What Happens When You Drive Off Without Paying For Fuel?
Purposely making off without payment is a punishable offence in the UK
With fuel prices going through the roof, the temptation to fill your vehicle’s tank up for free at the pumps has never been higher.
Known as ‘bilking’ - which is the act of cheating someone out of something valuable - more and more motorists are taking the risk due to the cost of living crisis. Forecourt fuel crimes are a very real problem and in the UK it’s estimated that over 2.5 million incidents of unpaid fuel are reported every year.
But what happens if you drive off without paying for fuel? Here at Wilsons Epsom, we highlight the growing problem and the consequences of stealing petrol or diesel fuel from a forecourt…
Is driving off without paying for fuel illegal in the UK?
In the UK, it is only classed as a criminal offence if you purposely drive off without paying for fuel. If you filled up at the forecourt pumps but had no intention of paying for your petrol or diesel, then that is a punishable offence under the Theft Act 1978.
The law states: “A person who, knowing that payment on the spot for any goods supplied or service done is required or expected from them, dishonestly makes off without having paid as required or expected and with intent to avoid payment of the amount due, shall be guilty of an offence.”
What is the punishment for driving off without paying for fuel?
Now we’ve established that driving off without paying for fuel is an illegal offence if you purposely did so, what is the punishment for this crime? ‘Making Off Without Payment’ can result in jail; if your case is taken to court and you are found guilty, you can face paying a fine of up to £5,000 and even spend up to six months in prison.
In some cases of repeated fuel theft, the guilty party can be looking at two years of jail time and a far-heftier fine.
What happens when you accidentally drive off without paying for fuel?
So there is a distinct difference between those that knowingly drive off without paying for fuel, and those who genuinely forget to make payment at the tills. Leaving a petrol station without paying can be forgiven if it is accidental and you are quick to rectify your actions.
First and foremost, you should head straight back to the forecourt in question as soon as you remember. Explain that driving off without paying for the fuel was a complete accident, and settle the payment there and then before your details are handed over to the police.
What happens if you don’t have the funds to pay for fuel?
If you fill up with fuel at a petrol station and are unable to pay for whatever reason, you will be asked to sign a ‘No Means to Pay’ form. This ensures the retailer in question has your details should they need to hand them over to the police, and you’ll be given 48-hours to return and make your payment in full.
Reducing forecourt crime
The problem is that not all petrol station drive-offs are actually investigated by the police. Lack of police time and resources is a big contributing factor to this which can result in huge losses for retailers each year.
Forecourt crime is on the rise which has led to the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) to step-up their game in a bid to tackle drive-off and no means of payment crimes. BOSS UK was first formed in the 90’s to help keep petrol stations safe and create a secure environment for both staff and customers.
Research conducted by BOSS shows that forecourt crime in the UK costs fuel retailers more than £88 million per year, costing each petrol station around £10,500. BOSS works in collaboration with police forces across the UK to deal with retail fuel theft incidents and helps to recover more than £15 million each year.
How are petrol stations preventing fuel theft incidents?
As a motorist, you’ll know that many fuel stations now give you the option to ‘pay at pump’, so you have to purchase your fuel as you fill up. But this only partly solves the problem.
UK police chiefs are urging retailers to implement a system whereby drivers pay for their fuel upfront. This is common practice in many other countries across Europe, but has so far been met with resistance in this country, as retailers are keen to encourage customers to purchase other goods on their premises too.
Of course, fuel theft numbers will gradually decline in the coming years as more and more of us are switching to electric vehicles instead. If you’re thinking of making the transition to an EV, check out our blog on How Much Money Can You Save When Switching to an Electric Car? You may be surprised at the savings you can make!
But, if you’re sticking with a petrol or diesel car for now, then take a read of our blog titled How Far Can You Drive on an Empty Tank of Fuel? Discover how many miles you can really travel when the fuel warning light comes on.