How much you spend on car ownership can vary wildly depending on where you live in the United States. So, who are the winners and who are the losers here?
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In its latest study, National Business Capital evaluated each of the 50 states across seven key cost-drivers — from used car listings and fuel prices to taxes, fees, insurance and road quality. The biggest contributor to a state’s “affordability” score? Used car market pricing, which carried roughly one-third of the total weight.
The findings reveal the Midwest offers the best overall value while Western states hit drivers hardest.
The 10 Cheapest States
1. Ohio (Score: 77.8)
Ohio wins on balanced costs across all categories without excelling in any single area. Median used cars cost $12,995, insurance ranks 7th cheapest nationally and recurring fees stay low.
2. Indiana (Score: 76.2)
Indiana boasts the best roads nationally with 97.4% in acceptable condition, plus low insurance costs ranking 5th. Median used cars list at $13,741.
3. Vermont (Score: 72.3)
Vermont offers median used cars at $14,995 with lower sales tax and excellent roads at 94.9% acceptable condition. Gas prices run higher than average though.
4. Delaware (Score: 70.7)
Delaware has shockingly cheap used cars at just $7,995 median price plus no sales tax. The catch is expensive insurance ranking 44th nationally.
5. Wisconsin (Score: 65.3)
Moderate costs across the board with 6% average sales tax and low insurance. Road quality lags at 37th nationally.
6. Iowa (Score: 64.6)
Low gas prices ranking 9th and cheap insurance at 8th help Iowa. Registration fees including weight taxes add costs though.
7. Kentucky (Score: 63.2)
Used cars at $15,900 median and low sales tax offset brutal insurance costs ranking 46th nationally.
8. Massachusetts (Score: 62.8)
Used cars cost $14,995 median with affordable insurance ranking 9th. High fees and dealer documentation costs for new cars hurt.
9. Pennsylvania (Score: 62.7)
Median used cars under $10,000 make Pennsylvania attractive despite poor roads ranking 42nd and high gas prices.
10. North Dakota (Score: 62.6)
Good for new car buyers with low documentation fees and 93.3% of roads in decent shape. Used cars are pricier at $20,000 median.
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The 10 Most Expensive States
50. Arizona (Score: 13.9)
Arizona finishes dead last with used cars at $29,988 median, punishing property taxes and high insurance and gas costs.
49. Oklahoma (Score: 28.2)
Despite cheap gas ranking 3rd, Oklahoma hits drivers with expensive used cars at 41st nationally, high fees ranking 49th, and costly insurance.
48. Nevada (Score: 28.6)
High gas prices at 46th nationally, expensive insurance at 41st and steep service taxes at 39th hammer Nevada drivers.
47. Hawaii (Score: 33.1)
Island living means expensive used cars at $25,711, rough roads with only 60.9% acceptable and premium gas prices. Insurance is the nation’s cheapest though.
46. Colorado (Score: 34.0)
Colorado finishes bottom half in nearly every category including gas at 39th and insurance at 38th.
45. California (Score: 39.2)
Despite restricting dealer fees and moderate used car prices at $18,995, California destroys value with the nation’s highest gas at $4.61 per gallon, high sales tax at 40th and personal property taxes.
44. Washington (Score: 40.4)
Gas over $4 per gallon at 48th nationally, high sales tax at 40th and substantial fees especially around Seattle. Cheap insurance at 2nd helps.
43. New Mexico (Score: 40.7)
One-third of roads in unacceptable condition ranking 48th, plus expensive used cars at $26,439. Low fees at 3rd provide some relief.
42. Maryland (Score: 41.4)
Expensive insurance at 42nd and terrible roads at 44th hurt despite moderate used car prices and low sales tax.
41. Utah (Score: 41.5)
Used cars offer little savings at $28,980 median ranking 47th, with high gas prices at 40th.
You can see the complete state rankings here.
What Makes States Expensive or Cheap for Cars
National Business Capital scored all 50 states based on dealer documentation fees, median used car prices, gas costs, sales tax, registration fees and recurring taxes, insurance rates and road conditions. Each factor received weighted importance with used car prices counting most heavily at 30% of the total score.
Of all U.S. regions, the Midwest came out on top with a composite score of 59.5. Trailing it were the Northeast (55.9), the South (50.2), the Pacific region (43.4) and finally the Mountain states, which averaged just 38.8.
In the Northeast, high population density and closer access to vehicle supply chains help keep used-car median listings around $14,900, much below the $25,400 average seen in many Mountain-West states.
Gas prices show even more dramatic regional gaps. Pacific states average $4.24 per gallon, 26% higher than Mountain states and 47% higher than Southern states. California leads the nation at $4.61 per gallon.
There’s a real maintenance cost edge in states with smoother roads: the Midwest boasts 88.1% of roads rated “acceptable,” while the Pacific region lags at about 73.9%. Rougher infrastructure means greater wear-and-tear on vehicles over time.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Cheapest States To Own a Car — And the 10 Most Expensive
