My MPG Help

Contents

Getting Started

• Registration
• Sharing MPG Estimates with Others
• Login
• I Forgot My Password
• "My MPG" Menu
• My Garage
• Understanding the Difference between Fuel Purchases and MPG Estimates

Managing Your Account & Vehicles

• Adding a Vehicle
• Removing a Vehicle
• Editing Vehicle/Configuration
• Setting a driving style for each vehicle
• Changing Sharing Preference
• Changing Your Password

Entering, Viewing, and Editing MPG Estimates You Have Calculated

• Adding an MPG Estimate from My Garage
• Adding an MPG Estimate from the My MPG Estimates Page
• Viewing MPG Estimates
• Editing MPG Estimates
• Deleting MPG Estimates

Adding, Viewing, Editing, Downloading, and Uploading Fuel Purchase Records

• Adding a Fuel Purchase Record
• Viewing Fuel Purchase Records
• Editing a Fuel Purchase Record
• Deleting a Fuel Purchase Record
• Understanding Fuel Purchase Gaps
• Inserting a Fuel Purchase Gap
• Deleting a Fuel Purchase Gap
• Checking for Fuel Purchase Errors
• Customizing the Fuel Purchase Form
• Downloading Fuel Purchase Records to Your Computer
• Uploading Fuel Purchase Records to My MPG

Shared MPG Estimates from Other Users

• Viewing Estimates from Other Users

Getting Started

Registration

Registration allows you to establish a user name and password so you can save MPG information and view, edit, and update it at a later time. Registered users can also share their MPG with others. Fueleconomy.gov retains no information that could be used to identify individuals or link them to any information they enter.

To register

1. Click "I want to register!" in the Login box on the My MPG home page.

   

   The "User Registration" form will then be displayed.

   

2. Enter a user name of your choosing.

3. Enter a password.

4. Re-enter the password in the "Password Confirmation" field to ensure that you typed the same password twice.

5. Indicate whether or not you would like to share your MPG with other users. (more about sharing…)

   

   If you elect to share, you can

   1. Enter your e-mail address.

      We will send you an e-mail asking you to verify that you would like to share your MPG. The e-mail address will be deleted from our database after you respond or within two weeks if you do not. It will not be shared or used by us for any reason. The verification process must be completed before MPG data can be shared.

   2. Indicate the state in which you live (this step is optional).

   If you do not want to share your MPG, you can skip this step and continue to the next one.

6. Click the Register button.

   If you enter a User Name that has already been used, you will receive an error message asking you to select a different User Name. You can repeat the steps above until you select a name that has not been used.

   If you enter an e-mail address that has already been used, you will receive an error message asking you to enter a different one. You can repeat the steps above until you select an address that has not been used. (This should not occur unless you have already registered.)

7. A page will be displayed allowing you to indicate whether or not you would like fueleconomy.gov to keep your e-mail address so that we can e-mail your password and user name to you if you forget it.

   

   Fueleconomy.gov only collects e-mail addresses to verify that users would like to share their MPG estimates. Users that ask to have their e-mail address retained can have a new password sent to them if they forget theirs in the future.

   Indicate whether or not your would like us to retain your e-mail, and click the Continue button.

My MPG then prompts you to add a vehicle to your garage. The "My Garage" page is your home base for managing the vehicles you would like to track. From "My Garage" you can

• Add and delete vehicles
• Set your driving style for each vehicle
• Add, edit, or view fuel purchase records for each vehicle
• Add, edit, or view MPG estimates for each vehicle

Sharing MPG Estimates with Others

We have provided a way for users to share their on-road fuel economy with others.

We require users to provide an e-mail address, so we can send them an e-mail asking them to verify that they would like to share.

MPG estimates will only be shared if you respond to the verification e-mail. Your e-mail address will be erased from the database in 30 days unless you request that we keep it on record in case you forget your password. It will not be used in any other way.

If you decide to share, you can also indicate the state where the vehicle is driven, since weather and terrain can affect MPG.

Important: Newly added MPG data is neither shared nor used to calculate the national average MPG for that vehicle until it goes through an error-checking process. This process is typically performed each week.

Log In

Registered users can log in to view, edit, or add to their MPG data.

To log in

1. Enter your User Name in the Login box on the My MPG home page. (This will be the user name you entered when you registered.)

