Motor fuel ration coupons

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