Fuel Assist

Put the wrong fuel in?

You're not alone – so did 45 other people today

Wrong fuel in your car

It could happen to anyone – our trained technicians fix over 16,000 wrong fuel mishaps a year (on average, that's more than 45 times a day).

Give us a call on 0370 240 3985 – we’re open 24/7.
Once our experts set off, they’ll be with you in under an hour.
We’ll drain the tank and add enough correct fuel to get you going again.
Our fuel draining service gets rid of fuel in a safe and environmentally friendly way.
We can get you back on the road again in around 30 minutes of arrival.

No hidden costs

When you speak to our operators, they’ll be able to tell you how much it will cost. All you have to do is pay over the phone, and a Patrol will make their way to you – and that’s it.

There are no hidden extras and nothing to pay at the roadside when we’re done – so there’s no more surprises along the way – even if you’re not a member.

We fix 98% of cars at the roadside

Our technicians all hold a Safety Pass Alliance (SPA) passport for dealing with fuel on petrol forecourts, so they’ll have you back up and running in no time at all. So, whether you've put petrol in a diesel car or diesel in your petrol car, we've got you covered.

Good to know

Fuel Assist terms and conditions apply.

Our Assist team are available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Fuel Assist^SM is a registered Service Mark.

We’ll help any vehicle as long as our Fuel Assist van has enough capacity in its tank.

How do you use my data?

To find out how we use your data, please read our privacy notice.

For more information, there's also our cookie policy and website terms and conditions.

Is there a member discount?

If you’re already an AA personal member, you can save up to 10% on our Fuel Assist service. Simply quote your 16-digit membership number when you call us.

Please note: The 10% discount is not available to Fleet customers or vehicles with a gross weight of over 3.5 tonnes. Phone 0800 072 7420 for a quote.

How can I tell if I’ve misfuelled?

Before checking your car, first check your receipt.

If you still think you’ve put petrol in a diesel car, tell-tale signs could be:

a smoky exhaust
a noisy engine under load
difficulty starting the car, especially when the engine is warm

The car might even eventually stop.

Putting diesel in a petrol car is more difficult, because the diesel fuel nozzle is usually too big for a petrol car.

If you’ve managed to put diesel in a petrol car, tell-tale signs could be:

an excessively smoking exhaust
lack of power
engine misfiring
engine cutting out and not restarting

I’ve put the wrong fuel in – what should I do?

If you're on a petrol station forecourt, put your car into neutral and get help to push your vehicle to a safe place.

If you’ve driven a short distance after misfuelling, park your vehicle safely and legally, turn off the engine, and call us.

What will happen to my vehicle if I put the wrong fuel in?

First of all, don’t panic – just sit tight and call us soon as you realise.

Starting the engine will circulate the contaminated fuel and increase the risk of damage.

Manufacturers often recommend new parts – sometimes as high as £5,000+ – and garages can charge £300+ for a fuel drain. So your best bet really is to give us a call.

Diesel fuel helps to lubricate the moving parts of the injection system. If you put petrol in a diesel vehicle, this can dilute the diesel fuel. So, to limit damage, try not to start your engine, as this reduces the risk of the petrol washing the lubrication out.

Putting diesel in a petrol fuel system will cause the engine to smoke excessively, misfire and have difficulty starting. The petrol fuel filter will become contaminated with the oil base of the diesel fuel. The spark plugs will also become oiled and contaminated causing the vehicle to run rough, cut out and not restart. Sometimes the emissions controls can also become contaminated – especially if the vehicle has been started and driven.

Business breakdown customers

If you’ve got business breakdown cover with us and you’ve filled up with the wrong fuel, we can help you avoid expensive repairs and get your vehicles back on the road.

Call us 24/7 on 0800 072 7420

If you’ve got a large fleet, you can set up a fuel assist account with us and pay later rather than at the roadside. Get in touch on 0800 551 188 to find out more.

Compare breakdown cover

Learn more about choosing the right cover for you in our guide on how to compare breakdown cover. Plus, find out what’s included in breakdown cover from the AA vs RAC.

You can also discover how Green Flag breakdown cover compares to the AA.