Is there coverage when gas damages a diesel vehicle?

Coverage Q&A: The insured accidentally filled his diesel-only sprinter van with gasoline.

Is an honest mistake a compensable loss? This week’s Coverage Q&A deals with the accidental damage caused by gas in a diesel vehicle. (Photo: Federico Rostagno/Adobe Stock)

Every claim is different, and some insurance policies can be difficult to interpret for unique situations. FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation, the recognized authority on insurance coverage interpretation and analysis for the P&C industry, makes it simple to find credible answers to your complicated coverage questions. Analysis brought to you by our FC&S experts. 

Editor’s note: Does the fact that the insured intentionally did something, even though the results were unintended or were an accident, make a difference in insurance coverage? That’s what we look at in this week’s question, where an insured accidentally but gas into a diesel engine.

Question: Our insured recently bought a Mercedes-Benz sprinter van that runs on diesel. They accidentally put gasoline in it during a recent trip. The vehicle had to be towed to a shop and had the fuel lines drained and prepped.

He asked me if there would be coverage for this event, and I advised him that, most likely, there will be coverage for the towing and labor but none for the damage or costs associated with filling up the van with the wrong fuel. I do not see where that would be a covered cause of loss. Do you agree?

— Ohio Subscriber 

Analysis: Insurance provides coverage for accidental property damage. A fire, a tornado, an auto accident are all commonly covered causes of loss. This claim may depend on the policy’s exclusions.

Answer: To learn the answer to this week’s coverage Q&A, please log into your FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation account.

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