A typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.
This number can vary based on a vehicle’s fuel, fuel economy, and the number of miles driven per year. Click on the questions below to learn more about this estimate and see answers to common questions about greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles.
- How much tailpipe carbon dioxide (CO2) is created from burning one gallon of fuel?
- How much tailpipe carbon dioxide (CO2) is emitted from driving one mile?
- What is the average annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of a typical passenger vehicle?
- Are there other sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a vehicle?
- What are the tailpipe emissions from a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or an electric vehicle (EV)? What about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles?
- Are there any greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the use of my vehicle other than what comes out of the tailpipe?
- How does EPA measure carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from vehicles?
- How can I find and compare carbon dioxide (CO2) emission rates for specific vehicle models?
More Information
Tailpipe Greenhouse Gas Emissions From a Typical Passenger Vehicle (pdf) (104 KB, June 2023, EPA-420-F-23-014)
