So, you’ve made the decision not to drive a CO2 spewing behemoth but you don’t want to sacrifice style and comfort. It can be done. With the right information, you can make the right environmentally friendly car buying choice.

Smaller cars are more practical for urban living. They are generally more fuel-efficient and emit less CO2. You could also pay less for your car insurance premiums and less road tax. Smaller cars fall into the category of a 1.4 litre engine or smaller. If you’re shopping for a new car, it’s important to remember that tax on newer cars is rated on emissions.

Now that you’ve taken the first steps towards ‘greener’ driving, how do you decide on which car to buy? We’ve put together some useful tips on what to look for.

Read the label Most new cars on display in car showrooms have a colour-coded fuel efficiency rating. The cars are rated from A to G. A and B coded cards emit the least CO2. The label also contains other useful information about the car like estimated running costs over 12,000 miles. For the greenest models in each vehicle class, visit www.dft.gov.uk/ActOnCO2.

Diesel engines generally cost more than petrol cars, an extra £500 more. However, they use less fuel and their CO2 emissions are lower. On the other hand, petrol cars produce fewer toxic emissions and petrol is now cheaper than diesel. So, how do you decide between diesel and petrol? If you do a lot of long distance driving on motorways, then a diesel engine will probably suit you best. But, if you’re mainly buzzing around town on short trips, a petrol engine is probably your best option.

Environmentally friendly fuel Most cars on the road today are either petrol or diesel but the trend is changing with the increased availability of alternative fuels. What’s the difference between Biofuels, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)? • Biofuels are made from renewable sources. • LPG gives out less CO2 and toxic emissions than both diesel and petrol cars but fuel consumption is higher. Plus, new cars are not available with LPG installed. You can only convert a petrol car to LPG. • CNG emits less toxic chemicals than diesel and petrol engines. Most diesel and petrol cars can be converted to run on CNG.

Electric motoring Electric vehicles are by far the cleanest ‘green’ car choice as they are fuelled by electricity alone. For more information about hybrid and electric vehicles visit www.goinggreen.co.uk.

Responsible recycling If you’ve bought a new car and intend on dumping your old one, take it to an Authorised Treatment Facility. You car will be broken down and disposed of in an environmentally friendly way. There are over 1400 Authorised Treatment Facilities in the UK. To find one near you visit Cartakeback.

Once you’ve done your research and made your ‘greener’ choice, contact your insurer for a car insurance quote. It is important to up date your motor insurance policy as soon as possible to ensure your new car is fully covered.