We've all been there - the warning petrol light comes on and we wonder how many more miles we can get before having to refuel.
Some of us have reached the petrol station running on fumes, while others may have had to walk there - with a jerry can in hand.
Nobody ever means to run out of fuel, but it does happen.
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And it can be particularly problematic if it happens while you're on a motorway, or miles from a petrol station.
So how many miles can you do after the light comes on?
A common belief is that a car can go for around 40 miles after the petrol warning comes on, but this can vary massively from car to car.
Confused.com says there is no set amount left in the tank when you receive the warning, so you shouldn't assume you have a set number of miles left when it first alerts you.
For many cars, the warning light comes on when there is between 10% and 15% of the tank’s capacity left.
When it starts flashing, you’ve probably got less than 10% left.
The insurance comparison site advises drivers to think of the low-fuel light as a final warning rather than driving around with it on.
Data compiled by TankOnEmpty.com, in June, suggests this is how far some of the UK's top cars might go after the fuel light appears:
- Honda Accord – 45 miles
- Honda Civic – 43 miles
- Toyota Corolla – 45 miles
- Toyota Camry - 43 miles
- Ford Focus – 42 miles
- Ford F-150 – 39 miles
- Volkswagen Jetta – 44 miles
- Mazda Miata – 35 miles
- Volkswagen Golf – 44 miles
- Chevrolet Silverado – 34 miles
It’s better to be safe than sorry, though, so if you have an empty fuel gauge, fill up your tank as soon as you can.
Most mechanics recommend you stop and get at least £10 worth of petrol, according to petrolprices.com
This prevents the risk of spending, say, hundreds—or more—on repairs from potential damage caused by running out of fuel.
What happens if you run out of fuel?
The RAC says drivers often report feeling their car jerk or stutter as they try to accelerate with low or no fuel.
You may also hear spluttering noises as your fuel pumps fail to feed the engine and your car starts picking up debris from the bottom of the tank.
Eventually your car will struggle to accelerate and stop completely.
Is it illegal to run out of fuel?
While running out of fuel isn’t illegal in itself, any careless or dangerous driving that results from it could see you punished by law.
You could receive a penalty of £100 and three points on your licence if you are forced to stop in the road and cause an obstruction.
In cases where your empty fuel tank leads to an accident, as well as putting yourself and other road users at extreme risk, you could be taken to court, or issued with 9 points and an unlimited fine.
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