Wrong Fuel in a Rental Car NZ
Every major NZ rental company's misfuel policy, excess charges, and contact numbers. The short version: almost none of them cover it. You need to act fast.
Call Eek Now: 0808 280 634624/7 — Drains the tank before the engine does the damage
Do NOT start the engine — this is the single most important thing
With a rental car, wrong fuel is already your financial liability. Starting the engine makes the damage exponentially worse. Recovery before the engine is started is itemised per our rate card and is usually far less than engine repair on a modern diesel (see rate card–see rate card). In a rental car, that is your bill, not theirs.
Why Rental Car Misfuel Is Different to Your Own Car
With your own car, your comprehensive insurer (AMI, State, FMG) might cover the cost. With a rental car, you are dealing with the rental company directly — and they are not your friend in this situation.
What to Do Right Now — Rental Car
- 1Stop fuelling immediately — do NOT start the engine
Every second counts. Move the vehicle to safety without starting the engine if possible (push it, or ask for help).
- 2Call Eek: 0808 280 6346
We come to you. We drain the tank, flush the system, and refuel. Average 45 minute response. This is the single action that prevents a minor misfuel becoming a major repair bill (see rate card).
- 3Call your rental company's roadside number
Notify them of the incident as required by your agreement. Get a reference number. Do not admit fault in any way that could be used against you — simply report the situation factually.
- 4Get the Eek incident report
Our report documents the contamination type, how much was extracted, what was flushed, and the condition of the fuel system. This is your evidence if the rental company makes a damage claim.
- 5Check your travel insurance
Some comprehensive travel insurance policies include rental car excess cover. If yours does, lodge a claim. The Eek invoice and report is the documentation your travel insurer needs.
Full Liability — Wrong Fuel Is Explicitly Excluded
These companies explicitly exclude wrong fuel from their insurance and excess protection. You pay the full cost of extraction and any resulting damage.
Avis United Kingdom
At-fault fees + repair costsCallout fee min see rate card + damage up to rental excess
Wrong fuel policy:
Wrong fuel is an "at-fault" issue. LDW (Loss Damage Waiver) is included in all rentals but does not cover driver-caused fuel errors. Without Roadside Assistance cover (RSN/RSP), the minimum callout fee is see rate card You are also liable for any fuel system damage up to your rental agreement excess.
LDW does NOT cover wrong fuel. Roadside Assistance cover (see rate card/day) covers the callout fee only — not the fuel extraction or repair costs.
What to do:
Do not start engine. Call Avis roadside on 0800 652 847. Then call Eek to drain and flush the tank.
Budget United Kingdom
At-fault fees + repair costsCallout fee + damage up to rental excess
Wrong fuel policy:
Budget (part of Avis Budget Group) uses near-identical terms to Avis NZ. Wrong fuel is treated as an at-fault issue. LDW limits damage liability to the excess amount but does not waive the callout fee or wrongful fuel costs.
Same as Avis — LDW covers accident damage but wrong fuel is treated separately as a driver-caused issue.
What to do:
Do not start engine. Call Budget roadside via your rental agreement. Then call Eek to drain the tank.
Hertz United Kingdom
Full repair liabilityRepair costs — not covered by Hertz options
Wrong fuel policy:
Hertz options (MDW, SDW) do not cover fuel errors. Hertz terms explicitly require the renter to use the correct fuel. Wrong fuel damage is the renter's full responsibility — it is not a covered "mechanical" breakdown. Hertz's breakdown assistance only covers mechanical faults, not driver errors.
No Hertz protection product covers wrong fuel in NZ. SDW and MDW exclude fuel errors explicitly.
What to do:
Do not start engine. Call Hertz 24hr roadside on 0800 633 611. Then call Eek to perform the extraction.
Europcar United Kingdom
Flat charge + engine damageCallout flat charge + repair costs if engine damaged
Wrong fuel policy:
Europcar's free 24/7 breakdown assistance explicitly excludes wrong fuel — it is listed as a "breakdowns caused by using the wrong fuel." An optional "Assistance Plus" protection covers the callout flat charge for wrong fuel events, but NOT damage to the engine or fuel system caused by the wrong fuel. Breakage of the engine due to wrong fuel is explicitly excluded.
Assistance Plus ($X/day) covers the callout fee for wrong fuel but not engine or fuel system damage. Engine damage from wrong fuel is always the renter's cost.
What to do:
Do not start engine. Call Europcar NZ roadside. Then call Eek — fast extraction prevents the engine damage that Europcar cannot cover for you.
GO Rentals
Full liability — explicitly excludedFull repair cost — no insurance applies
Wrong fuel policy:
GO Rentals Terms & Conditions clause 16.1.18 explicitly excludes "any loss or damage caused or contributed to by the incorrect filling of fluid or fuel tanks." This means their comprehensive insurance (GO Basic, GO Assured, GO Peace of Mind) does NOT cover wrong fuel — you pay the full repair cost regardless of which cover option you selected.
