In the past many people would only consider how much they could spend or what payments they could afford before buying a new or used vehicle. These days there are many alternatives that are bringing energy conservation to the fore-front of vehicle ownership and as such, putting more options on the table. If you are considering purchasing a new car or even a used car, there are options for fuel economy and efficiency that may be less expensive and cheaper to operate in the long run.

Before you go to the dealership hoping to find a vehicle, take some time to research and educate yourself on the many options. Auto magazines are a great place to start, so pick up a copy of Consumer Reports or another such publication. You should consider your size needs first; do you need a sedan that fits 5 or 6 people or can you go with a sub-compact? Next you should consider the amount of driving you will be doing; will this vehicle be mainly for family outings or will it be your daily work vehicle? In other words, how many miles will you be driving this vehicle on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis?

Keeping mileage in mind is what will save you money or be a powerful bargaining chip when you get to the dealership. Many dealerships understand that fuel prices are a major consideration for their customers with gas being above $3 per gallon nation wide. The hay-day of the SUV is pretty well behind us and the costs of operating a vehicle are front and center. Here are a few websites where you can get valuable information for your search:

U.S. Dept. of Energy~ www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/vbg/consumers/

U.S. EPA Fuel Economy~ www.fueleconomy.gov

Drive Clean California (great info for everyone)~ www.driveclean.ca.gov