- TITLE
- Motor fuel ration coupons
- EXTERNAL ID
- Z_PC_WGORDON3_005_021
- PERIOD
- 1930s; 1940s
- SOURCE
- W Gordon
- ASSET ID
- 8531
- KEYWORDS
- ration books
fuel rationing
motor fuel rationing
ration coupons
World War II

This image shows coupons from a motor fuel ration book. The coupons show the quantity of N units allowed in month six.
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.