   

2. Enter your Password for the user name entered.

3. Click the Login button.

After logging in, you will be sent to the "My Garage" page.

If you forget your password, you can click "I forgot my password" to have a temporary password emailed to you.

I Forgot My Password

If you forget your password, My MPG can create a temporary password for your account and email it to you.

To have a new password e-mailed to you

1. Click "I forgot my password" on the My MPG home page. The "I Forgot My Password" form will be displayed.

2. Enter your user name or the e-mail address you used when you registered. (If you enter a user name, a new password will be sent. If you enter an e-mail address only, your user name will also be sent with the new password.)

   
3. Click the Send Me a New Password button. An e-mail with the new login information will be sent to you. (After logging in, you can change your password to something easier to remember by selecting Change My Password from the My Profile dropdown menu on the My MPG menu.

"My MPG" Menu

After you log in, the main Fuel Economy menu near the top of the screen will be replaced with the My MPG menu. This allows quick access to the following features:

• My Garage: Allows you to keep an inventory of your vehicles and to access tools for recording, calculating, and updating MPG information for each vehicle
• My Profile > Change My Password: Allows you to change your password
• My Profile > Share Preference: Allows you to change your share preferences at any time
• Other Driver Estimates: Allows you to view MPG estimates shared by other users
• Logout: Terminates your "My MPG" session and returns you to the "My MPG" home page (Login).
• Help: Takes you to the Help page, which explains My MPG features (You're reading the Help page right now.)

My Garage

The "My Garage" page allows you to keep an inventory of your vehicles and to access tools for recording, calculating, and updating MPG information for each one. Other helpful tools are also available.

From this page, you can

• Add vehicles to and remove vehicles from your garage
• Edit vehicle information (e.g., model year, make, configuration, etc.)
• Set the driving style for each vehicle
• Add, view and edit fuel purchases for your vehicle(s) (automatically calculates MPG)
• Add, view and edit MPG estimates you have already calculated for your vehicle(s)

Managing Your Account & Vehicles

After you register, you can manage your password and share preferences from the My Profile dropdown on the My MPG menu. You can manage your vehicles from the My Garage page. Steps for performing these activities are provided below. Directions for adding and editing MPG estimates and fuel purchase records are described in other sections.

Adding a Vehicle

You can add vehicles to your garage by selecting the vehicle's model year, make, model, and configuration from our vehicle database.

The fueleconomy.gov database currently includes cars and trucks from model year 1985 to the present. Larger trucks, vans, and SUVs not subject to fuel economy standards are not included in our database.

To add a vehicle

1. On the "My Garage" page, click the green Add a Vehicle to My Garage button.

   

   This will take you to the "Add a Vehicle to My Garage" form.

2. Select the vehicle's model year, make (e.g., Ford, Toyota), model, and vehicle configuration (e.g., engine, transmission, etc.).

   

   To select the correct configuration, you may need to know specific information about your vehicle, such as transmission type (automatic or manual), number of cylinders, engine size (3.0 Liter, 3.5 Liter), drive type (two-wheel, four-wheel, or all-wheel drive), and other characteristics.

   If unsure, you can select your best guess and check the box that says "I'm not sure my selected option is correct." You can change the vehicle information later from the "My Garage" page.

   If unsure of an abbreviation used in the engine and transmission description, you can click on "Explanation of Engine and Transmission Descriptors" for more information.

3. Click the Select button at the bottom of the form.

The newly added vehicle should appear in your vehicle list on the "My Garage" page.

Removing a Vehicle

You can permanently remove a vehicle from your garage. However, all of its associated MPG estimates and purchase records will be deleted and will no longer be shared.

To remove a vehicle

1. Click the blue options button () for the the vehicle you want to delete and select Delete Vehicle from the dropdown menu.

   

2. A message box will be displayed warning you that the vehicle and all of its data will be removed and asking you if you would like to delete the vehicle.

   

   You can click the Yes button to remove the vehicle or click the No button to keep it in the garage.

Editing Vehicle/Configuration

You can edit a vehicle's characteristics, such as model year, make, model, or engine and transmission configuration, without deleting the MPG or fuel purchase information that has already been entered for it.

