F&I Management & Training

The British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) is warning that diesel drivers are most at risk of misfuelling, which could cost more than £5000 to repair and is not covered by nearly a third of insurance policies.

BIBA has highlighted that of the 150,000 misfuelling cases per year, 95 per cent are people putting petrol into diesel vehicles due to the wider diesel filler neck and narrower unleaded nozzle. A BIBA survey of the major UK insurers reveals that 30% would not pay a misfuelling claim.

Graeme Trudgill, 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. It is important to speak to your insurance broker to arrange a fully comprehensive policy that covers these unexpected risks."

BIBA advises that in the event of misfuelling the motorist should not start the vehicle and ought to notify the petrol station and breakdown company immediately. The possibility exists that an insurer may refuse to pay out in the case of a motorist who knowingly drives their vehicle with the wrong fuel in it because the policyholder may be deemed to have failed in their duty of care.

BIBA insurance broker, Michael Edwards from MCE, commented: "Misfuelling often occurs on a Monday morning and Friday evening when drivers are preoccupied thinking about the week ahead or rushing home for the weekend. If the motorist is innocent the insurance industry would normally treat this as an accidental damage claim, under a comprehensive insurance policy. However, if the policy is third party, fire and theft or contains a misfuelling exclusion, then the motorist is unlikely to be able to claim at all.

Edwards added: "We have also experienced motorcycle misfuelling where the rider has been driving a company van or car during the week and then fuels his motorcycle for leisure activities at the weekend. Riders should speak to their Insurance broker as 57% of motorcycle insurance policies don't cover misfuelling."