WA near dead last for overall driving in the U.S., latest study claims
Jan 24, 2025, 8:00 AM | Updated: 9:15 am
Rush hour traffic is lighter than normal during the morning commute heading in and out of Seattle on Interstate 5 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo: Karen Ducey, Getty Images)
(Photo: Karen Ducey, Getty Images)
In the search for which state has the best commute, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 31 key factors, with the outlet unfortunately determining that Washington is the second-worst state to drive in.
Washington netted a total score of 48.8, edging out Hawaii’s 42.5 score to stave off the title as the worst state to drive in.
“All 50 states were compared on categories related to owning and driving a car,” KIRO Newsradio reporter Heather Bosch said on “Seattle’s Morning News” Wednesday.
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WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo told Bosch the high cost of vehicle ownership and maintenance is a big factor.
“That covers things such as average gas price,” he said. “Washington is 48th there, 40th in auto maintenance costs and 45th in the total extra vehicle costs per driver,” which includes costs such as license tab fees.
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But that’s not all that’s pushing Washington toward the bottom of the list. Lupo explained the car theft rate is very high, with Washington coming in at 49th. Washington also ranked dead last in the nation for the overall rate of larceny.
Only Colorado ranked lower than Washington for overall car theft rates. Oregon, Nevada and New Mexico rounded out the bottom five, while New Hampshire, Maine, West Virginia, Idaho and Vermont were ranked as having the lowest amount of car-related crimes.
“Washington State also got dinged for having bad roads,” Bosch said. “Road quality ranked 47th and the state ranked 40th for weather which, of course, can affect your commute.”
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More positive findings for Washington transportation
One of the more positive findings for Washington is its rank for driving during rush hour.
Washington ranked 35th for rush hour congestion, although the analysis was completed before Amazon’s return-to-office mandate. Additionally, Washington ranked first for the amount of alternative fuel stations per capita.
Which states are the best for driving?
The states with the overall highest scores for driving were mostly dominated by midwestern states. Bosch said Kansas came in at No.1 because of the safety and quality of its roads. While Idaho, our neighbor to the east, ranked second in part to its success at decreasing traffic fatalities. Indiana was third, Iowa and Oklahoma ranked fourth and fifth.
“Owning a car can really squeeze your wallet if you’re not in the right location,” Lupo explained. “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. 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.”
WalletHub stressed in its report that this study compares what it’s like to drive in said state. It’s not a list of the worst drivers.
“Because no matter where you live, your city, your state, has the worst drivers,” he laughed.
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Contributing: Heather Bosch, KIRO Newsradio
Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest and producer of the Seattle Seahawks podcast, The Reset with Gee Scott. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.
Charlie Harger is the host of “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of Charlie’s stories and commentaries here. Follow Charlie on X and email him here.
