Buying a Used Car: A Choice with Built-in Climate Action

When buying a car, we compare mileage, price, brand, and maybe even the colour. But what about the carbon footprint of that decision?

With our planet going through a testing time due to climate change, it’s a criteria we can’t afford to ignore anymore. 

The Carbon Cost of a New Car

Every new car starts its life with a hefty carbon bill. Manufacturing a car requires extracting raw materials like steel, aluminium, and lithium (for electric vehicles), followed by energy-intensive processes like production and transportation.

This entire process emits an average of 5-8 tonnes of CO₂ per car. That’s equivalent to driving a petrol vehicle for 2-3 years—before it has even left the showroom. Sounds worrisome, right?

Newer cars may be more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly due to improved engine technology, but manufacturing them still comes with a significant carbon cost. 

But the most sustainable choice? Buying a used car. By extending the lifespan of a vehicle already on the road, you avoid the emissions tied to producing a new one—making a massive difference without compromising on performance. 

A Second Life, A Smaller Footprint

By choosing a used car, you extend the lifespan of a vehicle already on the road. That translates to quantifiable effects:

✅ Zero new manufacturing emissions

✅ Thousands of Kgs of CO₂ avoided

✅ Less resource extraction & waste generation

The only emissions that remain are from driving it—something that would happen regardless. It’s like borrowing a book instead of printing a new one. The story remains the same, but the environmental impact is dramatically different.

The Numbers That Matter

To help you understand better, let us break down some statistics.  

• A new car results in 5-8 tonnes of CO₂ emissions upfront.
• Every car is designed to last around an average of 13 years. If you buy one at age 3, that’s 10 more years of use without adding a new car to the world.
• If 1 in 4 car buyers switched to used cars, we could cut manufacturing emissions by over 60 million tonnes of CO₂ per year—equivalent to removing 13 million petrol cars from the road annually. 
• In Delhi alone, this shift could prevent the release of approximately 886,250 to 1,418,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year, which could significantly improve the city's air quality and help bring down its AQI levels.

And that’s just passenger vehicles. 

Imagine the overall impact across commercial and fleet-owned vehicles if this mindset is adopted at scale.

The Shift is Already Happening

Sustainability isn’t about waiting for the perfect solution. While electric cars are the future, millions of fuel-powered vehicles are still on the road today. We don’t have to replace them overnight—just make smarter choices that are small enough to do and big enough to matter.

Buying a used car isn’t just good for your wallet. It’s an effortless way to take climate action—one that requires no extra effort, no compromise, just a different perspective. And soon enough, that perspective might come with an extra bonus.

A Greener Road Ahead

CARS24 and Climes, a climate finance company, are working on something special—an initiative that makes sustainability a built-in part of buying a used car at CARS24. 

Why now?

Because climate action shouldn’t be an afterthought. It should be as easy as turning the key in the ignition.

At CARS24, sustainability is one of our three core tenets, guiding every decision we make. Buying and selling second-hand cars isn’t just a smart financial choice—it’s a step toward a more sustainable future. By extending the lifecycle of vehicles, we reduce the demand for new car production, which in turn lowers carbon emissions, conserves raw materials, and minimizes industrial waste. Every pre-owned car on the road is a testament to responsible consumption, and at CARS24, we are proud to make sustainable mobility accessible to millions.

 — Vikram Chopra, Founder & CEO, CARS24

"At Climes, we believe climate action shouldn’t be a separate decision—it should be built into the choices we already make. That’s how real change happens: not by asking people to do more, but by making sustainability a natural part of life. Our partnership with CARS24 is a step toward that future—where buying a used car isn’t just a financial decision, but an effortless climate action too."

 — Anirudh Gupta, Founder, Climes

With millions of used cars changing hands every year, this is a game-changing moment for climate action in mobility.

Stay tuned as we share more details. The journey toward a greener future is just getting started.