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Iowa Tops List of Best U.S. Drivers State-by-State
Iowa received first place due to its low insurance premiums, short commute times and less expensive auto repair costs. Ohio, Maine, Wisconsin and Vermont complete the top five states for drivers.
Dec. 20, 2016
Iowa is the best state for drivers, according to a new Bankrate.com (NYSE: RATE) report. California is the worst. The study evaluated 50 U.S. states based on several factors that impact drivers, including commute time, annual insurance premiums, gas expenditure, cost of car repairs, car thefts and auto fatalities. Click here for more information:
Iowa received first place due to its low insurance premiums, short commute times and less expensive auto repair costs. Ohio, Maine, Wisconsin and Vermont complete the top five states for drivers.
California received the lowest scores of all 50 states for average auto repairs and car thefts; that paired with lengthy commute times for drivers earned the state its last place designation. New Mexico, Nevada, Louisiana and Wyoming round out the bottom five states.
“Transportation is the second highest cost many households face, but that burden doesn’t fall equally across states,” says Claes Bell, CFA, an analyst with Bankrate.com. “Americans should take into account their costs for insurance, gas and other factors, as well as safety concerns, when considering their daily travel options.”
Labor and parts data was provided by CarMD.com, gas spending was calculated with statistics from the Bureau of Transportation and the Oil Price Information Service and insurance costs were compiled from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Theft statistics came from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and fatal crash rates were from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. Commute times were determined from the U.S. Census.