Best and Worst Cities for Car Owners This Summer
Best and Worst Cities for Car Owners This Summer
Our study ranks 100 cities by how car-friendly they are in summer, including real driver breakdowns and cost data.From surprise breakdowns to overpriced gas, summer driving isn’t always as carefree as it should be. High temperatures can take a toll on vehicles, contributing to issues like overheated engines, worn-out batteries, and tire blowouts.
To find out where it’s easiest and hardest to own a car in the warmer months, we ranked the 100 largest U.S. cities using five key data points, including gas prices, auto repair shop availability, and summer search trends for car trouble. These metrics highlight how well a city supports vehicle ownership, both in preventing issues and handling them efficiently when they arise. Each factor reflects how manageable it is to keep your car running smoothly in warmer months.
We also surveyed 1,000 car owners to see what kind of car issues they’ve actually dealt with during summer, from dead batteries to DIY repairs gone wrong. The results reveal where drivers are cruising with confidence, and where it might be time to double-check your car insurance coverage before the next road trip.
Key Takeaways
- Of the cities analyzed, the best for car owners this summer are Irving, TX (thanks to its high density of repair shops and strong car wash access); Garland, TX; and Long Beach, CA (for their combination of plentiful repair shops and easy car wash access).
- Seattle and San Francisco are the worst cities for car owners this summer. Both cities have higher gas prices and fewer repair shops and car washes than the rest.
- Omaha, NE, has the cheapest summer gas prices ($3.05 per gallon), while San Francisco has the most expensive ($5.10).
- Long Beach has the best access to car maintenance and repairs, with 888.1 auto repair shops per 100,000 residents.
- 36% of car owners have experienced a summer car breakdown in recent years.
- Chevrolet vehicles are the most likely to have a breakdown in the summer.
- 48% have delayed car repairs in summer due to budget, travel plans, or inconvenience.
Where Summer Car Care Feels Easiest (or Hardest)
Whether it’s access to car repair shops, decent gas prices, or a quick rinse at the car wash, a few places stand out for making car ownership a little less stressful this time of year. Others, however, can feel like an uphill battle, especially when high costs and limited services collide with the heat. We looked at the overall rankings across five different factors to see which cities came out on top and which ones may leave drivers sweating for all the wrong reasons.
Irving, Texas, ranked No. 1 overall, offering wide repair shop availability and car wash access. Garland, Texas, and Long Beach, California, followed next, thanks to high repair shop and car wash density as well as solid customer ratings. These cities can make it easier for drivers to find help when issues pop up, without the added headache of long wait times or steep service costs.
Car wash access is especially important in the summer, when heat, dust, and pollen can quickly dirty a car’s exterior. Regular washing and waxing protect the paint from UV damage and buildup and help maintain clear visibility by keeping windows and mirrors clean, making daily driving safer and more comfortable.
At the bottom of the list, Seattle and San Francisco ranked lowest for summer car-friendliness. Both cities scored poorly in multiple categories, with higher gas prices and fewer repair shops and car washes.
Breaking Down the Best and Worst Cities for Drivers
Not all car trouble looks the same, and neither do the cities dealing with it. To understand what’s
driving each city’s rank, we broke things down by individual categories, like gas prices, repair shop density, customer ratings, car wash access, and how often people are searching for help online.
Each metric gives a different view into what it’s like to own a car in the summer, from the financial side to the frustration factor. Whether you’re comparing cities or curious about how yours stacks up, this category-level view tells a deeper story.
For drivers hoping to keep fuel costs down, Omaha, Nebraska, is a bright spot with the cheapest mid-grade gas prices in the country at $3.05 per gallon. That’s a full two dollars less than in San Francisco, where gas tops out at $5.10, followed closely by Seattle ($5.04) and Oakland ($4.99). Lubbock and San Antonio also offer affordable prices ($3.10 and $3.15, respectively).
When it comes to finding a mechanic, Long Beach, California, has the most repair shops per 100,000 residents (888.1). Irving and Garland, Texas, also have over 800 per capita. By contrast, drivers in New York, Memphis, and Houston have far fewer options, which can make it tougher to get repairs handled quickly when something goes wrong.
