

Personally I'd imagine that would be accidental damage and should therefore be covered but that's just me.

mathepac · 12-11-2011 01:31PM

covered. wrote: »

Do you work for an insurance company? ...

No, but I am willing to bet 20 euro payable to Our Lady's Childrens' Hospital Crumlin that I'm right and the unfortunate OP will face rejection if they submit a claim to their insurer.

Any doubters willing to take the challenge? Loser posts copy of receipt(s) from OLCH here, winner gets gloating rights

barura · 12-11-2011 01:36PM

Betting on money going to a charity for being wrong is silly. You should just donate the money anyways, and any other quarrels in your life should be an afterthought.

So let me guess what will be thought afterwards "AHA! I was right and made some sucker pay 20euro to OLHC, glad it wasn't me doing that, I'd feel a right sap!" :rolleyes:

As with these things, ring the insurance company and find out, it's the only way!

MugMugs · 12-11-2011 01:36PM

It's seen as mechanical failure. Would they cover you if you let her run dry of oil? Nope. Sorry OP. You're on your Todd with this one.

Nissan doctor · 12-11-2011 01:42PM

Insurance doesn't cover mechanical repairs which is what sorting this problem would come under.

We only had an 11 avensis in earlier in the week with the same problem and it cetainly didn't cost €250 to sort:eek:

I wouldn't be sure that going to a dealer is best for warranty reasons, 1, you don't need to have a main dealer work on your car to maintain the warranty and 2, if you do bring it to a dealer and then, at any future stage, have a failure of anything in the fuel/injection system, they will have it on record that you ran it with petrol and could use that as an excuse to invalidate any warranty claim anyway.

coylemj · 12-11-2011 02:08PM

OP, the answer can be found in your insurance policy document, you can download it from your insurer's website.

I'm with Axa and in their motor policy document there is a list of exclusions which contains the following....

Excluded from Cover..

Loss or damage as a result of incorrectly fueling your car or from the use of substandard fuel, lubricant or parts

Quinn has a similar exclusion..

loss or damage as a result of the vehicle being filled with the wrong fuel

covered. · 12-11-2011 02:18PM

coylemj wrote: »

OP, the answer can be found in your insurance policy document, you can download it from your insurer's website.

I'm with Axa and in their motor policy document there is a list of exclusions which contains the following....

Excluded from Cover..

Loss or damage as a result of incorrectly fueling your car or from the use of substandard fuel, lubricant or parts

Quinn has a similar exclusion..

loss or damage as a result of the vehicle being filled with the wrong fuel

As was said in the original post... have read the motor policy document... there is no exclusion regarding incorrect fueling

coylemj · 12-11-2011 02:19PM

covered. wrote: »

As was said in the original post... have read the motor policy document... there is no exclusion regarding incorrect fueling

Sorry, missed that. Who are you insured with?

MugMugs · 12-11-2011 02:35PM

Doesn't matter OP. End result is mechanical failure and that won't be covered. Doesn't matter what the proximate cause is.

Antikythera · 12-11-2011 03:12PM

covered. wrote: »

Does insurance cover misfuelling?

Couldnt find an answer after searching the forums.

Tank was in the red zone, filled with petrol instead of diesel, driven about half a mile before noticing it was rough,, pulled in and parked... walked back to the garage to double check if petrol or diesel was put it... they confirmed it was petrol.

Informed the main dealer (Reg 11 car so could affect warranty to deal with anyone else) and they said to get it towed to the garage. The AA brought it there on a truck... Not sure about any damage because the garage cannot look at it untill Monday..

There is no exclusion in the insurance policy document about misfuelling... its comprehensive insurance... and i was thinking it should be covered under "accidental damage"

It's not a good idea to fill your car with petrol if it has a diesel engine.

I think insurers offer a special 'lol facepalm' policy, it's quite expensive though. It could be worth checking out.

covered. · 12-11-2011 03:17PM

Antikythera wrote: »

It's not a good idea to fill your car with petrol if it has a diesel engine.

I think insurers offer a special 'lol facepalm' policy, it's quite expensive though. It could be worth checking out.

My palm... edit...my fist will be going through your face if you don't shut up,

Yawns · 12-11-2011 03:25PM

I'd say we have his answer covered.

I'll get my coat...

Mechanincal failure is what I reckon but no harm ringing and asking directly.

oldyouth · 12-11-2011 03:32PM

Many Insurers have specific exclusions for mis-fueling but some don't. If there isn't an exclusion, you could define it as 'accidental damage'. However, you have failed to identify what damage has been caused. If your costs are restricted to the towing charge, draining your tank and cleaning out the engine, well that's not considered to be damage to the vehicle

Cuddlesworth · 12-11-2011 03:34PM

covered. wrote: »

My palm... edit...my fist will be going through your face if you don't shut up,

All he would have to do is put on a brown scarf and hat to confuse you.

covered. · 12-11-2011 03:34PM

Yawns wrote: »

I'd say we have his answer covered.

I'll get my coat...

Mechanincal failure is what I reckon but no harm ringing and asking directly.

