WASHINGTON (Sept. 16, 2013) — The U.S. Environmental Production Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy have joined to release a new label that features fuel economy and carbon dioxide estimates for used vehicles sold in the U.S. since 1984.
Consumers may create the new label electronically as part of a new tool on FuelEconomy.gov, the EPA said. The electronic graphic can be downloaded and included in online advertisements, and the paper label may be printed out and affixed to the vehicle window, the agency said.
The fuel-economy numbers on the labels come from EPA ratings for each vehicle when it was new. The EPA said if the vehicle was well maintained, the original fuel-economy rating should still apply.
The Consumer Federation of America praised the DOE-EPA action as giving used car dealers the opportunity to provide accurate, easy-to-understand fuel-economy information on 40 million used vehicles in the U.S.
"Providing gas mileage information to consumers will be a giant step forward in protecting American pocketbooks, addressing the nation's dependence on oil, and reducing pollution, said Jack Gillis, CFA director of public affairs.
"When we talked with people, they liked the redesigned mileage stickers for new cars from two years ago but they wanted that information for used-car sales, as those make up three times as many sales as new ones," said Dennis Smith, national Clean Cities director for the Department of Energy.
Mr. Smith said that while dealers and individuals like the labels for used vehicles, they would not be required by law to post them on any used vehicle for sale.
"They will become very popular, though," Mr. Smith said. "Dealers had tried to do something similar in the past, but consumers were a bit skeptical. This lends an authoritative voice to the discussion."