I Accidentally Put Premium Gas in My Car. Now What?
Accidentally putting premium gas in your car will only damage your wallet—it won’t affect your engine or any other components.
Written by Claire Beaney
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
If you accidentally put premium gas in your car, worry not—it won’t damage your engine or any other components. At worst, you’ll end up paying more money at the pump!
Accidentally putting the wrong fuel in your car is a problem most of us will encounter at some point. While there’s nothing wrong with putting too high a grade of fuel in your car, you will encounter issues if you drive a
luxury vehicle
and fuel up with too low a grade of gas. Car insurance
expert app Jerry
is here to break down what happens if you accidentally put premium gas in your car. Keep reading to learn more.Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
What happens if I put premium gas in my car?
We’ve all been there—you’re rushing to get somewhere, need to fill up on gas quickly, and only realize you’ve chosen premium gas when you see that horrific total come up on the screen.
Luckily, even if your vehicle isn’t designed to require premium gas, it won’t harm your engine or any components of your car.
What’s the difference between regular and premium, anyway? Premium gasoline has a longer burn period, which means there are fewer deposits left over after the burn. This makes it a better option for high-performing and luxury cars.
Regular fuel, on the other hand, has a short burn time and will leave more deposits in the vehicle’s system.
The only real issue you’ll see is if you don’t put premium fuel in a car that requires it, which is common for many luxury vehicles on the market. That’s when problems with driveability may arise—but otherwise, your only concern is the extra cash you’ll have to spend!
What happens if I put the “wrong” fuel grade in my car?
While premium fuel is pretty forgiving, the same can’t be said for all grades of fuel and any accidental fill-ups.
If you put diesel fuel in a gas car, for example, it can end up clogging the fuel filter and fuel injectors and seizing up the engine. If this happens to you, you should drain your car right away.
Putting gas in a diesel car can be just as damaging—it can damage your fuel injector pump, leading to an engine misfire. You may need to repair, rebuild, or fully replace engine components, so you should also get your car drained if this mixup occurs.
Will insurance cover gasoline removal?
Those are some pretty intense consequences for accidentally putting the wrong fuel in your car—and you’re probably wondering if your car insurance will be able to help you out if this kind of blunder happens.
Unfortunately, your car insurance likely won't pay for the cost of draining the wrong fuel out of your car. This is because the fuel mishap was preventable and totally your mistake.
You can always check with your insurer to be sure, but keep your expectations low.
However, if a gas station attendant pumps the wrong gas into your vehicle and you suffer substantial damage as a result of their error, you may be eligible to sue for damages to recuperate repair and towing fees.
Saving money on car insurance with Jerry
While accidentally filling up with premium gas can hurt your pockets, there are other ways to save when it comes to your car. For one thing, you’ll want to shop for
car insurance
quotes often to make sure you’re not overpaying for the coverage you need. A licensed broker and
trusted comparison tool
, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price!
“This was and is great service!Jerrysaved me $400 on my renewal. I was super shocked!” —Jackson M.
RECOMMENDED
Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry
This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
Gabriella R.
Find insurance savings
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
What happens when you put the “wrong” fuel in your car?
It depends on the type of gas and car you’re dealing with!
Premium fuel in a non-premium car will have no effect.
Standard fuel in a premium-only car can affect performance and driveability.
Diesel in a gas car will clog your filter and injectors, and lead to your engine seizing up.
Gas in a diesel car will damage your fuel injector pump, resulting in an engine misfire and possibly leading to major repairs.
How much more expensive is premium gas?
Premium fuel normally costs 10-12 centspergallon more than regular gasoline in the United States.
That works up to about 2-3 cents per liter—which doesn’t seem like much but definitely adds up over time!
Estimate your repair costs for free with GarageGuard™
Simplify your car maintenance with Jerry.
4.7
