Fuel Economy Label

To help you buy a green car (one with high fuel economy and low CO2 emissions), the Car Fuel Economy Label is now displayed on the windscreen of every new car.

• New cars
• Used cars

New Car Fuel Economy Label 2009Return to top

One of the most noticeable aspects of the new car label is that the VED bands are colour-coded using a scale similar to the energy-efficiency rating system used for 'white goods' (eg fridges, washing machines, etc). The colours range from GREEN for cars with the lowest CO2 emissions (highest 'mpg') through the colours of the spectrum to RED for the most highly polluting vehicles (generally the lowest 'mpg').

The colour-coded label is designed to provide information for each new car covering four interrelated issues: (1) Fuel economy (fuel use per mile/km); (2) Fuel cost per 12,000 miles; (3) Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per km; and (4) Vehicle Excise Duty (annual 'road tax').

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are measured over a single standard test-cycle and are quoted on a per kilometre basis. For a given fuel (petrol, diesel, LPG), carbon emissions are very closely related to fuel use – this means that a good fuel economy (low fuel use per km) equates with low CO2 emissions per km.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED or 'road tax') annual rates are shown on the car label according to the new A to M banding system. The annual rates range from £0 for new cars with low CO2 emissions (<100g/km) to £405 for new cars with high CO2 emissions (>255g/km).

Fuel cost is estimated for a distance of 12,000 miles. This is based on the 'combined' fuel economy figure (see below) and a UK average fuel price. Fuel prices are quoted for petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuels.

Fuel economy information is measured over three test-cycles: 'urban' (city driving), 'extraurban' (motorway) and 'combined' (mixed) and is presented in 'mpg' (miles per gallon) and 'litres/100 km' units. Although the real-world fuel economy is likely to be lower than the figures quoted (around 15% lower on average), the figures are a very good way for comparing different cars.

Used Car Fuel Economy Label 2009Return to top

A colour-coded fuel economy label for used cars, similar to the one used for new cars, is to be launched in the autumn of 2009.

For more info, see: LowCVP website.