Does Insurance Cover Sugar in Your Gas Tank?

Finding that someone has poured sugar into your gas tank can be an incredibly frustrating and expensive experience. The sugar will completely disable your engine, often requiring thousands of dollars in repairs.

So does insurance cover this kind of vandalism?

The good news is that if you have comprehensive auto insurance, damage from sugar in your gas tank is often covered. However, the details depend on your specific policy.

Below is a comprehensive guide on what to do if you find sugar in your tank, whether insurance covers it, and how to ensure you have adequate protection.

What to Do If You Have Sugar in Your Gas Tank

The first sign that sugar has been added to your gas tank is often that your car won’t start. The engine may crank but it fails to turn over.

If you suspect sugar in the gas, the first step is to not try to keep cranking the engine. The sugar crystals can get pulled into the fuel system and cause even more damage.

Instead, you should:

• Call for a tow truck to take your car to a mechanic. Don’t try to drive it there.

• Contact your insurance company and file a claim for vandalism or criminal damage.

• Ask the mechanic to drain the contaminated gas and fuel system components. Damaged parts like the fuel filter and pump may need replacement.

• Thoroughly clean out the gas tank to remove all sugar residue before adding new gasoline.

The repairs for sugar in a gas tank often exceed $1,000 and can be as high as $5,000 for more extensive damage.

Why Sugar Disables Your Engine

To understand why sugar has such a catastrophic effect, you need to know how gasoline engines work.

There are a few key ways that sugar damages an engine:

• Sugar crystals don’t combust properly. Gasoline is meant to combust in a controlled way in the engine to produce power. Sugar can’t combust effectively, disabling the engine.

• The sugar gets stuck in fuel system components. Fuel injectors, pumps, and filters are precisely engineered with tiny openings. Sugar clogs them up and stops fuel flow.

• Sugar is left behind as sticky residue. Even after flushing the tank, some syrupy residue is left behind which can re-contaminate the fuel system.

Just a few tablespoons of sugar is enough to stall a modern gasoline engine and require extensive repairs.

Does Car Insurance Cover Sugar in the Gas Tank?

Whether your car insurance policy will pay for repairs due to sugar in the gas tank depends on your coverage. Let’s look at how different policies respond:

• Liability coverage – This covers damage you cause to others. It does NOT pay for repairs to your own car from vandalism.

• Collision – Collision insurance covers accident damage from colliding with an object. But it does not cover intentional damage from vandals.

• Comprehensive – A comprehensive policy pays for damage from theft, natural disasters, fire, and vandalism. This includes sugar added to your tank.

• If you have liability-only coverage, you must pay the full repair cost out of pocket.

• With collision and liability, there is still no coverage for vandalism.

• But comprehensive insurance should cover repairs due to sugar in most cases.

There are a couple nuances to be aware of, however:

• Your deductible still applies. If you have a $500 deductible, for example, that portion is paid out of pocket.

• Extreme cases with extensive damage exceeding the vehicle’s value may be declared a total loss. The insurer then pays out the car’s worth rather than repair costs.

• Some policies exclude coverage when a family member vandalizes the vehicle.

To have certainty that sugar in your tank is covered, contact your insurer and confirm comprehensive coverage includes vandalism. Also ensure your deductible is affordable for you.

Steps to Take After Finding Sugar in Your Tank

If you find that someone has put sugar in your gas tank, follow these key steps:

1. Document the Damage

Take detailed photos of the sugar crystals you find in the tank or fuel system components. Also photograph any damage the sugar caused to the engine or other parts.

Thorough documentation shows the insurance company clear proof of vandalism.

2. File a Police Report

Contact the police department to file a vandalism or criminal damage report. Provide them the photos and get a copy of the report for your records.

Having an official report helps demonstrate to the insurer that this wasn’t damage you caused yourself.

3. Contact Your Insurance Provider

Notify your insurance company as soon as possible after discovering the vandalism. Confirm that you have comprehensive coverage and that it includes this type of damage.

Ask what information they require, and any next steps in filing the claim.

4. Take Your Car to a Mechanic

Have the vehicle towed to a mechanic approved by your insurance. Do not drive it there, as this can worsen the damage.

Ask the mechanic to document all parts affected and provide an estimate for cleaning and replacing components.

5. Submit Required Paperwork

Compile the evidence required by your insurer. This normally includes:

• Photos of the sugar in the tank
• Police report
• Mechanic’s estimate for repairs
• Receipts for expenses like the tow truck

Submitting complete documentation helps ensure you get your claim approved quickly.

How to Prevent Sugar Being Added to Your Tank

While comprehensive insurance should cover repairs if this happens, you’ll still have a major headache dealing with the claim process and time without your car.

Here are some tips to help prevent sugar being poured in your tank in the first place:

• Park in busy public areas – Vandals are less likely to strike when there are witnesses around. Avoid isolated parking spots.

• Use secure parking – Keep your car in a locked garage when possible. If parking in a lot, choose one that is well-lit and secure.

• Get a locking gas cap – A cap that locks helps prevent easy access to pour in sugar or other contaminants.

• Install cameras – Security cameras in your parking area can deter vandals and help identify them.

• Avoid leaving your car for long periods – The longer a vehicle sits unattended, the more likely it will be targeted.

Staying vigilant makes it much less likely you’ll fall victim to this frustrating form of vandalism. But comprehensive insurance still provides peace of mind if it does occur.

Questions to Ask Your Insurance Provider

If you want to have certainty that damage from sugar in your tank is covered, here are some key questions to ask your insurer:

• Do I have comprehensive coverage on my policy?

• Does my comprehensive insurance cover vandalism?

• Is there an upper limit on payouts for vandalism claims?

• Does my deductible apply to repairs from vandalism?

• Are there any exclusions for family members damaging the vehicle?

• How long does it normally take to process and approve this type of claim?

• Do you require a police report to be filed?

• What documents, photos, or other proof do you require me to submit?

• Do I need to take my car to an approved mechanic for the damage assessment and repairs?

Getting answers to these questions will ensure no surprises come up when filing your claim.

Warning Signs Sugar Has Been Added

Being alert for signs of tampering can help detect if someone has put sugar in your tank early. Some clues include:

• Grains of sugar visible around the gas cap or fuel opening.

• Problems starting your car that seem to come on suddenly.

• The smell of raw sugar while trying to start your car.

• Sudden stalling shortly after driving the vehicle.

• A fuel pump that keeps whining after turning the ignition.

• Someone you’ve had conflicts with knowing where you park your car.

Noticing these warning signs promptly can allow you to get repairs done before the damage is too extensive.

Alternatives If Your Insurance Doesn’t Cover It

If you unfortunately don’t have comprehensive insurance on your car, you may need to find alternatives to pay for costly repairs from sugar in your tank. Here are some options:

• Tap your emergency fund – An emergency car repair fund can help pay for uninsured losses.

• Use a credit card – Financing repairs with a credit card allows you to pay it off slowly over time.

• Borrow from family/friends – People close to you may be able to loan the money interest-free.

• Take out a personal loan – Banks and credit unions offer loans that can cover auto repairs.

• File in small claims court – You may be able to sue known vandals to recover repair costs.

• Add comprehensive coverage – Getting a comprehensive policy can prevent this issue in the future.

While expensive, paying out of pocket gives you opportunities to strengthen coverage so it doesn’t happen again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some common questions about insurance