The 2006-2010 American Community Survey says 586,805 workers – 1 in 122 – are mega commuters with a 90 minute or 50 mile drive to work.
Georgia is the most expensive state to drive a motor vehicle and Oregon is the cheapest, according to a new report. The study included the costs of gasoline, insurance, repairs, taxes and fees. In Georgia, a typical driver spends $4,233 per year to operate a vehicle. That is almost double the cost in Oregon at $2,204. The national average is $3,201.
California ($3,966), Wyoming ($3,938), Rhode Island ($3,913) and Nevada ($3,886) round out the five most expensive states. Alaska ($2,227), South Dakota ($2,343), Montana ($2,660) and Indiana ($2,698) join Oregon among the five cheapest states.
According to Bankrate, Georgians spend a lot of time in their cars due in part to Atlanta’s sprawling communities and a lack of public transportation. Those long commutes lead to above-average gasoline costs and insurance rates. In addition, Georgia has the highest state automobile taxes and fees in the nation. ( Read Mega Commuters in U.S. Travel 90 Minutes or More to Work)
Oregonians benefit from the absence of a state sales tax as well as relatively low car insurance costs. Moreover, the typical Beaver State resident drives 16% fewer miles than the national average.
Click here to view the findings from all 50 states
