AA
Fuel Draining AA and RAC
Most people assume that the AA and RAC offer a free fuel draining service to their members, unfortunately this is not the case.
Both the AA and RAC charge for fuel drains, the price varies but is about £220, the AA will tow you home for free with a fuel drain if you have the home recovery service.
Standard AA patrol vans do not carry fuel draining equipment, the fuel drains are done by a specialist AA division called, AA Fuel Assist, this is managed autonomously within the AA network.
AA fuel assist carry out mobile fuel drains on location and being part of the AA they are very good at it, The RAC are fairly new to the fuel draining business and are just dipping their toes into it.
Neither the AA or RAC offer a full blown national coveridge, the work is often passed on to independent fuel draining companies, or local garages, in remote areas they offer very little in the way of service.
I have heard from a number of other fuel draining companies and they all are noticing less work coming from both the AA and RAC which would suggest that their own vans are starting to cover more work.
The good news for the motorists is the more people are doing it, the cheaper it gets and the response times will be faster, hopefully the main dealers will start also recommending fuel drains instead of un-needed major engine rebuilds.
If you do decide to use the AA or RAC here’s a little tip that should save you some money, if you refuse the first price they quote they will offer a discount to get the work, this however doesn’t work for us smaller independent fuel draining companies becuase we done have millions in the bank set aside in the “wipe out the competition account”.
The AA will often tow you home from the petrol station, and then have another van come and do the fuel drain at your house at a scheduled time and day.
AA & RAC Wrong fuel & Fuel Drain Service & Misfuelling Costs
Most people who fill up with the wrong fuel first turn to the AA & RAC.
It is widely thought that membership would cover fuel drains…….. dun dun dun dun!
Here’s some facts; the AA offers a mobile fuel draining service, called “fuel assist” The AA charge £209.34 for AA Members and £246.29 for non members as of January 2011, being the AA of course the work they do is of high standard, in some areas they can attend with a mobile fuel van, but this is not everywhere, if they cannot attend they may tow you home or to a garage that can perform a drain, you will have to pay the garage for this as the AA’s job ends when they get you there.
The RAC are fairly new to the fuel drain business and they are still in the pilot stages, therefore they don’t actually have fixed prices on there website, clients of mine have been qouted between 200 and 250. The RAC with the 6 vans they have operating out of the Bristol area or pass it on to approved and vetted fuel drain co’s, again technically the RAC also offer a good service and are a good company, along with the AA they are not the fastest to attend and they often price match the AA, they offer a £15 discount to members whereas the AA offers a £36 pound discount to members.
If you need a fuel drain, don’t take my word for it, call the RAC or the AA and see what they charge and how quick they can attend, then call me – you will get a better price and faster response.
I have been asked how I feel about the AA & RAC investing heavily into fuel drains and whether or not it will decrease my business, In fact I have seen it INCREASE my business, I’m faster, cheaper and answer my phone within 3 rings, I do the fuel drains myself and I know what my workload is, that way I can tell you exactly how long I will be. technically we use the same kit as the majors and we all do the same thing, but big companies sometimes cannot be as quick and nimble as the small local ones.
If you need a fuel drain, or have put petrol in diesel we are here 24 hours a day 7 days a week and we dont charge extra for weekends or nights,
call us for wrong fuel rectification