As gasoline approaches 1,600 won… ‘Insurance company’s free gas’ trick

2024-02-03 05:40:58
On the 28th of last month, gasoline and diesel were sold at a gas station in Seoul for 1,564 won and 1,464 won per liter, respectively. /News 1

As the price of gasoline rose by nearly 21 won in a week, approaching the 1,600 won range, some people even looked for ‘free gas methods’ to save on gas costs. These are people who want to refuel using the emergency refueling service of their auto insurance company. People who feel burdened by high gas prices are even taking advantage of insurance companies’ refueling services provided for emergency refueling purposes.

Major domestic insurance companies provide an emergency refueling service where, when a vehicle that completely runs out of fuel stops driving, an emergency dispatch is made to add fuel within a set limit. One insurance company provides regular gasoline or diesel fuel up to twice a year with a limit of 3 liters (L) once a day. Other insurance companies also operate emergency refueling services that provide the same amount of oil 2 to 3 times a year.

Mr. Kim (53), who lives in Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, said, “I was looking for a cheap gas station, and I first filled 1L through the emergency refueling service, and then went to the gas station and put in the rest.” “I wanted to save even a small amount,” he said.

Choi Hyun-jun (40), an office worker living in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, called an insurance company’s emergency refueling service near his home in October last year to save on gas costs. It is said that the dispatcher who arrived 10 minutes following the call put gas in the car, took pictures of the car, and left immediately. Mr. Choi said, “These days, the cost of gas is a burden, so I use public transportation often,” and “When my insurance renewal date is approaching, I rush to use the emergency refueling service.” At the same time, he said, “After signing up for insurance, I did not use emergency refueling at first, but now the price of gasoline has risen so much that I am using it usefully.”

Citizens’ use of emergency refueling services was largely due to the upward trend in gasoline prices, which had been falling for 16 weeks. According to Korea National Oil Corporation’s oil price information system Offinet, the average selling price of regular gasoline at gas stations across the country on the 1st was 1,586.46 won per liter, nearly 21 won more expensive than the 25th (1,565.87 won), a week ago. This is a rebound following falling for 16 consecutive weeks following recording 1,796 won per liter in the first week of October last year. The average price in Seoul also rose by nearly 32 won, from 1,644.95 won to 1,676.72 won in one week.

In one car club cafe, reviews are being shared that say, “I applied for emergency refueling because I would lose money if I didn’t use the insurance special contract.” Cafe members said, “I didn’t even know this service existed. “I have to use what I have,” he responded, “I’ve never used it before, but it feels like a waste.”

Some citizens also criticize it as a “trick to abuse insurance benefits.” Office worker Min (53) said, “I was surprised to hear that a friend called an insurance company’s emergency refueling service to save money on gas,” and added, “I was angry because I thought there might be people abusing this service.”

However, insurance companies are in the position that it is difficult to sanction this. An insurance company official said, “It is difficult to view it as free gas because it is a service included in signing up for an insurance company’s special contract,” and added, “It is a type of smart consumer who pays insurance premiums and takes advantage of all the benefits provided.” An official from another insurance company also said, “There were cases of excessive use of the service in the past, so most insurance companies reduced the service to twice a year.”

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