Repair shop quality matters, too. Los Angeles leads in average repair shop ratings at 4.7 stars (out of 5 on Yelp), with Santa Ana and Irvine right behind. At the bottom are Laredo, Corpus Christi, and El Paso, Texas, where average ratings are at 3.3 or below.
Access to car washes also varied widely. Drivers in Irvine and Long Beach had the most wash options per capita, while those in New York and Chicago had some of the fewest. And when we looked at car-related search behavior (terms like “mechanic near me” or “tow truck near me”), Enterprise, Nevada, and Laredo, Texas, had the lowest summer search volume, suggesting fewer emergencies or more reliable vehicles. Conversely, drivers in Atlanta, Orlando, and Denver searched the most, pointing to higher breakdown rates.
Common Car Repairs During Summer Months
Even with good maintenance habits, summer can push cars and their owners to the limit. To understand what exactly drivers face during the hottest months, we surveyed 1,000 people about their real-life experiences with car issues. These challenges show why staying ahead of repairs and having the right coverage can make a big difference in any season.
More than one in three drivers (36%) said they’ve experienced a car breakdown during the summer in the past three years. The average repair took two weeks and cost $1,788. Among those incidents, Chevrolets were the most commonly reported make involved in seasonal breakdowns. However, Nissans had the costliest repairs, coming in at an average of $3,172.
Trying to fix the issue yourself might seem like a budget-friendly solution, but 18% of drivers admitted they only made things worse when they tried. Younger drivers were especially likely to run into trouble with DIY repairs, with 19% of millennials and 17% of Gen Z saying their attempt backfired. Some DIY repairs can also void your auto insurance or warranty, especially if they go wrong. You need to check your policy before you do any repairs on your own.
Waiting it out was another common strategy. Nearly half of all drivers (48%) said they delayed car repairs during summer due to budget constraints, travel plans, or inconvenience. That number climbed even higher among younger drivers, with 52% of millennials and 47% of Gen Z saying they’ve put repairs on hold.
So what’s going wrong? The most commonly reported summer car issues were:
- Air conditioning failure (30%)
- Tire pressure fluctuations (28%)
- Dead battery (25%)
- Warning lights turning on (19%)
- Windshield wiper wear (15%)
Each of these problems may seem small at first, but left unaddressed, they can quickly lead to bigger breakdowns and bigger bills.
Conclusion: Staying Prepared Behind the Wheel
Whether you’re cruising along the coast or stuck in traffic with a warning light flashing, your experience as a car owner can vary wildly depending on where you live. Our data shows that everything from fuel prices to repair access can affect how smooth or stressful summer driving is. And with so many drivers facing costly repairs, delays, or breakdowns during the hottest months, being prepared is necessary.
That includes keeping up with routine maintenance and knowing you have insurance that can help when things go sideways. The right policy can turn a car problem into a quick fix, especially when roadside help or rental coverage comes built in. When the heat is on, peace of mind goes a long way to helping you keep your cool.
Methodology
We ranked the 100 most populous U.S. cities on the following factors to determine the best and worst cities for summer driving:
- Average mid-grade gas prices collected in July 2025 from Google Maps API. (weighted 25%)
- Auto repair shops per 100,000 residents on Yelp. (weighted 20%)
- Auto repair ratings on Yelp, out of 5 stars. (weighted 20%)
- Car washes per 100,000 residents on Yelp. (weighted 20%)
- Search volume in summer months (June, July, August) from Google Trends for “auto repair,” “car repair,” “mechanic near me,” and “tow truck near me.” Cities with lower search ranked better. (weighted 15%)
This ranking is based on the 100 most populous cities, not every city in the US.
We also surveyed 1,000 American car owners to explore experiences with summer car breakdowns.
About Guardian Service
Guardian Service makes car insurance simpler, more affordable, and easier to manage. Our zero-commission agents help you compare top-rated policies, switch providers without the usual hassle, and even re-shop your plan automatically to make sure you’re always getting the best deal. Whether you’re insuring a daily commuter or a summer road trip vehicle, we make it easy to protect what matters without the stress.
Fair Use Statement
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