No harm indeed

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2007/nov/04/cash1

http://www.carinsurancecomparisonsites.com/insurance-news/claiming-the-damage-out-of-misfueling-the-vehicle/

Barr · 12-11-2011 03:37PM

If you have comprehensive cover some companies will cover it. It would come under the Accidental Damage Section of the policy.

shannon_tek · 12-11-2011 03:43PM

I dont think its a major deal imo. maybe it is. But the cars ive seen and had that have been misfulled.They never go to the dealer. We just get a pump drain it out top it up again and leave the car to run and rev few times to inject the new stuff through. every time it has worked. Unless something major happens it will go to the garage but it hasn't
In saying all that all cars were Diesel with petrol put in. Diesel is heavier than petrol so its not as bad. worse putting Diesel into petrol. As i found with my Peugeot 306. which had mixed petrol with about 2% of diesel refused to run even though 98% was petrol. Just goes to show.

coylemj · 12-11-2011 03:48PM

covered. wrote: »

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2007/nov/04/cash1

Taking that article in the Guardian, 7 out of 32 specifically make reference to misfuelling in their policies - all to state that they will not cover damage arising from it.

Of the remainder (25), it says that 40% 'would also refuse to pay out', this leaves 60% of 25 which is 15 insurance companies.

So of the sample 32, 15 will pay and 17 won't.

Also, two interesting notes in the article ..

Those insurers who do cover misfuelling claims - for instance, Royal and Sun Alliance, Churchill and esure - cover it as 'accidental damage', although it is not specified as such within the wording of the policy.

The FOS (Financial Ombudsman Service) says that a policyholder would be entitled to complain to it if their insurer refused a claim without specifying an exclusion within the policy in the first place.

Now while all of that applies to the UK, it does suggest that if your policy doesn't exlcude it, you will be covered, especially if it's a company which operates in the UK as the inclusions and exlcusions are likely to be identical in the two markets.

Antikythera · 13-11-2011 01:14PM

covered. wrote: »

My palm... edit...my fist will be going through your face if you don't shut up,

Oh ok. My advice still stands though: If you own a diesel car, don't fill it with petrol. Write it on your hand or something, you'll be grand.

heate · 13-11-2011 01:29PM

I find the easiest way to tell the difference is to look at the colour of the bloody filler I have in my hand - and the inherent grime that all diesel handles tend to leave on my hands.
Op have it drained run diesel and an additive through it should clear the engine.
Try not to implicate yourself with the manufacturer - they'll find it very difficult in time to figure out that any I associated

MetzgerMeister · 13-11-2011 01:34PM

Antikythera wrote: »

Oh ok. My advice still stands though: If you own a diesel car, don't fill it with petrol. Write it on your hand or something, you'll be covered.

FYP

C4Kid · 13-11-2011 01:49PM

heate wrote: »

I find the easiest way to tell the difference is to look at the colour of the bloody filler I have in my hand - and the inherent grime that all diesel handles tend to leave on my hands.

Yeah this is one thing I've noticted and never bothered wondering about. Why is it the case though that diesel pumps are covered in sh**te and petrol pumps are clean.

Is it from the old school idea of farmers or trucks using diesel pumps and "ah sure it'll be grand if we spill some" tis cheap and someone else is paying for it anyway.

It's not that hard to fill up without spilling fuel.:pac:

Nissan doctor · 13-11-2011 02:09PM

C4Kid wrote: »

Yeah this is one thing I've noticted and never bothered wondering about. Why is it the case though that diesel pumps are covered in sh**te and petrol pumps are clean.

Is it from the old school idea of farmers or trucks using diesel pumps and "ah sure it'll be grand if we spill some" tis cheap and someone else is paying for it anyway.

It's not that hard to fill up without spilling fuel.:pac:

You'd think its not hard to differenciate between a green handle with unleaded written on it and a black one with diesel written on it either though....or for that matter, to remember that you bough a diesel car!!:rolleyes:

dgt · 13-11-2011 02:18PM

OP what car do you have? How long do you have it?

johndaman66 · 13-11-2011 02:20PM

I'm wondering is it worth loosing your NCB for even if this is covered (which I sincerely doubt it is in most cases). Would the cost of rectifying the mistake be much higher than your excess?

On a side note I see threads popping up here left right and centre of people putting petrol in diesels and visa versa. Sorry OP but I cant see it in my heart to extend too much sympathy to ye. I appreciate that anyone can make a mistake, I've made more than enough of them myself but putting the incorrect fuel in is one I don't think I could forgive. If you weren't aware from driving the car in the first place it would clearly be marked "diesel" somewhere inside or around the fuel cap.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater · 13-11-2011 02:27PM

Jesus people, you'd swear none of ye had ever make a mistake. Okay, so its a pretty silly mistake, but we all make them in one way or another. I think the OP is aware that petrol isn't the ideal fuel for a diesel car. Momentary lapse of concentration. The OP feels silly enough as it is without rubbing it in!

C4Kid · 13-11-2011 02:39PM

deccurley wrote: »

Jesus people, you'd swear none of ye had ever make a mistake. Okay, so its a pretty silly mistake, but we all make them in one way or another. I think the OP is aware that petrol isn't the ideal fuel for a diesel car. Momentary lapse of concentration. The OP feels silly enough as it is without rubbing it in!

True, all I can do is urge people to be more careful and to double check before fuelling what nozzle you have, there's been enough of such threads in last few months.

Does insurance cover misfuelling?

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