To edit a vehicle's characteristics

1. Click the blue options button () for the the vehicle you want to edit and select Edit Vehicle from the dropdown menu.

   

   This will bring up the same form used to add a vehicle to the garage.

   

2. Select the model year of the vehicle.

3. Select the vehicle's make (e.g., Ford, Toyota).

4. Select the vehicle's model (e.g., Taurus, Camry).

5. Select the set of options that match your vehicle.

   If unsure about the options on the vehicle, you can select your best guess and check the box that says "I'm not sure my selected option is correct."

6. Click the Select button.

If unsure of an abbreviation used in the engine and transmission description, you can click on "Explanation of Engine and Transmission Descriptors" for more information.

Selecting Driving Style

We allow you to indicate your driving style for each vehicle in your garage—you may drive your sports car differently than your minivan.

To select your driving style

1. Click the blue option button () for the the vehicle you want to enter a driving style and select Set Driving Style from the dropdown menu.

   

   The Driving Style form will be displayed.

   

2. Enter a number from 1.0 to 5.0 in the "Driving style" box. Values that correspond to various driving styles are displayed above the box. If you feel your driving style lies somewhere between one of these values, you can enter a decimal rather than a whole number. For example, you can enter 3.5 if you feel you fall somewhere between "Drives with the flow" and "Drives a little faster than others." The default value is "3.0."

3. Click the Set Driving Style button. If you click the No Answer button, the default value (3.0) will be used.

You will then be returned to your garage.

Changing Share Preference

You can change your share preference at any time. The share setting applies to all vehicles in your garage; it cannot be set for individual vehicles.

To change your share preference

1. Click Share Preferences on the My Profile dropdown menu.

   

2. Select the desired sharing preference. (more about sharing…)

   

3. If electing to share, enter your e-mail address so we can send you an e-mail to verify that you would like to share.

4. If electing to share, indicate the state in which the vehicle will be driven most often. This information is optional.

5. Click the Change My Sharing Option button.

If you elect to share your data, you will automatically receive an email asking you to confirm your decision. Simply click the appropriate link in the e-mail. It may take a few days after confirmation before your data is shared.

Changing Your Password

You can change your password at any time.

To change your password

1. Click Change My Password on the My Profile dropdown menu.

   

   The "Change My Password" form will be displayed.

   

2. Enter the old password.

3. Enter the new password.

4. Confirm the new password by re-typing it in the "New Password Confirmation" box.

5. Click the Change My Password button.

A message will be displayed stating that the password has been updated. You can click "Return to my Garage" to continue viewing or editing MPG data.

Entering, Viewing, and Editing MPG Estimates You Have Calculated

If your have already calculated the MPG for a vehicle or have an estimate from your car's digital dash, you can simply enter the MPG estimate. You can also indicate how the estimated MPG was calculated, when it was measured, and the driving conditions under which it was achieved.

You can enter as many estimates as you wish, and you can view, edit, or delete previously entered estimates.

You can add new MPG from the My Garage page or the My MPG Estimates page (the page that shows your previously entered MPG).

To add an MPG estimate from My Garage

1. Click the blue option button () for the the vehicle you want to enter a driving style and select Add MPG Estimate from the dropdown menu.

   

   The My Fuel Economy Information form will be displayed. There are two different forms: one for all-electric vehicles and another for all other vehicle types.

   Form for Electric Vehicles
   

   Form for Gasoline and Other Vehicle Types
   

2. Enter your MPG estimate. This is the only required information; the rest is optional.

3. Indicate how the estimate was calculated: Calculated Mathematically, Digital Dash Readout, Guess, or Other (optional).

4. Indicate the number of fill-ups/re-charges on which the estimate is based (optional).

5. Indicate the time period over which the estimates are based. You can provide a start and end date, either date, or none. This information is optional, but it will help you track your MPG changes over time.

6. Estimate the percentage of stop-and-go vs. highway driving during this time (optional).

7. Enter any notes that you would like to keep about the MPG estimate (optional).

8. Click the Save button.

You will be taken to the Fuel Economy Estimates page where you can view your MPG estimates.

To add MPG estimates from the My MPG Estimates page

1. Click the blue options button () for the the vehicle you want to enter a driving style and select View/Edit MPG Estimates from the dropdown menu.

