3 tips when looking to buy a green car

Written by 
Bill Tsouvalas
Bill Tsouvalas is the managing director and a key company spokesperson at Savvy. As a personal finance expert, he often shares his insights on a range of topics, being featured on leading news outlets including News Corp publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun, Fairfax Media publications such as the Australian Financial Review, the Seven Network and more. Bill has over 15 years of experience working in the finance industry and founded Savvy in 2010 with a vision to provide affordable and accessible finance options to all Australians. He has built Savvy from a small asset finance brokerage into a financial comparison website which now attracts close to 2 million Aussies per year and was included in the BRW’s Fast 100 in 2015 as one of the fastest-growing companies in the country. He’s passionate about helping Australians make financially savvy decisions and reviews content across the brand to ensure its accuracy. You can follow Bill on LinkedIn.
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, updated on November 25th, 2021       

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With over 18.4 million cars that are registered in Australia, there is no doubt that we love our cars. However, if you are looking for a car that offers more value for your money and also does good towards our beautiful environment then going green is the way. There are various economical hybrid cars available on the market that you can secure with a car loan. An added plus is that going green will also help in reducing your car insurance. With these three tips, you will be able to free the green whenever you drive.

The EnerGuide will guide the way

Whether you are buying a new or used car you can still keep it green by following the EnerGuide label or the Green Vehicle Guide. This is a guide that will help you gauge the fuel efficiency rating of the car you are purchasing. The total national consumption of fuel was 32,723 megalitres, which contributes to the carbon emissions that affect our environment. The EnerGuide or the Green Vehicle Guide will help you estimate the annual fuel cost that you will spending on your car. By comparing the EnerGuide labels you will be able to find the best fuel-efficient car for your money. If there is no label available on the car you can check with the dealer or for the manufacturer’s fuel consumption ratings.

The bigger the badder

The size of your car plays a part in your C02 footprint. As much as you might like the features that bigger cars offer such as extra cargo room and passenger space, it can be a big bad wolf on the street in terms of how much fuel it guzzles. Smaller lighter vehicles are usually fuel efficient. They also come with most of the bells and whistles you will find in a bigger car.

However, if you have an appetite for big things next time you consider going for a larger vehicle opt for one that is a hybrid or has a diesel engine to cut down on costs.

Just because it says eco-friendly doesn’t mean it is

The label could display that it is eco-friendly and you might be ready to fork out the big bucks with your car loan, but you should be careful. According to tests conducted by the AAA on popular cars that roam

Australian streets showed that the average fuel consumption of popular cars was 23% higher than what was advertised by standard laboratory tests.

That’s why it’s important that you do thorough research before purchasing your vehicle. It’s advisable that you run it through the Green Vehicle Guide to see where your beloved car stands at a glance. Once you are fully satisfied with the standard of the car you can then proceed to compare car loans online that match your budget.

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