The Burrow
Feb 25, 2026
Car culture thrives in places where passion is supported by infrastructure. This can mean easy access to car performance tuning, creative car modification specialists and reliable auto repair services, as well as regularly maintained roads that reward the driving experience. But where exactly are the best locations for car enthusiasts? To find out, the car insurance comparison experts at Compare the Market studied the latest data from across the United States and Australia.
This study ranks US states and Australian states and territories using multiple factors. Specifically, we examined search interest in car performance tuning, visual and lighting upgrades, access to repair shops and dealerships, road quality, and environmental conditions. Each factor was normalised, combined into a total score out of 100, and ranked from highest to lowest.
By identifying regions that actively support performance, aesthetics and day-to-day ownership, our research helps drivers to make more informed decisions about where to live, invest or immerse themselves in a thriving automotive scene.
Now, let’s take a look at the best locations for car enthusiasts.
Car culture across the United States varies greatly. Looking at the data, it’s clear that some states are far better equipped to support automotive passion than others.
Across the country, total scores ranged from 20.14 in Hawaii to 77.75 in Wyoming, a gap of more than 57 points, highlighting significant regional variation in support for car enthusiasts.
Wyoming leads the rankings as the top US state for car enthusiasts, achieving the highest overall score in the dataset. The state performs exceptionally well for performance and visual-related searches, highlighting strong interest in tuning and customisation despite its smaller population.
Wyoming also boasts outstanding road quality, with 94.88% of roads rated acceptable, alongside low annual rainfall of 12.9 inches. These conditions create an ideal environment for driving enjoyment, vehicle testing and long-term ownership.
Oregon ranks second, supported by strong demand for car performance tuning and visual upgrades. High search volumes point to an active car culture, reinforced by good access to auto repair shops.
While higher rainfall (27.4 inches annually) can be a limiting factor, Oregon’s solid road infrastructure (88.87% rated as acceptable) and established automotive community make it a popular choice for modification projects and organised car events.
Nebraska takes third place, offering a practical and reliable setting for car enthusiasts. The state scores well for performance searches and benefits from excellent road quality, with 92.61% of roads meeting acceptable standards.
Combined with a healthy density of auto repair shops (72 per 100,000 people), Nebraska appeals to drivers who prioritise dependable roads and strong mechanical support.
Not every state offers the same level of support for car enthusiasts, though. Those with less favourable scores tend to face a mix of weaker road quality, limited access to car performance tuning and repair services, or environmental factors that make car modification and everyday driving less appealing.
Down near the bottom of the rankings, Louisiana scores 25.88, ranking 48th. Road conditions are largely acceptable, with 74.03% of roads meeting the standard, but the state has the highest rainfall in America with 60.1 inches of rain per year. Louisiana also has a lower rate of auto repair shops at 43.2 per 100,000 people.
Second last is Rhode Island, scoring 21.93/100. Rhode Island has the worst roads in the US, with just over half considered acceptable (55.25%). Rhode Island also had the third-lowest search rate for performance at 86 per 100,000, and the lowest search interest for car lighting at 72 per 100,000. .
Hawaii ranks last in the US. The state records one of the lowest road quality ratings, with only 60.91% of roads considered acceptable. Geographic isolation and limited workshop availability (33.1 per 100,000 people) also make it a challenging environment for car enthusiasts, particularly those interested in extensive performance tuning or long-term modification projects.
Some of America’s biggest states sit right in the middle of the index. California sits mid-table at 24th overall. Road conditions are largely acceptable, with 71.96% of roads meeting the standard, but higher rainfall in some regions and only moderate access to dealerships and repair facilities (49.8 and 9.3 per 100,000 people, respectively) reduce its overall score.
Texas ranks just below California. While the state’s size and driving identity are undeniable, its road quality score (76.78% acceptable) limits its performance in the rankings. Combined with middling levels of performance and visual search interest, Texas offers pockets of strong car culture rather than consistent statewide support.
Australia’s car culture is shaped by vast distances, climate extremes and how well states support car lovers through access to tuning, modification services and reliable roads.
Western Australia leads Australia’s rankings. The state excels across several enthusiast-focused metrics, including strong performance searches (179 per 100,000 people) and high visual-related searches (1,244 per 100,000), highlighting interest in both car performance tuning and car modification.
