While many young people are delaying car ownership and driving less, millions of Americans still rely on the roads every day, making driving conditions an important factor in daily well-being. WalletHub recently ranked the best states in the U.S. to drive.
“This research shows that the best states for drivers are those that make daily car ownership less expensive, less stressful, and safer,” WalletHub analysts said. Chip Lupo Tell Realtor.com®.
Last year, Americans spent an average of 49 hours stuck in traffic. This reality highlights how much location and driving conditions impact overall quality of life.
WalletHub evaluated all 50 states using four main criteria: cost of ownership and maintenance (such as average gas prices and car insurance premiums); transportation and infrastructure (including peak-hour congestion levels and average commute times); safety (measured by factors such as traffic fatalities and vehicle theft rates); and access to vehicles and maintenance (including the number of car dealerships and auto repair shops per capita).
“Overall, the top 10 states tend to be less congested, cheaper and safer to drive, suggesting that drivers benefit the most in places where infrastructure keeps up with demand and total driving costs are manageable,” Lupo said.
Vermont named best state to drive
Vermont ranks No. 1 among the best states to drive in, according to WalletHub, in part because of the state’s success in reducing road deaths.
“Traffic fatalities in Vermont are down nearly 10 percent year over year,” Lupo said.
Vermont also has the lowest per capita motor vehicle theft rate in the country.
Additionally, Vermont has the lowest rate of phone-related driving accidents, the fifth-highest rate of emergency braking, and only 11.8% of drivers in the state are uninsured.
Iowa ranked second
Lupo told Realtor.com that Iowa has relatively low congestion (ranked sixth), good road quality (ranked 12th in total additional vehicle operating costs per driver) and some of the strictest driving laws (ranked eighth).
Iowa also ranks among the safest states, ranking 10th in per capita theft rate and 11th in motor vehicle theft rate.
The state also supports affordability, ranking 10th in average auto insurance rates and 12th in miscellaneous vehicle operating costs.
Kansas State finished third
WalletHub ranks Kansas as the third best state for drivers, thanks in large part to the quality and safety of its roads.
Kansas ranks second in the nation for road quality, and well-maintained highways play a key role in reducing the risk of crashes. The state’s flat terrain also makes road maintenance more manageable. Driver behavior further bolstered safety, with Kansas ranking sixth for speeding and relatively low levels of aggressive acceleration and emergency braking.
“Kansas ranks seventh in traffic congestion, and despite its long road miles, the average commute time is just over 20 minutes,” Lupo said.
The 10 best states to drive in
1. Vermont
Median listing price: $489,000
Vermont is one of the most affordable states for drivers, with the third-lowest average car insurance premiums in the nation, the fourth-lowest car maintenance costs, and the second-lowest miscellaneous vehicle operating expenses.
2. Iowa
Median listing price: $269,450 USD
Iowa makes car ownership easier, with above-average convenience of gas stations, car dealerships, repair shops, and car washes.
3.Kansas
Median listing price: $280,945
Kansas ranks 12th in average gas prices and 5th in miscellaneous vehicle operating costs.
Median listing price: $329,900
The Cornhusker State ranks eighth in the nation for overall transportation and infrastructure quality.
Median listing price: $284,700
Indiana, home to the “Ringtown Capital of America” Carmel, Indiana, ranks 10th in car ownership and maintenance costs.
Median listing price: $425,000
Given Florida’s strong car culture, the state ranks second in the nation for vehicle use and car maintenance.
Median listing price: $325,000
Alabama has relatively little rush hour traffic and ranks 10th in the nation for rush hour congestion.
Median listing price: $424,450
Affordability is a major advantage for Tennessee, which leads the nation in car ownership and maintenance costs.
Median listing price: $399,900
In North Carolina, 95.8 percent of drivers “always or almost always” wear seat belts, the sixth-highest rate in the nation.
Median listing price: $367,000
Minnesota has one of the lowest traffic death rates in the country and ranks sixth overall.
