Vermont and Iowa Top Best States for Drivers in 2026

Vermont and Iowa topped WalletHub's 2026 ranking of the best states for
drivers, with Kansas, Indiana, and North Carolina rounding out the top
five, according to LiveNow from Fox. The annual study evaluated all 50
states and the District of Columbia across 31 metrics grouped into four
categories: cost of ownership and maintenance, traffic and
infrastructure, safety, and access to vehicles and maintenance.

The ranking offers a data-driven counterpoint to the common assumption
that states with the most drivers or the most roads are necessarily the
easiest places to drive. Vermont, with one of the lowest populations of
any U.S. state, topped the list primarily through its strong performance
in safety and relatively low insurance costs — two categories that
weigh heavily against high-traffic states.

What the Metrics Measure

WalletHub's 31 metrics cover a wide range of driver-relevant factors.
In the cost category, the study examined average annual car insurance
premiums, gas prices, vehicle maintenance costs, and sales taxes on
vehicle purchases. Infrastructure metrics included road quality
indicators, bridge condition ratings, and the ratio of urban to rural
road coverage. Safety metrics covered traffic fatality rates per 100
million vehicle miles traveled, DUI arrest rates, and carjacking
statistics, per LiveNow from Fox.

Access metrics — a less commonly measured category in driving rankings
— evaluated factors including the number of auto repair shops per
capita and average wait times for vehicle registration and licensing
services. Together, the 31 metrics create a composite portrait of what
it actually costs and feels like to drive in each state across a full
year.

The Worst States for Drivers

The bottom of WalletHub's 2026 ranking reflected a consistent pattern:
states with high population density, high insurance premiums, and
significant traffic congestion. California, Hawaii, New Jersey, and the
District of Columbia ranked among the worst jurisdictions for drivers,
according to LiveNow from Fox. DC's last-place finish was driven by its
combination of the highest car theft rate in the study, poor road
quality scores, and some of the highest insurance and maintenance costs
in the country.

California's low ranking despite its car-centric culture reflects the
study's weighting toward affordability and safety. High gas prices,
elevated insurance premiums, and some of the worst traffic congestion
metrics in the country dragged its score below states with far fewer
registered vehicles and miles of road.

Why This Ranking Matters

The WalletHub driving study has direct implications for residents and
businesses that depend on vehicle transportation. For retirees choosing
between states, families evaluating relocation decisions, and small
business owners calculating logistics costs, the 31-metric composite
provides actionable data beyond simple gas price comparisons.

LiveNow from Fox noted that several top-ranked states shared a common
trait: relatively low population density combined with well-maintained
rural road networks funded by state budgets that allocate a higher
proportion of transportation spending per lane mile. Vermont and Iowa
both fit this profile, as do Kansas, Indiana, and North Carolina — all
states where driving is structurally less expensive and less hazardous
than the national average.

References: Best Worst States To Drive 2026 Wallethub | 56779