Scottsdale Rated Best City for Drivers

A new study identifies the top and bottom U.S. cities for driving based on cost, safety, and infrastructure.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Buying/Selling

Isometric editorial illustration of a clean, grid-like network of asphalt road segments, representing urban infrastructure and traffic conditions. — Scottsdale, Arizona, ranks as the top U.S. city for driving in a new WalletHub study, while Philadelphia trails as the least favorable. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Scottsdale, Arizona, claims the title of the best U.S. city for driving in a new report from WalletHub. Conversely, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles rank as the three worst cities for motorists.

Why it matters

The rankings provide a comparative look at how city environments influence the daily cost and experience of vehicle ownership. By evaluating factors such as maintenance and safety, the study highlights the significant disparities in urban driving conditions across the country.

Researchers analyzed 100 populous cities to rank driving conditions. Scottsdale excelled with a second-place ranking for lowest new car costs and a 13th-place ranking for parking rates.

The players

WalletHub

WalletHub is a personal finance website that regularly publishes analytical reports and consumer rankings.

The details

The study utilized four primary metrics, including safety, traffic and infrastructure, access to vehicles, and cost of ownership. Philadelphia performed poorly, landing at 96th for traffic and infrastructure and 95th for safety.

WalletHub published the driving city study on October 20, 2026.

Roadmap

These rankings reflect the broader challenges of urban planning, where infrastructure investment often dictates local driving quality. The disparity between cities like Scottsdale and Philadelphia underscores how regional policy shapes the long-term feasibility of personal vehicle ownership.

Residents in bottom-ranked cities may face higher monthly costs for parking and insurance premiums compared to those in top-rated areas. These rankings can help potential movers or buyers factor local driving infrastructure into their long-term cost of living estimates.

The takeaway

Drivers in cities with high infrastructure scores generally benefit from lower accident likelihood and reduced maintenance costs. Prospective car buyers should research their specific city's driving index to better anticipate future ownership expenses.