Visit Fueleconomy.gov for Gas-Saving Tips

If you've got fuel economy on the brain, stop by Fueleconomy.gov before your next road trip. According to the website's own fact sheet, it's maintained jointly by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Its mission? To provide accurate MPG information to consumers.

Like any government website, Fueleconomy.gov strives to provide straightforward, helpful information without a commercial spin. That doesn't mean they have all the answers or are necessarily right about everything, but it does mean you don't have to brace yourself for a big, fat sales pitch at the end of each article.

Here are five things we love about this site:

1. Most and Least Efficient Vehicles. Everyone loves a winner - and can't help but gawk a bit at a loser. The Most and Least Efficient Vehicles page shows you the best and worst MPG performers organized by EPA size class.
   
   
2. Shared MPG Estimates. Recognizing the fact that real-world driving conditions may not always resemble what the car manufacturer envisioned, Fueleconomy.gov allows site visitors to submit their own estimates of the miles per gallon they've achieved in their cars. While these estimates are unscientific, they at least give car shoppers another perspective to help confirm or refute what car makers are saying.
   
   
3. Tax Incentive Information Center. Considering buying a fuel-efficient vehicle? Find out what tax credits you can earn by choosing one model over another. A few minutes on this page could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars.
   
   
4. The Compare Side-by-Side feature. Use the drop-down menus to compare the fuel efficiency of virtually any four cars you can think of. Specify year, make, model, and even options to get exact stats on how each car will perform. This is really handy if you're narrowing down your car purchase options to a few vehicles.
   
   
5. The Extreme MPG feature. Honestly, how cool are the concept cars they feature here? Some of them may be a long way off, and some may never come to fruition, but it's fun to dream about someday taking a cross-country road trip on only a few tanks of gas.

Any time you're shopping for a new or used car, definitely spend a few minutes on Fueleconomy.gov before you make your final decision.