Vehicle fuel economy labels
How efficient is a car? And how much does it cost to run? You can compare cars using the vehicle fuel economy label - and you may be surprised at the difference.
Look for the label when buying a car
Vehicle fuel economy labels give you the power to factor efficiency and running costs into the equation when you choose a car.
You'll see the label on cars for sale from registered motor dealers, and online you may see the information displayed as text.
The label shows:
- A star rating out of six, with six stars for the most efficient cars down to a half-star rating for the worst performers
- An indicative cost of running the car for a year to help you compare between different makes and models
-
The car's fuel economy in litres per 100km (or kilowatt hours per 100km for electric cars).
Which cars have the label?
The label is displayed on new cars manufactured since 2000 and imported since 2005, provided the information is available, as it is a legal requirement (except for electric cars - see below).
If you are looking for a car online, such as on Trade Me, Autotrader, or at Turners, the fuel economy information may be displayed as text (rather than as a label) - look for it in the listing information.
The label, or the text, must be shown on cars available for sale by registered motor vehicle traders and on internet listings.
Electric cars
The label on electric cars looks nearly identical and can be used to compare efficiency and running costs with other types of car. It differs slightly in that:
- Fuel economy for electric cars is shown as kilowatt hours per 100km
- It also includes a range showing how far the car can be expected to go on a full charge
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Displaying the label is optional for dealers, as there are so few electric cars on the market right now.
More information
- Compare different cars and their fuel consumption, safety, and emissions [Rightcar website]
- Frequently asked questions about the fuel economy label [Fuelsaver website]
- Frequently asked questions about electric vehicles
- How to get a vehicle fuel economy label [Fuelsaver website]
- information about how you can save fuel and money with efficient driving techniques [ENERGYWISE website]
