A wrong fuel drain in the UK typically costs somewhere between £150 and £300 if you pay for it yourself, according to Which?. Whether you pay anything at all depends on your breakdown cover: some policies include misfuelling, some charge extra and some exclude it. Repairs after the engine has run on the wrong fuel are a separate cost, and breakdown cover does not usually pay for them.
The AA, RAC and Green Flag all deal with misfuelling, but they handle it in different ways. This guide compares what each one offers, what a drain price normally includes, whether car insurance helps, and when calling an independent mobile specialist makes more sense.
Whatever you do next, keep the engine off. A drain on a car that has not been started is the cheapest outcome with any provider.
AA vs RAC vs Green Flag: Misfuel Cover Compared
None of the three publishes a single fixed price for a wrong fuel drain. Cost depends on your policy and your vehicle, so treat this as a guide to how each one works rather than a price list:
| AA (Fuel Assist) | RAC (Fuel Patrol) | Green Flag | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it is priced | Quote given before booking, paid upfront | Included in some policies, charged separately in others | Which? reports misfuelling is included in all its policies |
| Need to be a member? | No, and members can save up to 10% | Check with RAC | Check with Green Flag |
| Drain at the roadside | Yes, the AA says it fixes 95% of cars at the roadside | Yes, by trained Fuel Patrols | Check your policy |
| AdBlue in the fuel tank | The AA says it cannot remove AdBlue at the roadside and may tow you to a garage | Check with RAC | Check with Green Flag |
AA Fuel Assist
The AA’s mobile fuel drain service is open to non-members, and AA personal members can save up to 10%. You get a quote before booking and pay before work starts. The AA aims to reach you within an hour and says most drains take around 45 minutes once the technician arrives. One important limit: the AA states it cannot remove AdBlue from a fuel tank at the roadside, so an AdBlue misfuel may mean a tow to a garage.
RAC Fuel Patrol
The RAC uses dedicated Fuel Patrols to drain the tank and fuel system and add enough clean fuel to get you moving. Whether you pay depends on your cover: the RAC says some breakdown policies include misfuelling while others charge separately for draining or recovery. If the damage is too great to fix at the roadside, the car can be towed.
Green Flag
In its review of breakdown providers, Which? lists Green Flag among those that include misfuelling cover in all their policies. Which? did not assess how comprehensive that cover is, so check your policy for limits, such as a cap on the drain cost or whether replacement fuel is included.
Whichever provider you use, ask two questions on the phone: is the drain covered by my policy, and if not, what is the exact price before you send someone?
What a Wrong Fuel Drain Price Usually Includes
When comparing quotes, make sure you are comparing the same job. A standard drain price normally covers:
- The call-out to your location
- Draining the contaminated fuel into a sealed tank
- Flushing the fuel system with clean fuel
- Enough correct fuel to get you to the next forecourt
- Safe, licensed disposal of the drained fuel
Things that are often charged separately, or not covered by breakdown policies at all:
- Repairs after the engine has run: a new fuel pump, injectors or filter are not part of a drain price, and breakdown cover does not normally pay for them.
- A full tank of fuel: most services only add a few litres. Replacement fuel is rarely covered by insurance either.
- Towing: if the car cannot be fixed at the roadside, recovery to a garage may cost extra.
- AdBlue contamination: some providers cannot deal with it at the roadside. If AdBlue went into your fuel tank, see our AdBlue in fuel tank service.
- Out-of-hours or motorway jobs: some providers charge more at night, at weekends or on fast roads.
Does Car Insurance Cover the Cost?
Sometimes. Car insurance and breakdown cover do different jobs here. Breakdown cover, where it includes misfuelling, deals with the drain. Car insurance is what may pay for damage if the engine ran on the wrong fuel.
In a recent review of 61 car insurance policies, Which? found that 43% included misfuelling as standard and a further 10% offered it as an optional extra. That leaves many drivers with no misfuelling cover at all. Even where it is included, the policy may pay for damage but not for the drain itself, or the other way round.
Before you claim, check two things:
- Your excess: for a straightforward drain, the excess may be more than the drain costs.
- Your no claims discount: a misfuelling claim can affect it, which may cost more at renewal than paying for the drain yourself.
For a full breakdown of repair costs if the engine was started, see our guide to how much it costs to fix wrong fuel in the UK.
When an Independent Mobile Fuel Drain Makes Sense
The big breakdown providers are a good first call if your policy includes misfuelling. An independent mobile specialist is often the better option when:
- You have no breakdown cover, or your policy excludes misfuelling or only offers a tow.
- AdBlue went into the fuel tank and your provider cannot deal with it at the roadside.
- You want a local technician, rather than waiting for a national network to allocate a van.
- Your provider’s quote is higher than a local specialist’s for the same job.
Whoever you call, the price of a drain depends on the same few things:
- Whether the engine was started: a drain before the engine runs is the simplest job.
- Fuel type and vehicle: diesels often need a filter change, and larger tanks mean more fuel to remove.
- Time and place: nights, weekends and motorways can cost more.
- Extra work: a long flush or a filter change adds to the price.
Fuel Doctor 247 is an independent mobile wrong fuel service covering Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire. We deal with petrol in diesel cars, diesel in petrol cars and AdBlue in the fuel tank. Call with your make, model and fuel type, and tell us whether you started the engine, and we will give you a quote. Here is how our mobile fuel drain works, step by step.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you pay yourself, a wrong fuel drain typically costs between £150 and £300, according to Which?. The price depends on the vehicle, the time and place, and whether the engine was started. Repairs after the engine has run cost extra.
Yes. AA Fuel Assist is open to non-members, who get a quote before booking and pay before work starts. AA personal members can save up to 10%.
It depends on your policy. The RAC says some breakdown policies include misfuelling, while others charge separately for draining or recovery. Check your policy documents or ask when you call.
Which? lists Green Flag among the providers that include misfuelling cover in all their policies. Check your own policy for limits, such as a cap on the cost or whether replacement fuel is included.
It can be, especially if you have no breakdown cover or your policy excludes misfuelling. Compare like with like: ask what the price includes, such as the flush, disposal and replacement fuel.
Usually not. Breakdown cover deals with the drain or a tow. Repairs to parts damaged by the wrong fuel are normally only covered by car insurance that includes misfuelling.
Need a Quote for a Wrong Fuel Drain?
If you have put the wrong fuel in and your breakdown cover does not include misfuelling, keep the engine off and call Fuel Doctor 247. We come to you across the North of England and drain, flush and refill on site.
Call 0333 577 5158 or 0755 456 6460, or send us your details. Not sure if we cover your area? See where we work.
You Mix It. We Fix It.
