The number of classic cars on the UK’s roads has doubled in the last 10 years but the average emissions of classics has fallen by 16% since 2013.
Research by loop shows the average carbon dioxide emissions of a classic car has dropped from 899kg in 2013 to 757kg in 2024.
This fall is despite a rise in the number of classic cars on UK roads going from 466,830 in 2013 to 1,056,919 in 2024.
Total CO2e output from all classic cars reached 338,413 tonnes last year, up 34% since 2013, despite their numbers having doubled. In real terms, that means classics still contribute just 0.30% of the UK’s overall transport emissions.
It means a year’s motoring in a typical classic car has roughly the same environmental impact as an average household’s emissions for a week and a half.
After a period of decline, the average annual mileage travelled by classic car owners increased last year for the third year running. At 1,535 miles/pa, it is now back to the same levels as 2013.
Alex Kefford, Head of Editorial at loop, said: ‘Ten years ago, there were roughly 18,000 cars on our roads that were exactly 30 years old. Today there are nearly 70,000. In fact, there are now more 30 to 33-year-old cars than the total number of classics of any age a decade ago.
‘This influx of young-timers is having a positive impact on the classic sector’s overall emissions, as they bring greater fuel efficiency and tighter emissions controls with them, helping to offset what would otherwise have been a doubling in the environmental footprint of our motoring heritage.’
