A fuel filter insert for a fuel filter including: a pre-filter element having a upper and lower end plate, the end plates arranged on opposing ends of filter medium of the pre-filter element; a main filter element having upper and lower end plates, the end plates arranged on opposing ends of filter medium of the main filter element; wherein the pre-filter element and the main filter element as arranged one above the other in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the fuel filter insert; wherein at least one of the filter elements is through-flowable from the outside to the inside by fuel in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis; and a flow channel for the fuel pre-filtered by the pre-filter element; wherein the flow channel is arranged to extend in the axial direction between the pre-filter element and the main filter element.