Drivers have been warned of a hefty price amid the petrol driver shorter crisis.
As petrol stations across the UK run dry, motorists are becoming desperate to fuel their cars, including using the wrong type.
Queues have been spotted around Edinburgh as a number of service stations had to close as they wait for a delivery.
Now, the AA have said that call outs by drivers who have used the wrong fuel in their cars have spiked during the crisis.
And drivers are being warned that they could face hundreds of pounds to fix the damage.
The Daily Mirror reported the AA said it had attended 250 such incidents over the weekend compared with 20 to 25 on an average day.
The breakdown company has a fleet of specialist "fuel assist" vans to deal with this type of incident, but the service will set motorists back around £200.
And in most cases, your insurer won’t cover the cost of this.
More than five times as many people as usual in the UK have put diesel in their petrol engine or vice versa since the start of the fuel crisis, the AA said.
Topping up using the wrong fuel can cause significant damage to cars and the driver will need to have their tank drained while the contaminated fuel has to be jettisoned.
“Misfuelling is an identified exclusion on motor insurance policies as it is classified as a self-induced fault,” Jack Cousens at the AA said.
“If you do mistakenly put the wrong fuel in your car, do not start it as it can cause additional problems.”
Alex Kindred, car insurance expert, said: “It’s important to remember that if you accidentally fill up with the wrong fuel, you should not switch on the engine, or even put the key in the ignition.
“Damage caused by using the wrong fuel can be costly, resulting in potentially needing the fuel system to be completely replaced, depending on the fuel you’ve used.
"Unfortunately, this isn’t always something you can reclaim from your insurer.
"Some policies include cover for misfuelling, while some might allow you to claim under accidental damage, but this isn't guaranteed. If you realise you have used the wrong fuel, always get in touch with your insurer to understand if you are covered and can reclaim any costs."
A Direct Line spokesman said: “We would always encourage our customers to use the correct fuel that is needed for their vehicle, as to not do so can cause damage.
"If there’s an instance where customers have accidently put the incorrect fuel into their vehicle, we advise not to drive it, and to contact us to discuss next steps.”
