Why You Shouldn’t Trust Fuel Cost Estimates on New Car Window Stickers

What car window stickers tell consumers about fuel efficiency

Officially known as “Monroney labels,” the window stickers found on new cars at dealerships provide a few basic fuel-related stats on the vehicle. These include emissions and smog ratings, the average number of miles it can travel on a gallon of gas, and the projected fuel costs for one and five years. These projections are based on data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Why fuel cost estimates on window stickers aren’t accurate

As it turns out, the data the EPA and EIA provide car manufacturers to calculate the one- and five-year fuel cost estimates is two-years-old, according to Consumer Reports. For example, the fuel cost projections for the 2023 model year were calculated in November 2021.

Previously, the two-year delay in calculations weren’t that far off, but after the steep rise in gas prices over the past few months, the outdated estimates are no longer accurate. In fact, when experts at Consumer Reports did the math, they found that some of the five-year fuel cost projections were off by more than $10,000.