Driving with low fuel can impact a car’s health as well as increase the chance of breaking down, so why do some drivers take the risk?
Uswitch car insurance recently conducted research to explore UK drivers’ refuelling habits, examining how long they wait to fill up, what prevents some from filling up their full tank, and their awareness of the consequences of driving with low fuel.
The survey revealed that many drivers delay refuelling their car until it’s essential. Just under half (49%) usually leave it until the tank is less than a quarter full, with one in five (22%) leaving it right up until the fuel warning light comes on.
The research also revealed that nearly two in five (39%) drivers don’t fill their tank to full capacity when refuelling, with almost one in five (18%) only filling up halfway or less.
It’s no surprise that budgeting and affordability are influencing drivers’ decision to not fill up their full tank when 56% of adults reported an increase in their cost of living in January.
The price of fuel is volatile, but unleaded petrol has increased by 4% since October last year, and diesel by 6%, currently sitting at 139.42 and 146.58 pence per litre respectively.
Despite these financial considerations when deciding how much of their cars’ tanks to fill up, only 17% of drivers seek out the service station with the cheapest fuel. The majority go to their local service station (36%) or the closest to their location at the time (21%), suggesting convenience takes priority.
Drivers are unaware of the potential negative consequences of consistently driving with low fuel:
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Over two-fifths (41%) didn’t know about possible sediment or debris build-up in a car’s fuel tank, while over half (51%) were unaware of the subsequent damage to the fuel pump and filter.
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Nearly two-fifths (37%) lacked knowledge that driving with low fuel can result in breaking down.
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Almost one in ten (9%) even admitted to not knowing there were any negative repercussions at all.
Nearly one in five (18%) drivers have actually broken down due to running out of fuel. According to the most up-to-date available figures, in 2022 the AA attended more than 10,500 breakdowns where drivers had run out of fuel (or charge if electric)[3].
