How mileage is rationed
Gasoline rationing chart: four boxed panels explain the A, B, C and D mileage rations with car and motorcycle drawings, then T and E/R rations in smaller boxes, closing 'To qualify for mileage rations, you must comply with tire regulations'. The technique is faint here; it is mainly an explanatory notice, with value wording such as 'essential to the war effort' used for the C ration.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1942
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Office of Price Administration
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, Economy and finance
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
Office of Price Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1012 (NAID 514538).
Text on the object
HOW MILEAGE IS RATIONED The basic ration for passenger cars A MILEAGE RATION "A" DRIVERS MUST DISPLAY THIS STICKER A ration for holders of passenger car registration cards. Each page of 8 coupons is valid for 2 months. The gallon value of the coupons is fixed by the Office of Price Administration. The A ration is designed to provide an average of 240 miles per month; of this 150 miles is for occupational use and 90 miles is for family convenience. This is based on average of 15 miles per gallon. Supplemental ration for passenger cars B MILEAGE RATION "B" DRIVERS DISPLAY ONLY THIS STICKER An extra ration for those who must drive more than 150 miles a month for occupational purposes. This ration allows a maximum of 470 miles a month for such purposes. Holders of B books must carry 3 or more passengers or prove that they cannot, and that other transportation is inadequate. B drivers receive A and B rations. The B book contains 16 coupons and is valid for 3 to 12 months depending on proven needs. Supplemental ration for essential passenger cars C MILEAGE RATION "C" DRIVERS DISPLAY ONLY THIS STICKER [signature: Gordon (partly legible)] An extra ration for special classes of drivers whose work is most essential to the war effort and who must use their cars more than 470 miles a month for occupational purposes. C books are valid for 3 months. Qualified applicants receive both A and C books, providing them with enough gasoline for proven occupational use. The ration for motorcycles D MILEAGE RATION NO STICKER FOR "D" DRIVERS A ration for holders of motorcycle registration cards. Coupons are good until July 22, 1943. The D ration is designed to provide an average of 240 miles per month, 150 miles for occupational use, 90 miles for family convenience. Supplemental D books are issued for proven needs in the same way as B or C books. T "T" DRIVERS DISPLAY ONLY THIS STICKER The transport ration for all commercial vehicles (except motorcycles) and military vehicles. They receive a T ration but no A ration. E R NO STICKERS The E and R books provide a ration for non-highway equipment and purposes. The E book is for small users, the R for large users. TO QUALIFY FOR MILEAGE RATIONS, YOU MUST COMPLY WITH TIRE REGULATIONS [imprint: U. S. Government Printing Office : 1942—O—489935] [imprint: OFFICE OF PRICE ADMINISTRATION, WASHINGTON, D. C., NOVEMBER, 1942]
