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10 U.S. Cities with the Best Maintained Roads

And How Road Condition Affects Car Insurance

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By Susan Meyer
Updated November 19, 2025
Reviewed By Beth Swanson
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Susan Meyer

Senior Editorial Manager

Susan is a licensed insurance agent and has worked as a writer and editor for over 10 years across a number of industries. She has worked at The Zebr…

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
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Beth Swanson

Insurance Analyst

Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. A licensed insurance agent, she specializes in creating clear, accessible content t…

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • Associate in Insurance
  • Professional Risk Consultant
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  1. 10 cities with best maintained roads
  2. 10 cities with the worst maintained roads
  3. What types of damage are covered by insurance?
  4. Methodology

Road conditions across the U.S.

Living in a city with well-maintained roads comes with a number of benefits, including lower vehicle costs, decreased accidents, and improved mobility.[1] But not all locales place the same level of care into their roadways, particularly in relation to the ongoing wear and tear from everyday drivers. 

Where can you find better road conditions in the U.S. and the worst? We analyzed three sets of data to find the American cities with the best-maintained streets:

  • Average congestion level: This percentage reveals the average amount of extra time spent in traffic due to congestion. A higher congestion level indicates more wear and tear on roads. 
  • Additional car maintenance costs:
  • Road quality: This score rates each state based on rural and urban road conditions, as well as traffic fatalities. 

Check out the best cities for well-maintained roads, plus the ones that ranked at the bottom of our list.

The Top 10 U.S. Cities for Best Maintained Roads

#1: St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis has one of the lowest congestion levels in the country at just 16%. That means drivers don't spend a significant amount of extra time on the road during peak hours, keeping the pavement in better shape. Additionally, Missouri has the third-best road quality in our ranking. St. Louis drivers do, however, pay an extra $611 per year for road-related car maintenance, which is average compared to other cities on our list.

St Louis by the Numbers

  • Average congestion level: 16%
  • Additional car maintenance costs: $611
  • Road quality: 70.65/100

#2: Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City shares Missouri's high road quality score, while also delivering the second-lowest congestion level on our list. But you're likely to spend more on car repairs, which on average cost an additional $667 each year.

Kansas City by the Numbers

  • Average congestion level: 14%
  • Additional car maintenance costs: $667
  • Road quality: 70.65/100

#3: Buffalo, New York

Buffalo drivers don't spend a significant amount of extra time in traffic, with a congestion level of just 15%. That can help preserve road quality, although New York as a whole scores just 46.12 out of 100 points. The good news for Buffalo? Extra car maintenance due to road conditions cost just over $380 per year.

Buffalo by the Numbers

  • Average congestion level: 15%
  • Additional car maintenance costs: $382
  • Road quality: 46.12/100

#4: Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City has one of the cheaper car maintenance costs caused by road conditions, also coming in at $382. Plus, congestion levels are quite low at just 18%. Utah's overall road quality ranks below average, however, scoring just 42.27 out of 100 points.

Salt Lake City by the Numbers

  • Average congestion level: 18%
  • Additional car maintenance costs: $382
  • Road quality: 42.27/100

#5: Phoenix, Arizona (tied)

Phoenix is the first of three cities tied for fifth place on our list. Arizona largely stands out with an above average road quality score. On top of that, Phoenix's additional maintenance costs due to road conditions are also less expensive than most others on our list, averaging $550 annually. Congestion, on the other hand, is average at 24%.

Phoenix by the Numbers

  • Average congestion level: 24%
  • Additional car maintenance costs: $550
  • Road quality: 62.23/100

#5: Richmond, Virginia (tied)

Richmond takes home the top spot with the lowest amount of congestion out of all the cities we analyzed. That helps to offset some more average rankings, including $640 in annual road-related car maintenance, and a state-wide road quality score of 45.36.

Richmond by the Numbers

  • Average congestion level: 12%
  • Additional car maintenance costs: $640
  • Road quality: 45.36/100

#5: San Antonio, Texas (tied)

Our final fifth place goes to San Antonio. The city ranks highly for relatively low congestion at 18%. And overall road quality in Texas rates well at 63.81 points out of 100. But extra car maintenance costs are quite high at $710 per year.

