HPI has introduced a scheme aimed to help dealers ensure that consumers are making greener car choices when they make their latest vehicle purchase.
HPI has introduced a scheme aimed to help dealers ensure that consumers are making greener car choices when they make their latest vehicle purchase.
The motor information organisation's certificate – which is free with every HPI check - works alongside revised car fuel economy labels, recommended by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership.
This has taken off to some extent already with more than 2,000 dealers agreeing to display tags on motors they sell, since August 2009, by signing up with the Vehicle Certification Agency.
Some of the things that the certificate notes include recording the amount of CO2 emissions that a vehicle produces, which is done using the industry ratings chart.
It also informs customers of how much vehicle excise duty they would have to pay based on the car's carbon emissions and mpg figures. The motor's fuel costs can be estimated over 12,000 miles, which could be a deciding factor between someone buying an eco-car or not.
Daniel Burgess, automotive director for HPI, said that it is not just customers which the initiative is beneficial for.
He added: "It's also a great green tool for dealers. As consumer choice is vital to the reduction of road transport emissions, the updated certificate will enable used car buyers to accurately compare vehicles and make an informed decision at the point of sale."
It is up to the traders whether they choose to label cars older than the recommended two years, however older vehicles from as far back as March 1st 2001 are also allowed to be tagged.
This news comes after Ford announced the introduction of its Go Green Dealership Sustainability Program earlier this month, which is trying to provide cost-effective ways of improving dealers' energy efficiency.
Traders that want to participate in the voluntary scheme can receive a comprehensive energy assessment from the car manufacturer experts and Ford then discusses the best energy efficient options available to the retailer.
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