Western Australia also stands out for its excellent access to auto repair shops (196.2 per 100,000) and relatively low reported potholes and road damage (53.7 per 100,000). Combined with low average annual rainfall (346.9mm), these factors create an ideal environment for driving enjoyment and long-term vehicle improvement.
South Australia ranks second due to offering a well-balanced environment for car enthusiasts. Performance and visual search activity is strong too, indicating an engaged local car scene, while the density of auto repair shops (161.6 per 100,000) supports ongoing maintenance and modification projects.
Reported potholes and road damage sit at a moderate 57 per 100,000, helping to maintain reasonable road quality across the state.
Queensland takes third place. This is driven largely by very high interest in visual upgrades, with 1,448 visual searches per 100,000, the highest in Australia. This suggests a strong focus on styling and aesthetics within the state’s car culture.
While Queensland also performs well for performance searches, its higher average rainfall (815.2mm) and increased road damage reports (211.9 per 100,000) slightly reduce its overall score. Even so, it remains one of Australia’s most attractive states for car enthusiasts.
At the other end of the scale, these states don’t score as well when it comes to locations for performance car fans.
New South Wales ranks seventh overall. The state benefits from good access to car dealerships (15.6 per 100,000 people) and strong visual search volumes, reflecting interest in car modification and upgrades. However, higher levels of reported potholes and road damage (155 per 100,000) negatively impact its road quality score, limiting its appeal compared with higher-ranking states.
Tasmania sits at the bottom of the Australian rankings. While the state performs reasonably well for auto repair shop availability (156.2 per 100,000), lower performance and modification search activity point to a smaller enthusiast community.
Extremely high annual rainfall (1,203.4mm) more than three times that of Western Australia and increased road damage reports (86.8 per 100,000) further restrict driving conditions, making Tasmania a less favourable location for car enthusiasts focused on performance and customisation.
While location plays a major role in supporting car enthusiasts, it’s equally important to understand the legal limits that apply to car performance tuning and car modification in Australia.
Across the country, the general national limit for car exhaust noise is 90dB. Vehicles that exceed this threshold can face fines, making it a key consideration for performance-focused builds. Older vehicles and motorcycles may be subject to slightly different limits, but enthusiasts should be mindful that louder setups can attract enforcement.
Window tinting rules vary by state and territory. In the Northern Territory, rear windows can be tinted up to 15%, while driver and front passenger windows allow up to 35%. In most other states, rear windows are limited to 20%, with the same 35% allowance for driver windows.
The cost of ignoring these legal limits can be significant. In New South Wales, as of February 2026, non-compliant window tints can result in a $423 fine and three demerit points, with similar fines and penalties applying in states such as Victoria and Queensland. For enthusiasts investing in visual upgrades, understanding these limits is essential to avoid costly setbacks.
For car enthusiasts, investment in the hobby is all about passion. Regions with strong automotive cultures, high levels of car performance tuning and car modification, good road quality, and easy access to dealerships and repair shops often lend themselves to higher vehicle use, upgrades and overall investment. That makes reviewing your level of cover essential, particularly if you’re modifying your vehicle or driving more frequently on open roads.
States and territories that score highly for performance and visual searches are ideal for customisation, but modifications can affect car insurance if they’re not disclosed. Ensuring your policy reflects your vehicle’s true value and setup can help to protect both your car and your wallet.
Adrian Taylor, Executive General Manager – General Insurance, said: “Car culture is about enjoyment, but it also comes with responsibility. If you’re investing in performance upgrades or relocating to a region with a strong driving scene, it’s vital to make sure your car insurance keeps pace with how you actually use your vehicle.”
This dataset ranks US and Australian states/territories, based on how good they are for car enthusiasts by considering 7 key factors. Each factor’s data was collected and normalised to a score between 0 and 1. If data was missing, a score of 0 was given. These scores were then combined and multiplied to give each state/territory a total score out of 100, and states/territories were ranked from highest to lowest.
The factors used were as follows:
The factors were indexed as follows:
All data is correct as of 28/01/26. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources and may not be representative of real life. All data is accurate with regards to the sources provided.