These Are The States Data Shows Are Best And Worst For Drivers

For a country called the United States of America, there are as many – maybe more – differences than similarities from one part of the nation to another, and we’re not just talking income levels, taxes or our polarizing red state/blue state politics.

As it turns out, some of these 50 disjointed states are more hospitable to motorists than others. One’s overall driving experience can vary significantly crossing one border into another in terms of higher or lower ownership costs that can vary wildly, including gas prices, insurance premiums and maintenance/repair costs. In addition, some states manage to register higher or lower fatal crash rates, have well or poorly maintained roads, have ample or limited auto dealerships and repair shops and put motorists through longer or shorter average commuting times, among other variables.

According to an annual report compiled by the website WalletHub.com, Kansas is the nation’s most welcoming state for drivers, boasting top-quality roadways, motorists who tend to stay within the posted speed limits, minimal traffic congestion and low ownership costs, including for gas, maintenance and repairs.

At the other end of the spectrum, data show the most dismal spot in the U.S. for motorists is the 50^th state in more ways than one. The otherwise idyllic Hawaii gets low marks for ownership costs, road quality, traffic tie-ups and access to maintenance and repairs. It’s highest mark was a 15 out of 50 ranking for vehicular safety, which may have something to do with the limited roadways running around and across Hawaii’s eight main Pacific islands.

WalletHub looked at 31 key indicators of a more or less amenable commute for all 50 states, boiling the data down to overall scores and individual rankings for local ownership costs, road conditions and average commute times, highway safety and access to vehicles and maintenance/repairs.

“Owning a car can really squeeze your wallet if you’re not in the right location,” notes WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “The best states to drive in are ones that are relatively rural, with smaller populations, a low cost of living, well-maintained roads and safe motorists.”

We’re counting down the 10 best and worst states for drivers below, based on WalletHub’s study.

In terms of individual attributes, the corners of the nation in which motorists enjoy the cheapest ownership costs include Tennessee, Alabama and Kansas, with the costliest in this regard being California, Hawaii and Washington. The top states for traffic and infrastructure are North Dakota, Montana and South Dakota, while drivers face the worst roads and congestion in Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Meanwhile, the top-rated states for roadway safety are Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, while the worst can be found in Missouri, Wyoming and Montana. Access to vehicles and sources for maintenance and repairs are most available in Florida and Texas, with the bottom three in this regard being Alaska, Delaware and Wyoming.

Best States For Motorists In 2025

1. Kansas: Midwestern charm combines with low ownership costs, top-notch infrastructure and minimal traffic here.
2. Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains gets good marks for traffic/infrastructure and highway safety.
3. Indiana: Low ownership costs help seal the deal for Hoosiers
4. Iowa: Low-volume traffic and affordable ownership and maintenance costs are prominent here.
5. Oklahoma: Quick commutes and ownership costs are OK in Oklahoma.
6. Alabama: Costs to maintain and operate a motor vehicle are sweet home Alabama’s best attributes here.
7. North Carolina: The Tar Heel State gets top marks for access to vehicles and maintenance and low ownership costs.
8. Ohio: The only state that’s round (o) on the outside and high (hi) on the inside likewise scores high for ownership costs and adept access to vehicles and maintenance sources.
9. Texas: Readily available vehicles and maintenance and safe roads are handy attributes in this nation-sized state.
10. Tennessee: Having the lowest ownership costs in the nation lands the Volunteer State in the top 10 best states for drivers.

Worst States For Motorists in 2025

1. Hawaii: Aloha! Having safe roads is the only mark below 40 out of 50 that Hawaii gets this year.
2. Washington: Access to maintenance and vehicles is the only bright spot in Washington’s next-to-last ranking.
3. Montana: Moving to Montana? At least the roads are in good shape and road congestion is minimal.
4. New Hampshire: It may be a small state, but it received poor scores across the board.
5. Colorado: Must be the thin mountain air, but the only mark lower than 40 out of 50 for 2025 is easy access to vehicles and repairs.
6. California: It gets the study’s lowest score for vehicle and maintenance access and is respectable for roadway safety, but boasts the highest auto-ownership costs in the U.S.
7. Massachusetts: Good scores for safety and access to vehicles and service are offset by dismal ratings in the other categories.
8. Delaware: Rates next-to-last for vehicle and repair access.
9. Nevada: Residents take a far greater gamble on ownership costs and vehicle and repair availability than on safety and traffic.
10. Missouri: The Show-Me State shows up in last place with regard to highway safety and is below par for traffic congestion and road quality.

Source: WalletHub.com. The website’s full report, with complete data for all 50 states, can be found here.