California is one of the worst states in the nation for drivers, WalletHub says. Here’s why

California’s notorious rush hour traffic and soaring gas prices have established the state as one of the worst for drivers, according to WalletHub.

The personal finance website released the 2025 edition of its list of Best and Worst States to Drive in on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

WalletHub scored each state on factors that impact the affordability and quality of driving, such as auto repair shops and car washes per capita and rates of car theft and larceny.

“On top of having pricey gas, maintenance and insurance expenses, some states can hurt you even more financially with excessive traffic congestion, which wastes both your fuel and your productivity,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said.

Kansas ranked No. 1 in the nation for driving, thanks to high-quality and safe roads.

The state’s “flatter than a pancake” landscape allows it to have among the best roads in the country, according to WalletHub.

Idaho was second in terms of the top U.S. states for driving, and Indiana was listed third.

Here’s where California is on the list:

Why is California one of the worst states to drive in?

WalletHub ranked California 45th in the nation for driving.

The state has the highest gas prices and the largest share of interstates with traffic congestion during peak hours, the website said.

California’s average regular unleaded gas price as of Tuesday was $4.45 per gallon, more than a dollar higher than the national average of $3.13 per gallon, according to AAA.

Additionally, the state’s average annual cost of car insurance was $1,782 in 2024, nearly $300 lower than the national average of $2,068, according to data from U.S. News and World Report.

However, according to the list, California’s plentiful sunshine and access to maintenance facilities saved it from being the worst state for driving.

The state ranked first for the fewest days with precipitation, beating out Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas.

California ranked No. 1 in terms of car washes and auto repair shops per capita, and No. 11 for safety.

What are the best U.S. states to drive in?

These are the top 10 states for drivers, according to WalletHub:

1. Kansas
2. Idaho
3. Indiana
4. Iowa
5. Oklahoma
6. Alabama
7. North Carolina
8. Ohio
9. Texas
10. Tennessee

What are the worst states for drivers?

WalletHub ranked these 10 states at the bottom of its list of Best and Worst States to Drive in:

• 41. Missouri
• 42. Nevada
• 43. Delaware
• 44. Massachusetts
• 45. California
• 46. Colorado
• 47. New Hampshire
• 48. Montana
• 49. Washington
• 50. Hawaii

How did WalletHub come up with its rankings?

To determine the best and worst states in the U.S. for drivers, WalletHub compared all 50 states across four key categories:

• Safety
• Cost of vehicle ownership and maintenance
• Access to vehicles and vehicle maintenance
• Traffic and road infrastructure

These categories were evaluated across 31 different weighted metrics that ranged from average gas prices and gas stations per capita to traffic fatality rates and number of days with precipitation.

WalletHub graded each metric on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing “the best for drivers,” the site said. Analysts then used each state’s weighted average across the metrics to calculate its overall score.

The website used data collected from numerous sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, U.S. Department of Energy, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This story was originally published January 21, 2025 at 1:47 PM.

Camila Pedrosa

The Sacramento Bee

Camila Pedrosa is a service journalism reporter at The Sacramento Bee. She previously worked as a summer reporting intern for The Bee and reported in Phoenix and Washington, D.C. She graduated from Arizona State University with a master’s degree in mass communication.