Are Used Cars Better For The Environment Than New Ones?
Eco-friendly driving is a scorching topic right now. You’re all aware of the effects that driving a car has on the environment. Billions of people get in a car every single day and generate lots of carbon emissions.
Consequently, there’s been a massive influx in people who want to reduce the environmental impact of driving. Many ideas and suggestions have been made, but one of the most contentious ones is whether or not buying used cars is better for the environment than buying new ones.
Already, you can probably see a few debatable points forming! So, let’s take a look at some of the key arguments to figure out the answer to this question.
Reducing car waste
The main argument in favour of buying used cars is that you reduce a lot of car waste. If you take a look at a company like Davies Car Sales, you’ll see hundreds of used cars available for people to buy. What would happen to all of these cars if everyone bought brand new ones every time? They’d end up getting turned into scrap metal. Granted, some of the parts could be recycled, but the majority would end up as waste, and the emissions released when disposing of them would be terrible.
Buying a used car basically means you’re recycling a vehicle and using it again. In many ways, this is a compelling argument that makes a lot of sense.
New eco-friendly technology
On the flip side, people argue that buying new cars can be better as they contain newer technology. Modern cars are being made with exciting new technologies that reduce fuel consumption like never before. Just look at some of the best electric vehicles on the market right now. You’d struggle to find cars on the used market with this sort of technology, meaning you miss out on a vehicle that releases zero emissions and is more eco-friendly.
As such, you can see why people argue that buying a new car is better for the environment!
It’s the driver that matters
There’s also the argument that neither option is particularly better than the other. If we all bought used cars, then we would reduce waste and slow down new car production, lowering carbon emissions. However, if we bought new cars, we’d have access to better technology that makes the car use less fuel. But, neither option matters if you’re driving badly.
You can get a used car and end up spurting out so much CO2 because of your driving habits. The same goes for someone with a new car – you can take terrible care of it, meaning you have to keep buying a new car every few years, which is bad for the environment. If you focused on learning how to be fuel-efficient when you drive and taking better care of your vehicles, then it doesn’t matter if you buy new or used.
Ultimately, that’s the answer to the question. Both new and used cars can be better for the environment than the other. However, it all depends on how you drive them and how well you look after them. That’s the main thing to focus on if you want to save the environment while driving.