Purchasing a Car

Before purchasing a car, make sure to carefully consider whether you can meet your transportation needs by using public transit, biking, walking, or car sharing.

If you decide that a car is your only option, make sure to research your choices carefully so you buy the most fuel-efficient car available that meets your everyday needs. Fuel consumption can vary widely from one vehicle to the next, so make sure to consult Natural Resources Canada's EnerGuide for Vehicles. Choices you make today will either save you money (through reduced fuel consumption) or cost you money and pollute the air.

After buying a car, also make sure to dispose of your old vehicle in an environmentally responsible manner. The following list includes tips on how you can take advantage of the government vehicle scrappage and other programs.

For further information on purchasing a fuel-efficient car and doing your part to protect our air, please consult Natural Resource Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE). In addition, learn more about the federal government's 10-year plan on vehicles, engines and fuels to make your car cleaner.

Tips

Do you need a car?
•Consider the option of car sharing before purchasing a vehicle. When you need a car, simply reserve one for a few hours or several days and pick it up at a convenient location in your city. You will only pay a small monthly fee and for the gas that you use. Quick Fact: 1, 2
•Before buying a new car, consider carefully what you will need the car for and how much you will be driving. Consider whether you can meet your transportation needs by using other forms of transport such as public transit, biking, walking, car pooling, car sharing, or renting.

Buying a fuel-efficient vehicle
•If you decide to buy a new car, make fuel efficiency an important factor in your choice.
•When buying a new vehicle, check Natural Resources Canada's EnerGuide for Vehicles label on the car window for the fuel consumption rating. EnerGuide awards are given annually for the most fuel-efficient vehicles in nine different classes for that model year.
•Consult Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency's annual Fuel Consumption Guide for fuel-efficiency ratings for all new cars, light-duty trucks, special purpose vehicles and vans sold in Canada.
•Try to buy a fuel-efficient car and avoid cars that are more powerful than you need. Four-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, engine size, vehicle weight, and tire size all influence the amount of fuel your vehicle uses. Options such as power windows and power seats add weight to cars, making engines work harder and burn more fuel. Quick Fact: 1, 2
•Consider buying a manual transmission vehicle. If driven properly, it is more fuel efficient than automatic transmission. If you choose automatic, the more gears the car has, the more fuel efficient it will be.
•Consider purchasing a hybrid vehicle to obtain superior fuel efficiency relative to a comparable car with a regular gasoline engine. Quick Fact: 1

Disposing of older vehicles
•When disposing of your old car, do so responsibly. See if there is a vehicle scrappage program in your area to help you retire old high-polluting vehicles. Before scrappage, vehicles are drained of fluids such as CFCs from air conditioners and mercury found in hood and trunk lighting. Tires and batteries are recycled, and the body is recycled for scrap metal. Financial incentives may also be offered through these scrappage programs, including free transit passes, car-sharing opportunities, rebates toward the purchase of a new or newer vehicle, or a rebate toward the purchase of a new bicycle. Quick Fact: 1