   

2. Click the Add MPG Estimate button near the top of the page.

   

3. Enter your MPG estimate and other information as explained in the previous section, and click the Save button.

The new MPG data will be displayed along with any other previously entered data.

To view your MPG estimates for a vehicle

Click the blue options button () for the the vehicle you want to enter a driving style and select View/Edit MPG Estimates from the dropdown menu.

The My MPG Estimates page will be displayed.

This page provides the following information and features:

• A photo of the vehicle (if available), along with the vehicle's year, make, model, and configuration
• Buttons that allow you to add an MPG estimate or view MPG estimates for your vehicle from other users (if estimates are available)
• A series of graphs that display
  • Your MPG at a glance: Your average, best, worst, and latest MPG estimates
  • A history of your MPG estimates plotted over time
  • A chart comparing your average MPG to EPA estimates
  • A chart comparing your average MPG to that of other users with the same vehicle (if available)
• A table listing each of the user's MPG estimates for the vehicle, along with any additional information that was entered. You can edit or delete any of these estimates by clicking the gear icon to the left of the estimate () and selecting the appropriate option.

If the user has not yet entered an MPG estimate, an MPG entry form will be displayed, allowing them to enter the first estimate for the selected vehicle.

To edit an MPG estimate

1. Click the blue options button () on the the vehicle for which you want to enter an MPG estimate and select View/Edit MPG Estimates from the dropdown menu.

   

   This displays the "My MPG Estimates" page. Individual MPG estimates are displayed in the table at the bottom of the page.

   

2. Click the Edit icon to the left of the MPG estimate you want to edit and select Edit from the dropdown menu.

   The My MPG Estimate form will be displayed along with the information from the selected estimate.

   

3. Edit the data you want to change. (Entering MPG Estimates provides a description of the data fields.)

4. Click the Save button at the bottom of the form.

   You will be returned to the My MPG Estimates page.

To delete an MPG estimate

1. Click the blue options button () on the the vehicle for which you want to enter an MPG estimate and select View/Edit MPG Estimates from the dropdown menu.

   

   This displays the "My MPG Estimates" page. Individual MPG estimates are displayed in the table at the bottom of the page.

   

2. Click the Edit icon to the left of the MPG estimate you want to edit and select Delete from the dropdown menu.

   

3. A confirmation message will be displayed asking if you want to delete the record.

   

After the desired record is deleted, the MPG information will be updated.

Adding, Viewing, Editing, Dowloading & Uploading Fuel Purchase Records

You can record your fuel purchases, and My MPG will calculate the MPG for you and help you track it over time. You can also view, edit, and delete individual fuel purchase records.

Adding Fuel Purchases

For to make adding fuel purchases convenient, you can add them from My Garage or from the My Fuel Purchase Records page.

To add a fuel purchase from My Garage

1. On the My Garage page, click the blue options button () next to the desired vehicle and select Add Fuel Purchase from the dropdown menu.

   

   The Add Fuel Purchase form will be displayed.

   

2. The current date will automatically be entered into the Refuel Date field. Click into the field to change the date. A calendar will be displayed to help you select another date quickly. This field is optional.

   

3. Enter the mileage from your trip odometer in the Trip Odometer field (required).

4. Enter the Fuel Amount (required). Note: If you do not fill up your tank completely, your MPG estimate will not be accurate.

5. Enter the total cost of the fuel purchase in the Fuel Cost field (optional). This the the total cost, not the cost per gallon.

6. Select the percentage of miles traveled in stop-and-go and highway driving (optional). If you select a value for one of these fields, the other will be filled in automatically.

7. Enter any notes that you think might be helpful to you as you track your MPG (optional). This could include factors that might affect your MPG (e.g., hauling a boat/trailer or extra weight, getting stuck in a traffic jam or construction zone, maintenance events such as new tires, etc.).

   

8. Click the Add Record button.

Your fuel purchase will be saved and you will be taken to the My Fuel Purchase Records page to view your results.

To add a fuel purchase from the My Fuel Purchase Records page

1. On the My Garage page, click the blue options button () next to the desired vehicle and select View/Edit Fuel Purchases from the dropdown menu.

   The "Fuel Purchase Records" page will be displayed.

