E10 petrol – what do I need to know?

What is E10 Petrol?

E10 petrol was introduced across the UK in Summer 2021 to help reduce carbon emissions from petrol vehicles.

How is it different from E5 petrol?

The numbers refer to the percentage of bioethanol in the fuel. E5 contains 5 percent and E10 contains 10 percent. Bioethanol is a low carbon fuel that can be blended to reduce the amount of fossil fuel in petrol.

Will it damage my car?

95% of cars on the road are already compatible with E10 petrol including all models manufactured since 2011.

There should be clear labelling at petrol pumps, so it’s unlikely you would use this fuel without being aware of the difference.

If there is an issue, one time misfuelling in a petrol but non-E10 engine shouldn’t require drain and flush as per government advice.

Which cars will not run on E10 petrol?

It’s mainly older cars that aren't compatible, although some models from early 2000s fall in this category too. Check if your vehicle can run on E10 petrol on the government website.

Is E10 cheaper than E5?

An impact assessment carried out by the government found the fuel will cost approximately 0.2p per litre more than current E5 petrol, translating to a £1.00 increase if fully refilling a 50-litre fuel tank.

E5 will also increase in cost and may be more difficult to find.

What about insurance?

When considering your car insurance, it’s worth checking your policy to see if you have any cover for accidental misfuelling.

Some policies may only provide cover as an optional extra, some may provide cover as standard up to a specified amount, and others may provide cover for resultant damages but exclude the cost to drain, flush or replace the fuel.

Generally, if you accidentally put E10 in a non-E10 petrol engine, it will be covered if there aren't any misfuelling clauses in your policy.