With traffic congestion costing the average U.S. driver nearly $800 per year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2025's Best & Worst States to Drive In, along with expert commentary, to identify where people can save the most money while staying as safe as possible on the road.
WalletHub compared the 50 states across 31 key metrics. The data set ranges from average gas prices to rush-hour traffic congestion to road quality.
Driving in New York (1=Best; 25=Avg.):
- Overall rank for New York: 21st
- 15th – Share of Rush-Hour Traffic Congestion
- 2nd – Traffic Fatality Rate
- 7th – Car Theft Rate
- 3rd – Auto-Repair Shops per Capita
- 39th – Avg. Gas Prices
- 42nd – Auto-Maintenance Costs
- 34th – Road Quality
- 6th – Car Dealerships per Capita
Expert Commentary
What tips do you have for a person looking to keep the costs of car ownership low?
“1) Buy a used vehicle. Cars typically lose at least 20% of their value in the first year and 40%-50% after three years. A good used car can be a good deal. 2) To keep maintenance costs down, look for a car with a high-reliability rating - this information is readily available. 3) Shop around for car insurance, take advantage of discounts if you're eligible (e.g., for a safe driver record or for low miles driven), and consider a higher deductible.”
Elizabeth Deakin – Professor Emerita, University of California, Berkeley
“Things are changing rapidly. Electric cars are already cheaper to maintain and operate than gasoline or diesel vehicles. However, finding a used one at a good price is still difficult. And, if you live in a northern state, electric cars are less economical in the winter than in the summer. So, unless you are looking for a new car, you may want to buy a used gasoline one but try to find one with hybrid technology. If you can afford it, buy a higher-quality car that is about three years old and has been maintained well. Buy one that gets good gas mileage. A plug-in hybrid can easily get an average of around 100 mpg if you commute less than 100 miles per day and drive at moderate speeds. Do not buy a heavy SUV or pick-up truck unless you definitely need one. And, if you do need one occasionally, use a lighter passenger car for everyday commutes. And remember, gas consumption is proportional to the sum of resistances, the major ones being air and rolling resistance. Both of those resistances are proportional to speed squared, so if you speed up from 50 to 60 mph, you will use at least 44% more gasoline for the same trip. And if you need to accelerate, do it slowly whenever that is safe. Gunning the engine uses a lot of gas. And, to keep costs down, you need to keep your insurance rate as low as possible, and slowing down to the speed limit will help you avoid accidents as well as speeding tickets and both are costly not only by increasing your insurance rates.”
Per Garder, Ph.D., P.E. – Professor Emeritus, University of Maine, Orono
How can states reduce the number of traffic fatalities?
“Open up the marketplace to more automated vehicles - particularly with level-4 systems (e.g., adaptive cruise control, automated steering, etc.). Enforce and steepen driving penalties, particularly concerning distracted driving. Build more dedicated and protected infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists - e.g., cycle tracks. Install more CCTV and surveillance systems to monitor traffic conditions and impose infractions on those who violate traffic rules.”
Robert Cervero – Professor Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley
“State and local governments can do a lot to reduce deaths on streets and highways. Here are some of them: 1) Lower speed limits on streets and highways. Then enforce the speed limits - camera-based enforcement has been effective where used. 2) Provide safe facilities for all users - pedestrians, cyclists, transit users as well as auto drivers. Protected bike lanes, well-maintained sidewalks and pedestrian paths, and well-designed bus stops and lanes should be the norm. (This is sometimes called the complete streets approach.) 3) Alcohol is a factor in 40+ percent of crashes. The consequences for DUI, and more generally for distracted driving or reckless driving should be serious and the laws on these matters should be enforced. 5) Design to reduce injuries. For example, use traffic circles to reduce right-angle collisions; and use medians to offer pedestrians a refuge. 6) Keep facilities well maintained. 7) Put this together in a safe systems approach.”
Elizabeth Deakin – Professor Emerita, University of California, Berkeley
Should states offer tax or other incentives to encourage people to purchase electric vehicles? What else can states do to support the adoption of low-emissions vehicles (e.g. charging station infrastructure for electric vehicles)?
“States like CA have offered tax deductions for EV ownership though it has been rather inconsistent and spotty. Probably most important would be to introduce macro policies that substantially increase electricity output - e.g., expanding hydroelectricity and nuclear power production; expanding the electricity grid statewide; and underwriting renewable production when needed to jump-start infant industries (e.g., tidal or wind production). Such are things beyond the purview (and purse-string powers) of localities thus states need to be much more proactive in leveraging these kinds of mega-scale infrastructure investments.”
Robert Cervero – Professor Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley
“States use a variety of incentives to encourage people to act in a way that aligns with the state's policy goals and objectives. Transportation has a huge impact on people's lives and our natural environment, so I believe states should consider incentives related to transportation and vehicle usage that align with their goals. Information is very important for consumers, so even just knowing where charging stations are located could be enough to impact the adoption of electric vehicles. For instance, in North Carolina, drivenc.gov provides a map of charging stations around the state.”
Daniel J. Findley, Ph.D., PE – Associate Director, Institute for Transportation Research and Education; Adjunct Assistant Professor, North Carolina State University