2. You can add a fuel purchase record two ways on this page:

   • You can click the Add Fuel Purchase button at the top of the page to display the "Add Fuel Purchase" form.
   • You can enter your fuel purchase information in the form at the bottom of the page and click the Add Fuel Purchase button below the form.

To view fuel purchase records

1. On the My Garage page, click the blue options button () next to the desired vehicle and select View/Edit Fuel Purchases from the dropdown menu.

   

   The My Fuel Purchase Records page will be displayed.

   

You can view charts and tables about your vehicle's MPG and related information.

• The At a Glance graph is displayed by default if you have enough fuel purchase records to estimate MPG. The graph shows your average, best, worst, and last MPG estimates.

  

• Click the History tab to view your fuel economy trend over time.

  

• Click the Compare tab and select the to EPA Ratings option to view your average MPG compared to EPA city, highway, and combined estimates for your vehicle.

  

• Click the Compare tab and select the to Other Drivers option to view your average MPG compared to other drivers with the same vehicle (if available).

  

• Click the Other Stats tab to view other information about the fuel purchase records you've entered in My MPG. This includes the number of fill-ups, gallons, miles tracked, and fuel costs—if you've entered this information in your records.

  

The bottom of the page displays a table with detailed information from all of your fuel purchases. These records can be edited and deleted.

To edit a fuel purchase record

1. On the My Garage page, click the blue options button () next to the desired vehicle and select View/Edit Fuel Purchases from the dropdown menu.

   

   The My Fuel Purchase Records page will be displayed.

   

2. In the Fuel Purchase Records table at the bottom of the page, click the edit () button next to the record you want to delete and select the Edit option from the dropdown menu.

   

   This will take you to the Edit Fuel Purchase Record form, which contains your previously entered data for the selected record.

   

3. Edit the desired data items. (Click here for a description of the data items.)

4. Click the Save button at the bottom of the form.

The user's fuel purchase data and resulting MPG will be automatically updated on the Fuel Purchase Records page.

To delete a fuel purchase record

1. On the My Garage page, click the blue options button () next to the desired vehicle and select View/Edit Fuel Purchases from the dropdown menu.

   

   The My Fuel Purchase Records page will be displayed.

   

2. In the Fuel Purchase Records table at the bottom of the page, click the edit () button next to the record you want to delete and select the Delete option from the dropdown menu.

   

3. A message will be displayed asking if you are sure you want to delete the fuel purchase record.

   

4. Click the Yes button.

The record will be deleted, and you will be returned to the My Fuel Purchase Records page.

To insert a gap record to indicate a missing fuel purchase record

1. On the My Garage page, click the blue options button () next to the desired vehicle and select View/Edit Fuel Purchases from the dropdown menu.

   

   The My Fuel Purchase Records page will be displayed.

   

2. In the Fuel Purchase Records table at the bottom of the page, click the edit () button next to the record you want to insert a gap record before and select the Add Gap Before option from the dropdown menu.

   

3. A message will be displayed asking of you want to insert a gap before the selected record.

   

   Click the Yes button.

The gap will be indicated in the table by a row that says "Gap in Records.

To delete a fuel purchase gap

1. On the My Fuel Purchase Records page, simply click the delete (☓) button, next to the gap record you want to delete.

   

2. A message will be displayed asking if you want to delete the selected gap record.

   

3. Click the Yes button.

The selected gap will be deleted and removed from the table

Checking for Possible Data Errors

On the My Fuel Purchase Records page, look at the "Data Check" column of the Fuel Purchase Records table at the bottom of the page.

Records with no apparent issue are marked with a green checkmark (✔).

Records with a possible error are marked with a yellow question mark (?). Click on the question mark to display more detailed information about the possible error. Note that if you are using the odometer form, the problem may actually lie with the record directly before or after the marked record.

To customize the fuel purchase form

1. On the My Fuel Purchase Records page, click the Customize My Form button located near the top of the page.

   

   The "Fuel Purchase Form Customization" page will be displayed. (This page will also be displayed automatically before you add your first fuel purchase record.)

   

2. Select the preferred method of recording fuel purchase data.

   Once this option has been selected and saved, it cannot be changed.

