The acute realisation that you’ve put the wrong fuel in your car is never particularly pleasant. Along with wondering how it will affect your vehicle, there’s the inevitable embarrassment that accompanies the whole thing.

In such eventualities, the first thing to do is stop beating yourself up about it.  Believe it or not, around 150,000 motorists do exactly the same thing each year. 

Depending on how you respond to this unfortunate error, it can be a minor niggle or an outright disaster. If you know or simply suspect you have put the wrong fuel in your car, here’s what you need to do:

1. Do not drive the car

First and foremost, attempting to drive a vehicle with the wrong fuel in the tank can be downright dangerous. It can cause irreparable damage to your car, while at the same time increasing the risk of serious accident. Also, incidents that occur as a result of using the wrong fuel are not covered by most insurers. 

Hence, the first thing you need to do is turn off the engine and resist the temptation to drive your car any further.

2. Make sure you are in a safe spot

As with any accident or breakdown, the most important step of all is making sure you’re safe. There won’t be a great deal you can do until your recovery service arrives, so you need to find a safe spot for you and your car.

This will mean pushing or rolling your car into a safe spot – do not attempt to drive it. 

3. Call for help

Having a tank filled fully or partially with the wrong fuel is not a DIY repair job. There’s really nothing you can do to correct the problem yourself, so you will need to call your recovery provider. Don’t feel too much shame in doing so – it’s one of the most common causes of callouts in the UK. 

If you do not have a recovery provider, you will need to call a mobile mechanic to help you out. Depending on your location, the cost could be anything from £100 to £300. 

How to Avoid Fuelling Fails 

If it was so easy to avoid putting in the wrong fuel in your car, it wouldn’t happen so often to so many people. Hence, a few tips for avoiding such eventualities can go a long way:

  • Don’t instinctively reach for the nozzle based on its colour alone, as there are often differences from one petrol station or brand to the next.
  • Try to avoid distractions while at the pumps, such as playing with your phone or chatting with the people in your car at the time.
  • If in doubt, pop a post-it note under your fuel cap cover, with a simple reminder to ensure you’re using the right fuel.

All of which sounds rudimentary enough, but could spare you a costly and cringeworthy callout!