Used Car Fuel Economy Labels Introduced

When it comes to buying a new car there are a lot of things that need to be considered before the final purchase is decided on. Typically a budget needs to be set and a list of must have features drawn up that will help you choose. However, when you get to the garage remembering everything you need to ask about a new car can be tricky especially if get distracted by the look and feel of the latest models on display. You may not always think about the fuel consumption over time or how environmentally sound the vehicle is but these things will impact on your finances throughout the life of the car.

To provide consumers with the information they need to make the right choice car fuel labels were introduced for new cars back in 2005 and have been a feature of new car showrooms ever since. They detail information on the estimated running costs of the new vehicle, the average fuel consumption as well as its environmental performance. The labels are easily colour coded and set out to provide easily digestible information to any potential purchaser. An extension of the scheme to include used cars was proposed as a voluntary initiative in August 2009.

Designed by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) and backed by the government and other motor industry groups, the introduction of fuel economy labels to used cars has already been implemented by a large number of dealers across the country. Used cars dealers participating in the scheme can decide whether to label just the cars they sell that are under two years old, or they can apply labels to all cars that have been manufactured since 2001. For used cars the labels will be very similar to those placed on new vehicles. There will be information on the make and model of the car as well as it's co2 emissions, MPG and an approximation of the fuel consumption over 12,000 miles.

The labels will be created by the VCA which is an agency of the Department for Transport. Car dealers simply need to request the label for the relevant cars on their forecourt and then print them off via an internet link. This system will ensure that all the information is standardised by one central body and make it an easy process for dealers to manage. At present private sales are not included in the scheme. For many people this scheme will provide them with the information on which to base their car purchasing decisions.

Nowadays it is not just the initial financial outlay to purchase the car that drivers need to consider, but also the costs involved in running and maintaining the vehicle as well as car insurance and breakdown services. Current opinion polls show that support for the initiative is positive, with many motorists stating that in the past they have not been given sufficient information about the fuel consumption of a used car. Fuel efficiency was also rated highly as a factor that would affect future car purchases so the extension of these labels to used cars should provide the information that motorists require.

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