Carbon Footprint Calculator
Calculate your carbon footprint to see how your car choice affects carbon emissions.
Enter the year, make and model of a vehicle to calculate its carbon footprint:
The calculated emissions for selected year, make, trim, and model are estimates based on standardly equipped internal combustion engine vehicles, which run on gas or diesel fuel. Data may not be available for some year, make, model, or trim options. Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are not included within the calculator. Estimates are calculated with information from the EPA, vehicle manufacturers, and third parties. Capital One doesn't make any express or implied representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy of the calculated emissions estimates. This calculator tool is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide expert advice or otherwise indicate the suitability of a vehicle's emissions. You should obtain your vehicle's specific information from the vehicle manufacturer. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Benefits of electrification
Understanding your
carbon footprint
Regardless of vehicle type, acceleration requires energy. Pushing harder on the accelerator increases your car's energy demand and produces more carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Informed
decision-making
The technology behind cars is ever-evolving. On your journey to finding the right car, carbon emissions is one of many metrics you can use to help you make an informed purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are car emissions?
Car emissions are the greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants that primarily come out of your gasoline- or diesel-fueled vehicle's exhaust pipe. These emissions are created during the engine's combustion process. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that cars emit carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, and they can also release hydrofluorocarbon emissions from air-conditioning systems that leak refrigerants.
Hybrid vehicles make use of an internal-combustion engine fed by gasoline (or, less commonly, diesel) that produces tailpipe emissions when in operation.
Greenhouse gases are also emitted during the production and distribution of gasoline and diesel fuel as well as the actual vehicle assembly process.
Some automakers, oil companies, and electricity providers buy carbon offsets via the voluntary carbon market.
How can I reduce my vehicle's carbon footprint?
Increasing walking, cycling, carpooling, and use of shared transportation can also reduce your car's carbon footprint. The EPA reported in 2020 that more than one quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. was from transportation in general, and of that approximately 57% was produced by light-duty vehicles such as cars, SUVs, and trucks.
Adhering to posted speed limits can also reduce vehicle carbon emissions.
Additionally, an individual can buy carbon offsets to mitigate their own greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon offsets may include land restoration via tree planting or investment in renewable energy.
What is the carbon footprint for a vehicle while driving?
Internal combustion engines produce various greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). These represent the bulk of the carbon footprint produced by a vehicle when it's being driven.
Smog is another pollutant that negatively impacts environmental health. Vehicles can release nitrogen oxide, non-methane organic gases, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and formaldehyde, which produce smog.
How much CO₂ does a car emit?
That depends on the car. The EPA notes that a typical passenger vehicle can emit about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. Broadly speaking, bigger, heavier, and more powerful cars use more energy than smaller, lighter, and less powerful vehicles.
Average CO2 emissions per mile driven have declined by 24% in the U.S. since 2004, even as consumers shifted from lighter sedans and wagons to heavier SUVs. Automakers have deployed a number of technologies such as turbochargers, transmissions with more gear ratios, and hybrid gasoline-electric powertrains to help reduce CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.
How to Calculate Your Carbon Footprint
A gallon of gasoline contains 8,887 grams of carbon dioxide, or g/CO2. Whether you're driving a Ford F-150 or a Toyota Corolla, one gallon burned results in the same g/CO2 output (for diesel, that number jumps to 10,180 g/CO2). The difference between any two vehicles with the same fuel type (such as gasoline) then comes down largely to miles per gallon. In this case, an F-150 that gets 21 mpg would emit 423 grams of CO2 per mile, whereas a Corolla getting 34 mpg would emit 261 grams per mile. In other words, 8,887 g/CO2 divided by 21 is 423 grams and 34 mpg is 261.
It's important to note that these are calculated emissions based on EPA estimates, not measured emissions, because the EPA doesn't test every single vehicle. The calculated emissions may vary slightly from the actual emissions tests performed by the EPA, but are typically within a margin of error of less than 5%. All mpg rates are based on published EPA numbers, which are comprised of 55% city and 45% highway mpg.