San Antonio by the Numbers

  • Average congestion level: 18%
  • Additional car maintenance costs: $710
  • Road quality: 63.81/100

#8: Austin, Texas (tied)

Austin, like San Antonio, benefits from well-maintained roads throughout Texas. Plus, car maintenance costs from street conditions are quite low at just $507 per year. The downside is that Austin has a higher level of congestion at 27%.

Austin by the Numbers

  • Average congestion level: 27%
  • Additional car maintenance costs: $507
  • Road quality: 63.81/100

#8: Las Vegas, Nevada (tied)

Las Vegas stands out thanks to one of the lowest car maintenance costs due to road conditions, which averages to just $379 per year. Traffic congestion is just below average at 23%, while Nevada road quality ranks just above average at 44.32 points out of 100.

Las Vegas by the Numbers

  • Average congestion level: 23%
  • Additional car maintenance costs: $379
  • Road quality: 44.32/100

#10: Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville ranks second when it comes to road-related vehicle maintenance, which costs drivers just under $300 per year. Congestion is also reasonable at just 20%. Florida, however, has quite a low road quality score of 33.65.

Jacksonville by the Numbers

  • Average congestion level: 20%
  • Additional car maintenance costs: $297
  • Road quality: 33.65/100

The 10 U.S. Cities with the Worst Maintained Roads

Drivers beware: here are the 10 cities with the worst quality roads in the U.S. (based on the same criteria as the above).

  1. Los Angeles and San Francisco, California (tied)
  2. San Jose, California
  3. Riverside, California
  4. New York, New York
  5. Miami, Florida
  6. Tampa, Florida
  7. Memphis, Tennessee
  8. Chicago, Illinois
  9. Charlotte, North Carolina

Damaged Caused by Bad Roads: Is It Covered?

Road conditions play a major role in vehicle safety and long-term performance. Potholes, uneven pavement, and poorly maintained streets can cause anything from minor tire damage to serious accidents. But when rough roads damage your car, what will your auto insurance actually cover?

Does Car Insurance Cover Wear and Tear From Bad Roads?

No. Standard car insurance does not cover wear and tear, even if poorly maintained roads cause the damage.

Wear and tear includes things like:

  • Gradual suspension damage
  • Tire wear
  • Alignment issues
  • Slow-developing cosmetic damage

Insurance is designed for sudden, unexpected events—not deterioration over time. If the damage happened slowly, insurers classify it as maintenance-related, meaning you’re responsible for the repairs.

 

What About Accidents Caused by Potholes?

This is where the rules change. If you hit a pothole and it causes sudden damage, insurance may help—depending on your coverage.

Collision Coverage

This is the primary coverage for pothole-related accidents.
Collision insurance pays for damages when your car hits an object—including a pothole.

If a rock flies up from a pothole and cracks your windshield, it may cover: Bent rims, blown tires, broken suspension, body damage, and underbody damage. 

You will still owe your collision deductible, and filing a claim may affect your premium.

Comprehensive Coverage

If you have comprehensive coverage, this might also be relevant for road hazards created by bad roads. This only applies if the damage wasn’t from hitting the pothole directly—for example, if a rock flies up from a pothole and cracks your windshield or a loose road object hits your vehicle. 

 

Can You Get Reimbursed by the City or State?

In some regions, drivers can file a claim with the city, county, or state responsible for road maintenance. Success varies—many municipalities deny pothole claims unless you can prove the government knew about the pothole and failed to fix it within a reasonable timeline.

Because this is difficult to prove, insurance is definitely a better option for peace of mind if you live in an area with poorly maintained roads. 

The quality of the roads can vary widely based on where you live. Maintaining proper coverage—and keeping an eye out for rough roads—can help minimize the hassle and cost of damage from badly maintained roads. 

Methodology

The Zebra used three data points to analyze the top 50 MSAs by population related to road quality.

  • Average congestion level[2]
  • Average additional car maintenance costs due to road conditions[3]
  • Road quality by state[4]
Sources

  1. Publication: Why Road Maintenance is Important and How to Get it Done. [World Bank Group]

  2. Traffic Rating 2024. [TomTom]

  3. Worst Maintained Roads. [Teletrac]

  4. States with the worst (and best) road conditions. [Consumer Affairs]