Misfuelled a Rental Car in US? Excess & What to Do Now

<p>Misfuelling a rental car is easier than you think. Different coloured nozzles, an unfamiliar vehicle, or a rushed fill-up at Shell, BP, or Mobil — and suddenly you've put petrol in a diesel tank or diesel in a petrol car. In United States, rental fleets are predominantly diesel, so petrol-in-diesel is the most common mistake tourists and locals make.</p> <p>Rental companies treat misfuelling seriously. Their contracts typically make you fully liable for all recovery and repair costs, and standard travel insurance often excludes it. The excess on your rental agreement — the amount you pay before any cover kicks in — usually applies, but many policies cap out well below the total bill if engine damage occurs. Some hire companies offer premium waiver products that reduce or eliminate misfuel excess, but these must be purchased before collection. Always read your rental agreement's fuel contamination clause.</p> <p>The financial exposure can be significant. Beyond the tow and workshop recovery, contaminated fuel can damage pumps, injectors, and the fuel rail. Rental companies may also charge loss-of-use fees while the vehicle is off their fleet. Third-party roadside assistance plans like AA or your insurer's motor policy may help with the initial callout, but they do not cover the specialised workshop recovery that manufacturer warranties and rental contracts require.</p> <h2>What to do right now if you've misfuelled your rental car</h2> <p>First, do not start the engine — not even to move to a parking bay. If you've already started it, stop immediately and turn the key off. Push the vehicle to a safe spot if possible. Inform the fuel station attendant. Then call your rental company's emergency line to report the incident and check your cover. Next, contact EEK on <a href="tel:18667773712">(866) 777-3712</a>. We dispatch a tow truck to your location — forecourt, roadside, home, or car park — and transport your vehicle to a USIFDA-certified workshop. Manufacturer-spec fuel system recovery happens only at the workshop, never at the collection point. This protects your rental agreement, your personal liability, and the vehicle's warranty.</p> <p>Our pricing is fully itemised based on vehicle type, distance, time of day, and contamination severity. See the complete breakdown on our <a href="/rate-card">rate card</a>. Costs vary by tow distance, after-hours, and vehicle. Component repair costs after driving on wrong fuel — such as pump or injector replacement — are separate from the recovery invoice and can be substantial.</p> <p>We operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across United States. Call <a href="tel:18667773712">(866) 777-3712</a> and we'll get your rental vehicle collected and into certified recovery without delay.</p>