Member Sign In New Member?

Rent Green Automotives and Get Better Mileage
When renting a car, consider renting a hybrid.Many car rental companies offer a collection of “green” rental cars. Try renting a Toyota Prius or another environmentally friendly vehicle that can boast an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highway fuel efficiency rating of 31 miles per gallon or more.

Drive Efficiently – Save on Fuel, Save the Environment

  • Stay within posted speed limits. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour.
  • Stop aggressive driving. You can improve your gas mileage up to 5 percent around town if you avoid “jackrabbit” starts and stops by anticipating traffic conditions and driving gently.
  • Avoid unnecessary idling. It wastes fuel, costs you money, and pollutes the air. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a wait.
  • Combine errands. Several short trips taken from a cold start use twice as much fuel as
    • one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
  • Use overdrive gears and cruise control when appropriate. It improves the fuel economy of your car when you’re driving on a highway.
  • Remove excess weight from the trunk. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce a typical car’s fuel economy by
    up to two percent.
  • Avoid packing items on top of your car. A loaded roof rack or carrier creates wind resistance and can decrease fuel economy by five percent.

Maintain Your Car

  • Keep your engine tuned. Tuning your engine can increase gas mileage by an average of four
    percent. Increases vary depending on a car’s condition.
  • Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned. It can increase gas mileage up to three percent.
  • Change your oil. According to the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA, you can improve your gas mileage by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil.Motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the performance symbol of the American Petroleum Institute contains friction-reducing additives that improve fuel economy.


    • For more information on alternative fuel vehicles, visit the DOE’s Alternative Fuels Data Center Web site at www.afdc.doe.gov. Content courtesy of The Federal Trade Commission and ARAcontent.