Car CO2 emissions
Latest figures published 23 Sep 2026. Each figure shows its own source and date.
How much CO2 new cars give off on the official test, 2015 to 2025, and how new and licensed cars in the UK split across CO2 bands.
- Average new car, 2025
- 92.1 g/km
- DfT VEH0256, WLTP test
- New cars with zero CO2, 2025
- 23.4%
- 473,218 cars at 0 g/km, almost all fully electric
- Average licensed car, end of 2025
- 126.4 g/km
- DfT VEH0206, as reported when new
Average CO2 of new cars each year
Grams of CO2 per kilometre on the official test, for cars registered for the first time in the UK. From 2018 to 2020 the official test changed from NEDC to the tougher WLTP test, which gives higher figures for the same car, so years before and after the change are not like for like.
| Year | Test | Petrol | Diesel | Hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | WLTP | 141.8 | 178.5 | 126.1 | 22.9 | 92.1 |
| 2024 | WLTP | 142.8 | 173.1 | 127 | 28.5 | 102.5 |
| 2023 | WLTP | 142.9 | 170.4 | 126.1 | 31.5 | 109.3 |
| 2022 | WLTP | 143.4 | 163.6 | 126.3 | 35.3 | 111.7 |
| 2021 | WLTP | 143.9 | 160.9 | 126.4 | 39 | 119.8 |
| 2020 | Mixed | 140.7 | 153.8 | 119.4 | 41.3 | 127.9 |
| 2019 | NEDC equivalent | 132.1 | 135 | 96.7 | 47.9 | 127.8 |
| 2018 | Mixed | 128.1 | 129.3 | 94.8 | 46.7 | 124.8 |
| 2017 | NEDC | 125.1 | 122.3 | 92.1 | 46.1 | 121.2 |
| 2016 | NEDC | 123.8 | 120.2 | 94.5 | 47.3 | 120.2 |
| 2015 | NEDC | 124.3 | 121.5 | 93.9 | 45.6 | 121.4 |
Source: DfT VEH0156, 2003 to 2025, published 23 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. Fully electric cars count as 0 g/km in the all-cars average but have no column of their own.
New cars by CO2 band, 2025 and 2015
Share of new cars registered in the UK in each band, out of those with a CO2 figure.
| CO2 band | 2025 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 g/km | 23.4% | 0.4% |
| 1 to 50 g/km | 10.8% | 0.7% |
| 51 to 75 g/km | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 76 to 90 g/km | 0.0% | 2.5% |
| 91 to 100 g/km | 2.8% | 15.6% |
| 101 to 110 g/km | 7.0% | 20.6% |
| 111 to 130 g/km | 23.8% | 31.9% |
| 131 to 150 g/km | 18.5% | 16.4% |
| 151 to 170 g/km | 6.6% | 7.1% |
| 171 to 190 g/km | 2.8% | 2.6% |
| 191 to 225 g/km | 2.5% | 1.4% |
| 226 to 255 g/km | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Over 255 g/km | 0.6% | 0.3% |
Source: DfT VEH0256, 2001 to 2025, published 23 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0.
Licensed cars by CO2 band, end of 2025
Every licensed car in the UK, by the CO2 figure recorded when it was first registered. Older cars were tested under NEDC.
Source: DfT VEH0206, end of 2025, published 15 July 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0.