Will Auto Insurance Deliver Gas If You Run Out?

Last Updated on November 16, 2022

There is just about nothing worse than running out of gas, especially if it is on a busy highway, late at night, or in the dead of winter. If you find yourself in this unenviable position, you will immediately wonder whether your auto insurer will deliver gas to your location. In general, auto insurance safeguards drivers against unexpected events such as auto accidents. However, for the most part, auto insurers will not provide gas delivery in the event a client runs out mid-trip – unless you have roadside assistance coverage.

Will your car insurance provider deliver gas to you if you run out on the side of the road? If you have roadside assistance coverage, will you be able to get gas delivered? Below, we’re answering every question you might have about getting gas delivered to your vehicle if you run out.

Why Most Auto Insurers Won’t Deliver Gas

Though some auto insurance providers have a roadside assistance program in which gas delivery is included, the vast majority of insurance providers will not deliver gas. Car insurance is meant to provide drivers with protection against unforeseen circumstances. There is nothing unexpected about running out of gas. If your vehicle runs out of fuel, it is solely your fault. This is an entirely preventable problem that could have been predicted with ease had you looked at your fuel gauge. As a result, most auto insurance providers will not deliver gas to an individual who is stranded and out of fuel. In contrast, auto insurance is typically applicable to unexpected events such as vehicle theft and hail damage.

What About Delivering Fuel After Filling up with the Wrong Type of Fuel?

If you put the wrong fuel in your vehicle, you might be tempted to call your auto insurance provider to see if they will cover the cost of draining the fuel and replacing it with the correct type of gas. However, most auto insurance policies do not cover auto damage caused by the wrong fuel. Furthermore, most auto insurance providers will not send a responder out to your location to drain the incorrect fuel and fill up your car’s tank with the appropriate fuel.

Enroll in a Roadside Assistance Plan for Fuel Assistance

Just because the vast majority of auto insurers do not deliver gas does not mean you will not receive assistance should you run out of fuel. If you are enrolled in a roadside assistance plan, your provider will most likely be able to deliver gas to you if you run out. What’s more – the cost of fuel delivery will likely be covered. Some such assistance programs even cover the cost of gas replacement if you fill your car’s tank with the wrong type of gas.

Be sure to check with your current auto insurance provider to determine if there is a roadside assistance program you can enroll in rather than paying a potentially exorbitant price to sign up for a roadside assistance service outside of your auto insurer. Though enrolling in roadside assistance as a component of your auto insurance policy will likely add $5-$10 to your monthly premium, it is well worth the money considering the alternative: being stranded without gas on a road trip in the middle of nowhere when it is egregiously cold or hot outside.

Roadside Assistance Programs That Cover Fuel Delivery Include:

The Cost of Delivering Fuel vs. the Cost of Fuel

The average roadside assistance program pays to deliver fuel to the customer’s location. However, the cost of the gas itself is typically not covered. Though a few upper-echelon roadside assistance plans include the cost of fuel as well as the cost of its delivery, such programs usually do not cover the cost of a full tank of gas. Instead, the service is likely to provide stranded motorists with enough gas to reach the closest gas station so they can refill on their own.

Instances When Auto Insurers Might Deliver Gas

The auto insurance company may deliver gas and pay for damages if your vehicle breaks down as a result of bad gas provided by a gas station. An issue with the fuel storage system, fuel injectors, or fuel pumps really can cause one or several problems with the gas. If such an unfortunate event occurs, your comprehensive auto insurance policy will cover the cost of repairing the resulting damage. The negligent gas station owner will also be held liable for ensuing damages.

Furthermore, if someone sabotages your vehicle’s gas tank, the auto insurer might cover the cost of repair. Each of these situations qualifies as the forementioned “unexpected events” that are entirely out of the driver’s control. Therefore, auto insurance will likely prove applicable in such cases.