Motor Fuel Ration Book

This image shows the inside of the front cover of a motor fuel ration book. In 1939, the British Government announced the rationing of both oil and petrol. Every car owner was issued with a motor fuel ration book and initially, the allowed amount was three gallons of fuel per week. This equated to around 200 miles of motoring per month. As a consequence of petrol shortages people began to make more use of public transport. Car sharing was also popular and those who displayed a poster in their car window, offering lifts, were entitled to an additional fuel allowance. Fuel rationing continued beyond the war years, until restrictions were finally lifted in 1950.<br /> <br /> The text on the inside of the cover states that the book contains coupons for the duration of six months. It also instructs the owner to 'keep this book in a safe place, not on the vehicle'.