DC is One of the Worst Places in the Country to Own a Car, Report Claims

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new report claims that the District is one of the worst places in the country to own a car, based largely on traffic congestion and public transit options in the area.

The report, from financial consulting company SmartAsset, puts D.C. at No. 3 on the list. Newark is No. 1 followed by San Francisco. Oakland sits at No. 4, and nearby Arlington is No. 5.

"Specifically, we looked at hours spent in traffic per year for the average driver, the annual cost of traffic for the average driver, the rate of motor vehicle theft, the number of repair shops and parking garages per driver, the commuter stress index and the non-driving options a resident has for getting around," SmartAsset said of its methodology.

The report points to the D.C. area's horrible traffic as a prime driver in putting D.C. at No. 3. D.C. drivers spend 82 hours per year in traffic on average, which costs residents $1,834 annually.

"Depending on how you slice it, that’s either two working weeks or almost three-and-a-half days of doing nothing but shaking your fist at your fellow drivers," the report states.

For more information and the report's full methodology, click here.

Image via Wikimedia user Aude