No GO Rentals cover option applies to wrong fuel. Clause 16.1.18 excludes it from all insurance products. Even with GO Peace of Mind (zero excess), wrong fuel costs fall entirely on the renter.
What to do:
Do not start engine. Call GO Rentals. Then call Eek immediately — the sooner we drain it, the lower the repair bill you face.
JUCY Rentals
Full liability — explicitly excludedFull cost — all excess reduction options void
Wrong fuel policy:
JUCY terms explicitly state: "The insurance options do not cover the incorrect filling of fluid tanks. The hirer will be responsible for any associated costs." This applies to all their excess reduction options (Risk Taker, Stress Free, Stress Free Plus). Wrong fuel voids coverage — you pay all extraction and repair costs.
All JUCY excess reduction options are voided by wrong fuel. You pay the full cost of extraction and any engine damage.
What to do:
Do not start engine. Call JUCY. Then call Eek — every minute matters before you start the engine.
Ezi Car Rental
Full excess — T&C breachFull excess amount stated on rental agreement
Wrong fuel policy:
Ezi Car Rental terms list "use incorrect fuel in the vehicle" as a breach of the rental agreement. When a T&C breach occurs, the full excess applies (up to the maximum stated in your agreement). Ezi Plus and Ezi Premium cover options may not apply to deliberate T&C breaches — check your agreement carefully.
Wrong fuel is a listed breach of Ezi's T&Cs. The full rental excess applies at minimum. Ezi Plus / Ezi Premium cover may be voided.
What to do:
Do not start engine. Call Ezi Car Rental. Then call Eek — a see rate card drain is far cheaper than a see rate card+ excess plus engine repair.
Omega Rental Cars
Driver error — AA callout at renter costsee rate card standard excess (or reduced with CDW) + extraction cost
Wrong fuel policy:
Omega classes wrong fuel as "driver error" — the same category as flat battery, locked keys, and running out of fuel. For driver-error callouts, Omega sends the AA and the renter pays the AA directly. Any resulting vehicle damage falls under the standard excess (see rate card reducible to see rate card with Gold CDW). Whether CDW covers wrong fuel damage depends on whether it is categorised as misuse — check your agreement.
You pay the AA callout for wrong fuel. Vehicle damage: see rate card excess (or CDW reduced amount). Gold CDW (see rate card excess) may not cover deliberate misuse — confirm at pickup.
What to do:
Do not start engine. Call Omega on 0800 52 52 10. Then call Eek — cheaper than having the AA tow it to a workshop.
Excess Likely Applies — Check Your Agreement
Wrong fuel may be covered under the standard excess structure, but this depends on your specific agreement. Verify before assuming.
Snap Rentals
Excess applies to damage{{PRICE:depositDefault}} (Basic), {{PRICE:supplierCancellationFeeMax}} (Basic Cover), zero (Simply Better Cover)
Wrong fuel policy:
Snap Rentals terms require the vehicle to be returned with the same fuel level as pick-up — a see rate card refuelling fee applies otherwise. For wrong fuel damage, Snap's standard excess structure applies. The key risk is whether wrong fuel damage (engine, fuel system) is treated as a T&C breach, which could void Simply Better Cover.
Check your Snap Rentals T&Cs for wrong fuel exclusions — this is not always clearly stated. Damage from wrong fuel may be treated separately from collision damage.
What to do:
Do not start engine. Call Snap Rentals on their listed contact. Then call Eek to drain and flush.
Check Your Rental Agreement
No public wrong-fuel policy found — check your agreement directly with the company.
Ace Rental Cars
Check your rental agreementRefer to your rental agreement
Wrong fuel policy:
Ace Rental Cars' specific wrong fuel policy is not publicly detailed. As with most NZ rental companies, wrong fuel is likely treated as renter negligence rather than covered accident damage. Check your rental agreement for the fuel contamination clause.
Check your Ace rental agreement T&Cs. Contact Ace directly to clarify your position before starting the engine.
What to do:
Do not start engine. Call Ace Rental Cars. Then call Eek to drain the tank before costs escalate.
Travel Insurance and Rental Car Excess Cover
Some comprehensive travel insurance policies include rental car excess cover. If yours does, the process is: the rental company charges you the excess — you then claim that excess back from your travel insurer. This does NOT apply if the rental company treats wrong fuel as a T&C breach (voiding all cover) rather than a damage event attracting the standard excess.
The Eek invoice and technical incident report is what your travel insurer will ask for to validate the claim. We provide it as part of every job.
Travel insurance policy wording varies significantly. Read yours carefully — specifically look for clauses on rental car excess cover and any exclusions for driver negligence or incorrect fuel use.
What the Eek Report Includes
When you use Eek, you get a complete technical incident report that documents:
This report is formatted for insurer and rental company assessment — exactly what you need if you are disputing damage charges or submitting a travel insurance claim.
Wrong fuel in your rental car right now?
Do not start the engine. Call Eek — we come to you, drain it, flush it, and hand you the report you need.
0808 280 6346