3. Select which optional data fields you would like displayed on the form you will use to enter fuel purchases.

   1. Total Cost of Fuel ($) - allows you to track annual fuel costs
   2. Driving Conditions (stop & go vs. highway driving) - allows you to track how your gas mileage varies under different driving conditions

   You can choose to include these fields on your fuel purchase form even if you do not plan to use them. You can change these options at any time.

4. Click the Continue button at the bottom of the form.

To download your fuel purchase records from My MPG to your computer

1. On the My Garage page, click the Edit button () and select View/Edit Fuel Purchases option from the dropdown menu.

   

   The My Fuel Purchase Records page will be displayed.

   

2. Click the Download Data button near the top of the page.

   

   A message box will be displayed asking if the user would like to save or open the file.

   

3. Select "Save As" on the message box.

   The "Save As" window will be displayed.

   

4. Enter the location where you would like the file to be saved and click the Save button.

The file will be saved and you will be returned to the My Fuel Purchase Records page.

NOTE: These directions are based on the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser. If you are using a different browser, the necessary steps or button names may differ.

NOTE: The file is downloaded as a *.csv file that can be read by Excel. While in Excel, you can select to save the file in *.xls format if you wish to use formulas in the spreadsheet. Formulas, text formatting, and other Excel features cannot be saved in *.csv format.

To upload fuel purchase records

1. On the My Garage page, click the Edit button () and select View/Edit Fuel Purchases option from the dropdown menu.

   

   The My Fuel Purchase Records page will be displayed.

   

2. Click the Upload Data button near the top of the page.

   

3. The "Upload My Fuel Purchase Data" form will be displayed asking for the name and location of the file to be uploaded. A description of the data format needed to upload fuel purchase records is provided below the form. The data must be contained in an Excel file, and it must be arranged a specific way for the data to upload successfully.

   

4. Enter the path and file name of the Excel file to be uploaded, or click the Browse… button and select the name of the desired Excel file.

   

5. Click the Upload button.

   A status report on the success of the upload will be displayed.

   

6. After the process is complete, you can click the View Fuel Purchase Records to view your data.

NOTE: The fuel purchase data will not upload correctly unless it is stored in an Excel workbook file in the proper format.

You can download an Excel template here and copy your data into it, or you can simply make sure your data conforms to the following requirements.

1. The sheet that contains the data must be the first sheet in the workbook.

2. Data items (excluding headers) must begin in the following cells.

   Data Item	Cell	Comment
   Date	A2	Required
   Odometer Reading / Miles Traveled	B2	Required (see step 3 below)
   Gallons	C2	Required
   Fill-up Cost	D2	Optional
   City Driving %	E2	Optional
   Highway Driving %	F2	Optional
   MPG	G2	Optional (will be recalculated)
   Comments	h3	Optional

3. The program will interpret the data in column B based on whether you selected to enter odometer readings or miles since last fill-up when you added the vehicle to your garage. The only way to change the selection is to delete your vehicle from the garage, re-create it, and re-select your preferred method of entering data.

Shared MPG Estimates

We allow My MPG users to share their MPG estimates with others. Please note that, although we make efforts to help users enter their MPG and fuel purchase data correctly, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of estimates provided by our users.

Viewing MPG Estimates from Other My MPG Users

To view MPG estimates from other drivers

1. Click "Shared MPG Estimates" on the My MPG menu.

   

   The Shared MPG Estimates vehicle selection form will be displayed.

   

2. Select a model year range.

   If you only select a model year in the From box, vehicles from that model year to the most recent model year will be selected.

3. Select the make (manufacturer) of the vehicle(s) you wish to view in the Select Make box.

4. Select a model using the Select Model box.

5. Click the Go button.

   

   A list of vehicles that meet your search parameters will be displayed.

   

6. Click on either the vehicle name or the Show All link for the desired vehicle.

The "Shared MPG Estimates" page will be displayed.

This page shows summary and detailed information for the selected vehicle.

• A graph showing User Average MPG Compared to EPA Estimates
• A graph showing Individual Driver MPG Estimates

• An overview table showing the number of vehicles for which MPG is shared, the MPG averaged across those vehicles, and the highest and lowest average MPG vehicles

  

• A detail table showing the average MPG for each vehicle, the state where it is operated (if provided by the user), mix of stop-and-go and highway driving, and the date when the data was last updated

  

Note: It may take as long as a week for newly submitted MPG information to be displayed or updated.

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