Run out of gas? It pays to carry your own can | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

FINDING YOUR car running on empty and not carrying a fuel can may sting more than your feet.

The practice of petrol stations lending fuel cans to drivers who have run out of petrol appears to be a dying service in the city.

While some will still offer you a fuel can if you leave a deposit, many now make you buy one instead.

Non-lending petrol stations approached by The Star mostly cited health and safety reasons.

BP, which has adopted a company-wide policy not to lend, said this was also because they could not guarantee the quality of the fuel.

Caltex said most of its stations did not offer the service because the majority of people did not return fuel cans.

However, it was up to individual owner-operators as to whether they offered the service or not, a Caltex spokeswoman said.

The Star asked service stations which did offer the service what they thought about those stations that did not.

Ken McDonald, manager of independently owned BP Papanui, which offers loan cans for a $20 deposit, said he thought it was a "reasonable enough service for all stations to offer".

"We don't want people to be left stranded."

However, he said he could understand why some stations did not offer it.

"They've probably been stung so many times (they've stopped lending)," he said.

The owner of Caltex Riccarton, Main North Rd and Blenheim Rd, who did not wish to be named, said her stations offered the service for a $20 deposit as a "courtesy" to customers.

"We've lost dozens of them but I still think it's a small courtesy that you can do.

"We try not to let the other ones spoil it for people.

"It's a genuine need, there's nothing worse than running out of petrol."

She said about 90 per cent of people brought them back.

Challenge Halswell owner-operator Graeme Nicholl said his station lent petrol cans for a $15 deposit, which covered the cost if people did not bring them back.

"I wouldn't have thought it was too much to ask. If they cover the costs of the container, it's a good convenience if people are caught short."

He said the deposit system generally ensured people brought the fuel can back.