Car Leaking Gas? What to Do First, Then What Causes It

Published Oct 23, 2026 · 5 min read · By Hassan, Owner of Roadmate Services

If your car is leaking gas, treat it as a fire risk, not a repair you can put off. Do not drive it. Turn the engine off, get everyone away from the car and keep sparks and cigarettes away. If fuel is pouring or pooling, or you see smoke or fire, call 911.

Then the car goes to a repair shop on a tow truck. Below: what to do now and what usually causes it.

Quick answer: car gas leak at a glance

Check only what you can see from a safe distance. Nobody needs to crawl under a car that is dripping gasoline.

What to do right now if your car is leaking gas

Get safe, then call.

1. Turn the engine off and take the key out. Do not start it again to “see if it is still leaking”.
2. Get everyone out and away from the car. Keep people and pets back.
3. No smoking, lighters or flares nearby.
4. Call 911 if fuel is pouring or pooling, you see smoke or flames, or the leak follows a crash. In a fire, the NFPA advises moving at least 100 feet away and never going back for belongings.
5. On a highway shoulder, get off the roadway, away from the car and the traffic. Our guide to what to do when your car breaks down on the highway covers the rest.
6. Once everyone is safe, call a tow company or your mechanic and tell them the car is leaking fuel. Roadmate does not take these jobs.

Fire advice: NFPA, Car Fire Safety.

Can I still drive my car if it’s leaking gas?

No, not even to the shop around the corner. A running engine heats the exhaust, and vibration can turn a drip into a stream.

This is not a roadside fix, and we will say so. A fuel leak needs a shop with a lift. Roadmate does not tow a car that is still leaking fuel, so call a tow company or ask your mechanic who they use. When in doubt, ask for a flatbed rather than a wheel lift, especially if the car is AWD or already damaged.

It is the one trip where your car rides in comfort and you get to skip the driving.

Causes of gas leaking from a car

Fuel tank

Rust, road debris or a failed seal can open the tank. The drip shows up under the rear, worst after a fill-up.

Fuel lines and connections

Metal lines corrode and rubber hoses crack with age. Loose clamps and corroded fittings leak too. Fuel lines get along with Ohio road salt about as well as your car’s paint does.

Fuel pump seal or sending unit

In most modern cars the pump sits inside the tank under a sealed cover. When that seal wears, you smell gas, often after a fill-up.

Engine bay: injectors, fuel rail, regulator, filter

A worn injector seal, a cracked fuel rail, a failed pressure regulator or a loose filter connection sprays fuel under pressure near a hot engine. That makes it the most dangerous place for a leak.

Gas cap or filler neck

A loose or worn cap lets vapor out, so you smell gas, but you rarely see a puddle. It may also trigger the check engine light. A gas cap that does not click is the cheapest leak you will ever have.

Why is my car leaking gas from underneath when parked?

Where the drip lands points to the part. Under the rear usually means the tank or the pump seal; along the middle, a fuel line. Gasoline is thin, clear to light amber and smells like the pump; oil is darker and thicker.

Your nose is a better leak detector than most people give it credit for. Trust it.

How serious is a gas leak in a car?

Any liquid fuel leak is serious. Gasoline vapor ignites easily, and a hot exhaust or one spark is enough. Fumes in the cabin are unhealthy to breathe, so do not sit in the car.

Check for recalls too. Fuel leaks are a common reason for safety recalls, and a recall repair is free at the dealer. Enter your VIN in the NHTSA recall lookup.

How much does it cost to fix a fuel leak?

It depends on the part, and a shop quotes after it finds the leak. The tow is a separate bill from the tow company. More on what moves a tow price in how much it costs to tow a car.

Frequently asked questions

If the puddle is green, orange or pink rather than gas, see car leaking coolant.

The bottom line

A car leaking gas should not be driven. Get everyone away, call 911 if fuel is pouring or there is smoke or fire, and have the car towed to a shop. A loose gas cap is the only leak you can check yourself.

Here is to gas that goes in at the pump and stays put until the engine asks for it.