The Bottom Line
Wrong fuel in a hire car is more common than you would think, especially with airport pickups and fly-in fly-out work vehicles you are not used to driving. The rules are the same as any other car. Do not start it, do not drive it back to the depot, and get the wrong fuel drained on-site. Wrong fuel happens to anyone, hire car or not.
Call Ben on 0416 692 022. We come to you across Perth, drain, flush, and refuel, so you can hand the car back as if nothing happened.
First, Do Not Drive It Back
The instinct is to limp the car back to the rental depot and let them deal with it. Do not. Driving on the wrong fuel is exactly what turns a simple drain into engine and pump damage, and on a hire car that damage bill lands on you. The further you drive, the bigger the job and the bigger the potential charge. If you are not sure what you are dealing with, our wrong fuel first-steps guide covers it.
Switch the engine off, leave it off, and sort the fuel where the car is. That is what protects both the car and your wallet.
What To Tell the Rental Company
Call the rental company early and be straight with them. Tell them what happened, where the car is, and that you are arranging an on-site fuel drain rather than driving it. Most depots would much rather hear that than have a contaminated car driven back to them.
Ask them two things. First, whether their roadside or insurance cover includes misfuelling, since some agreements do. Second, how they want the car handled once it is drained and running again. Get names and times so you have a clear record of the conversation.
Who Actually Pays?
Here is the honest answer. Wrong fuel is almost always treated as driver error, so in most cases the renter is responsible for the cost, not the rental company. But it depends entirely on your rental agreement and what cover you took, so check before you assume.
A few things worth checking on your own paperwork and policies:
- Your rental agreement, for what it says about misfuelling and damage
- Any excess reduction or premium cover you paid for at the counter
- Your own car insurance or roadside membership, since some include wrong fuel cover that follows you, not the car
- Travel insurance, if you are visiting Perth, which sometimes covers rental mishaps
We cannot tell you what your specific contract covers, so call your provider and ask. What we can tell you is that an on-site drain is almost always the cheaper path than a tow plus a workshop plus days of lost hire.
Why an On-Site Drain Beats a Tow-Back
If you drive the car back or have it towed to the depot, you are usually looking at a tow charge, the car off the road for days, and the rental company billing their own repair rates on top. An on-site drain skips all of that. We come to the car, drain the wrong fuel, flush the system, refuel, and the car is running again, often within the hour.
That means you can keep your plans moving and hand the car back in the same condition you got it.
Airport Pickups and FIFO Hire
A lot of our hire car calls come from people who just landed at Perth Airport, or fly-in fly-out workers in a ute or 4WD they do not normally drive. Unfamiliar car, busy servo, wrong nozzle, it is an easy mistake. We cover the airport and the whole metro, day and night, so a wrong fill on day one of your trip does not wreck the rest of it.
Wrong Fuel in Perth? We Are 24/7
Rapid Fuel Rescue is a dedicated wrong fuel service for Perth and WA. Hire car, work vehicle, or your own, we drain it, flush it, and get you moving. Ben usually reaches jobs across the metro inside about an hour. Call 0416 692 022 while the car is parked and off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I drive a hire car back to the depot with wrong fuel in it?
No. Driving on the wrong fuel is what causes real damage, and on a hire car that bill is usually yours. Stop, switch off, and get it drained where it sits. Then talk to the rental company.
Does rental insurance cover wrong fuel?
Sometimes, but not always. Wrong fuel is usually treated as driver error, so it often falls to the renter. Check your rental agreement, any cover you bought at the counter, and your own insurance or roadside membership, then call the provider to confirm.
Can you drain a hire car so I can keep using it?
Yes. We drain the wrong fuel, flush the system, and refuel on-site, so the car is running again and you can carry on with your trip. Most jobs are done within about an hour across Perth metro.
I picked the car up at Perth Airport. Can you come there?
Yes. We cover Perth Airport and the whole metro, 24 hours a day. Call 0416 692 022, tell us where the car is, and we will come to you.
