- TITLE
- Motor Fuel Ration Book
- EXTERNAL ID
- Z_PC_WGORDON3_005_009
- PERIOD
- 1930s; 1940s
- SOURCE
- W Gordon
- ASSET ID
- 8508
- KEYWORDS
- motor fuel ration books
ration books
fuel rationing
World War II

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.
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'.