Misfuelled fuel is a hazardous substance. Its disposal must be recorded. Only NZIFDA-certified operators can file disposal events on the National Misfuel Register — generating the Certificate of Compliance, disposal records, and manufacturer-specification documentation that the law requires. If the wrong fuel has been introduced to a vehicle, do not start the engine. Contact the appropriate operator below.
Misfuelled fuel is a Class 3.1 flammable liquid — a hazardous substance under the HSNO Act 1996. Under the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017, its disposal must be recorded — what was disposed of, how, when, where, and how much. The National Misfuel Register is how this gets recorded. Without a record on the register, there is no documentation of compliant disposal.
Consequences of non-compliant remediation:
NZIFDA-certified operators are required to hold public liability insurance, hazardous substance handling qualifications, a documented health and safety plan, and to register every job on the national database.
Contact the appropriate operator. Provide the fuel type introduced, whether the engine was started, and the vehicle location.
A registered NZIFDA technician is assigned. Depending on the operator, this may be a mobile callout or a workshop appointment.
Contaminated fuel is removed following the vehicle manufacturer’s specified procedure — via fuel pump access panel or full tank removal. The fuel system is then remediated to manufacturer specification and refilled with the correct fuel.
The completed job is entered on the NZIFDA National Misfuel Register. A Certificate of Compliance is issued as the formal record of the remediation.
Misfuel disposal involves the removal, handling, transport, and disposal of hazardous substances. The following New Zealand legislation applies:
Enforcement is carried out by WorkSafe New Zealand, the Environmental Protection Authority, and regional councils.
Any person may attempt to remove contaminated fuel from a vehicle. However, unless the operator holds hazardous substance handling qualifications, carries public liability insurance, operates under a documented health and safety plan, and records the fuel removed on a register, the work does not meet compliance requirements. Non-compliant remediation may affect manufacturer warranties, insurance claims, and environmental obligations.
Yes. Contact an operator immediately. Starting the engine circulates contaminated fuel through injectors, pumps, and filters, which increases the risk of component damage. A certified technician can still remove the contaminated fuel, remediate the fuel system to manufacturer specification, and restore the vehicle. The longer remediation is delayed, the greater the potential for mechanical damage.
Every job registered through NZIFDA generates a Certificate of Compliance. This document confirms the work was performed by a certified operator, the removed fuel was disposed of in accordance with regulations, and the job is recorded on the national register. The certificate serves as the formal compliance record for manufacturers, insurers, and vehicle history.
If the work was not performed by an NZIFDA-certified operator, there is no entry on the national register and no Certificate of Compliance. In the event of subsequent engine damage, a warranty dispute, or an insurance claim, there is no independent documentation of the remediation. Concerns about non-compliant operators can be reported through the NZIFDA complaint process.
Yes. Every vehicle manufacturer classifies misfuelling as misuse and excludes it from warranty — but if the repair method itself causes further damage (e.g. filler neck extraction damaging anti-siphon devices), the manufacturer has no obligation for any subsequent fuel system issue. For insurance, approximately 59% of policies exclude misfuel repairs entirely. Where coverage exists, insurers require approved, manufacturer-specified methods. Non-OEM methods can void coverage. The NZIFDA Certificate of Compliance documents the method used and its alignment with manufacturer specifications — this is what insurers need to process claims.
For questions about operator coverage, registration, or the NZIFDA compliance framework.
Contact NZIFDAReport unregistered operators, non-compliant remediation, or vehicle damage resulting from misfuel work.
Submit a Complaint