City driving can be difficult, frustrating and sometimes expensive, especially in summer, as gas prices surge. Because of higher gas prices, combined with expensive car insurance premiums, bad weather and long traffic delays, many drivers in large cities find themselves sitting in traffic rather than enjoying the summer weather.
Some cities, however, are guiltier than others for causing delays and increasing the expenses of owning a vehicle. While many of these cities also have large public transportation systems, population density, infrastructure and other factors can play a role in extending a driver's lengthy commute.
Taking into consideration the cost of owning a car in a particular city, as well as traffic, infrastructure and weather patterns, NerdWallet analyzed data to determine the Top 10 Worst U.S. Cities for Car Drivers.
While Albuquerque and Tucson ranked among NerdWallet's Top 10 Best U.S. Cities for Car Drivers, click through the following slides to see which cities rank at the bottom of the list.
10. Oakland, California
Annual Hours of Delay per Commuter: 61
Population Density (People per Square Mile): 7,004.0
Average Gas Prices: $4.11
Average Insurance Premium: $979.41
Average Number of Days with Precipitation per Year: 66
Score for Car Owners: 54.18
While other California cities including Bakersfield and Fresno ranked in the Top 10 Best Cities for Drivers, Oakland is among the worst. Drivers in Oakland spend an average of 61 hours a year in traffic, and while insurance premiums are relatively low, and precipitation does not occur often, Oakland drivers can also expect to pay a lot for parking. Both San Francisco and Oakland were rated as some of the worst cities in the U.S. for parking, according to NerdWallet.
9. Honolulu, Hawaii
Annual Hours of Delay per Commuter: 45
Population Density (People per Square Mile): 5,572.6
Average Gas Prices: $4.35
Average Insurance Premium: $948.38
Average Number of Days with Precipitation per Year: 88
Score for Car Owners: 53.10
While Hawaii may be a tropical paradise, local drivers have to deal with Hawaii's expensive car registration fees. Hawaii is one of 13 states that collect registration taxes based on vehicle weight, meaning that drivers with trucks or vans pay higher fees than drivers with sports cars. Honolulu also boasts the highest gas prices in the country at $4.35, only adding to residents' cost of driving expenses.
8. Miami, Florida
Annual Hours of Delay per Commuter: 47
Population Density (People per Square Mile): 11,135.9
Average Gas Prices: $3.66
Average Insurance Premium: $1,750.10
Average Number of Days with Precipitation per Year: 126
Score for Car Owners: 52.40
Many associate Miami with sunshine and beaches, but residents know that the city actually experiences a lot of rain, as the city averages 126 days of precipitation a year. Drivers also face high car insurance prices. With the average Miami driver expected to pay $1,750.10 for car insurance each year, the rates are among the most expensive in the country.
7. Boston, Massachusetts
Annual Hours of Delay per Commuter: 53
Population Density (People per Square Mile): 12,792.7
Average Gas Prices: $3.69
Average Insurance Premium: $1,174.50
Average Number of Days with Precipitation per Year: 120
Score for Car Owners: 52.06
Bostonians must cope with several different factors that all impact the city's overall score for drivers. As one of the densest cities in the U.S., drivers spend more than two full days per year in traffic delays. New England is also notoriously subject to snow and rain, averaging 120 days of precipitation a year. On top of this, Boston drivers who receive points on their driving records from moving violations will likely see insurance increases for six years, which can cost them upwards of $1,000.
6. Seattle, Washington
Annual Hours of Delay per Commuter: 48
Population Density (People per Square Mile): 7,250.9
Average Gas Prices: $3.94
Average Insurance Premium: $1,016.86
Average Number of Days with Precipitation per Year: 150
Score for Car Owners: 49.25
Seattle is well-known for its drizzly weather, and averaging 150 days with either rain or snow per year, precipitation can cause difficult weather-related driving conditions, including slippery roads and poor visibility. Weather and traffic can make navigating the city in a car challenging for Seattle residents, and some are choosing to ride bikes as a green alternative to driving cars. Approximately 4% of Seattle residents commute to work by bike, which is significantly more than the 1.16% national average.
5. Washington, D.C.
Annual Hours of Delay per Commuter: 67
Population Density (People per Square Mile): 9,856.5
Average Gas Prices: $3.89
Average Insurance Premium: $1,390.88
Average Number of Days with Precipitation per Year: 111
Score for Car Owners: 45.49
Washington, D.C. may be the nation's capital, but it is also the city with the longest traffic delays in the country. Drivers in Washington, D.C. will spend an average of 67 hours stopped in traffic on top of their regular commutes, just five hours short of three full days. Washington, D.C.'s drivers are also discourteous. Autovantage's 2014 In the Driver's Seat Road Rage Survey ranked Washington, D.C. as the fourth least courteous city for drivers.
4. Chicago, Illinois
Annual Hours of Delay per Commuter: 51
Population Density (People per Square Mile): 11,841.8
Average Gas Prices: $4.12
Average Insurance Premium: $1,243.52
Average Number of Days with Precipitation per Year: 119
Score for Car Owners: 44.65
The Windy City is notoriously subject to bad weather, as Chicago averages 199 days with rain or snow per year. But once Chicagoans finally dig their cars out from under the snow, they are subject to gas prices more than $4 per gallon, as well as expensive parking.
3. San Francisco, California
Annual Hours of Delay per Commuter: 61
Population Density (People per Square Mile): 17,197.2
Average Gas Prices: $4.23
Average Insurance Premium: $1,013.90
Average Number of Days with Precipitation per Year: 67
Score for Car Owners: 43.70
San Francisco's dense car population can hinder drivers from easily navigating the city. With almost 10,000 registered cars per square mile, drivers in San Francisco not only experience traffic congestion, but also a lack of parking space. The price of gas in San Francisco is also high, averaging $4.23 per gallon, which is 60 cents more than the national average.
2. Detroit, Michigan
Annual Hours of Delay per Commuter: 40
Population Density (People per Square Mile): 5,144.3
Average Gas Prices: $3.90
Average Insurance Premium: $4,924.99
Average Number of Days with Precipitation per Year: 128
Score for Car Owners: 38.95
While Detroit is known for being America's car manufacturing capital, it is extremely expensive to own a car in the city. Detroit drivers pay the most for car insurance, as rates reach nearly $5,000 per year for the average driver. The city has complicated car insurance laws and a high rate of motor vehicle thefts, making car insurance premiums in Detroit the most expensive in the country.
1. New York City, New York
Annual Hours of Delay per Commuter: 59
Population Density (People per Square Mile): 27,012.4
Average Gas Prices: $3.95
Average Insurance Premium: $1,614.71
Average Number of Days with Precipitation per Year: 113
Score for Car Owners: 32.73
It is no surprise that the Big Apple's sheer size contributes to city traffic and a lack of parking. With more than 27,000 people per square mile, New York is the most densely populated city in the United States. With the average New York driver paying approximately $1,600 a year for car insurance, the cost of owning and operating a vehicle is also high. Because of the expense and hassle driving can pose on the average New Yorker, 55% tend to take public transportation to work.
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