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Fuel Assist

Put the wrong fuel in your car?

Don’t start the car – you could damage it. Call us now on 0800 072 7420.

Car fuel drain service

 It can happen to the best of us: putting petrol into a diesel car, or vice versa, is surprisingly common. You’re in good company – around 133,000 drivers a year do exactly the same thing.

So when it happens, our Fuel Assist service is on hand to sort the problem.

Whatever you do, don’t try to start the car – you’ll pump fuel towards the engine, which could damage it. Give us a call and sit tight.

  • Our Fuel Assist service can help with both petrol-in-diesel and diesel-in-petrol situations.
  • We’ll drain, flush and replenish your fuel system on the spot, saving you time, hassle and money.
  • We aim to get you back on the road within two hours.
  • We’ll even get rid of your contaminated fuel in an environmentally responsible way

0800 072 7420

Give us a call – we'll help you out. Lines open 24/7.

Forecourt rescue
Call us as soon as you realise your mistake ‒ ideally while you’re still at the petrol station, and before you turn the key.

Our technicians all hold a Safety Pass Alliance (SPA) passport for dealing with fuel on petrol forecourts.

Roadside recovery
Our technicians hold ADR class 3 qualifications ‒ these allow them to transport flammable liquids (petrol or diesel, in this case) to wherever you are.

Need more advice?

Learn more about misfuelling, and how to prevent it.

Misfuel advice
Flat battery?

We’ll come to you to replace it – usually on the same day.

Car batteries
Lost car keys?

We’ll replace most types of keys wherever you are.

Get a new key
Good to know 

Terms and conditions apply.

 Our Fuel Assist service is available on an appointment basis between 6am and 11pm, 7 days a week. 

Fuel AssistSM is a registered Service Mark.

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


Is there a Member discount?

If you’re already an AA Personal Member, you can save up to 20% on our Fuel Assist service. Simply quote the 16-digit membership number on your membership card when you call us.

Please note: The 20% 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?
If you 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.
Call Fuel Assist on 

0800 072 7420

Call us 24/7 to book a Fuel Assist appointment – we’ll come out to you between 6am and 11pm, 7 days a week.

Call now