The UK Driveability Report | MoneySuperMarket

For many people, driving is an essential part of daily life, whether commuting, doing the school run or visiting friends and family. But not every journey feels straightforward. In fact, MoneySuperMarket found that more than 8 in 10 UK drivers (81%) have decided not to drive somewhere because they felt the journey would be too stressful or difficult.

To help identify where drivers face the biggest challenges, we’ve created the UK Driveability Report, analysing data across 58 UK cities, boroughs and local authorities. 

To create the report, we analysed data collected through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, desk research and internal insurance data to assess the factors that can affect everyday driving. These included road infrastructure, congestion, traffic volumes, road safety, road conditions and vehicle crime concerns. Each location was scored across the metrics, and the results were combined to create an overall ‘driveability score’.

We also surveyed 2,000 UK drivers to understand what they find most challenging about driving. In addition, we spoke with driving expert Carmine Mastrogiacomo at Drive Therapy, which offers courses to support drivers with driving anxiety, for practical advice for driving in more challenging areas, as well as tips for building confidence on the road.

Where does your city rank in the UK Driveability Report?

Use the tool below to see how your area performs in the UK Driveability Report. 

Whether you're checking conditions close to home or planning a journey somewhere new, the tool can help you understand what driving may be like before you set off. This can be especially useful if you’ll be travelling on unfamiliar roads, giving you a clearer idea of local traffic, road safety and other factors that could shape your journey.

What do UK drivers say they find the most stressful about driving?

While the Driveability Report highlights the locations that can present the greatest challenges for drivers, our survey of 2,000 UK drivers reveals the situations motorists find most stressful behind the wheel.

The findings suggest that a combination of external factors, including traffic conditions, road environments and the behaviour of other road users, can have a significant impact on driver confidence and comfort on the road.

The UK’s most stressful locations for drivers

In our survey, London was named the UK's most stressful place to drive, with more than six in 10 motorists (62%) saying they would find driving there stressful.  However, driving stress isn't always about the journey itself. It can also be influenced by what’s around us.

The areas appearing in the top 10 most stressful locations for drivers tend to experience a combination of higher traffic levels, greater numbers of road incidents and other factors that can make journeys feel less straightforward for motorists.

MoneySuperMarket has teamed up with DriveTherapy to offer one person in each of the three most stressful locations, Croydon, Derby and Manchester, the chance to win a Standard driver training and rehabilitation course. The prize includes a two-hour physical training session and virtual coaching sessions designed to help make driving feel less daunting.

• How to enter -  click here to get a quote or on the pink button on the right (desktop) or bottom (mobile) of your screen

• Eligibility criteria — One winner will be selected from Croydon, Derby and Manchester who have a full UK driving licence 

• Start and closing dates - Start 10.07.26 and end 23:59 GMT+1 07.08.2026

• The prize description — The Prize will be a  standard Drive therapy course, costing £579 which MONY Group cover. This includes a 2.5 hour virtual session, a 2 hour in car session and a 30 minute virtual follow up session

• Full T&Cs can be found here

1. Croydon

Building on our survey, which found London to be the UK’s most stressful place to drive, further analysis of a broader set of factors identifies Croydon as the most challenging location for drivers.

The London borough recorded over 3,700 road incidents in 2024 and saw notable increases in both driving offences and penalty points over the past two years. Combined with the pressures of driving in and around Greater London, these factors contribute to its position at the top of the list.

2. Derby

Derby ranks second overall, with one of the largest increases in vehicle traffic volumes in the report. Traffic on local roads has grown by more than 12% over the past decade, while the average number of penalty points increased by 14% and driving offences rose by 11% between 2023 and 2025.

3. Manchester

Manchester places third, with vehicle traffic increasing by 6.2% over the past decade and 2,914 road incidents recorded in 2024. Higher levels of concern around vehicle theft and theft from vehicles also contributed to the city's position in the report

4. Leeds

Leeds recorded more than 6,000 road incidents in 2024, one of the highest totals in the study. The city also saw vehicle traffic increase by 4.7% over the past decade, while concerns around vehicle theft and theft from vehicles remained relatively high.

5. Preston

While Preston recorded 1,061 road incidents in 2024, lower than some of the larger cities in the rankings, it stood out for particularly high levels of concern around vehicle crime. The city ranked second-worst for concerns about vehicle theft and worst overall for concerns about items being stolen from vehicles.

The UK locations with the fewest driving challenges

What makes a place easy to drive in can vary from person to person. However, our research suggests that the driving environment itself plays an important role. In fact, almost a third of drivers (30%) say that good road conditions and clear signage are among the factors that help reduce stress behind the wheel.

While every journey comes with its own challenges, some locations appear better equipped to support a smoother driving experience. The highest-ranked areas in our Driveability Report tend to perform well across a range of measures, including road safety, traffic levels, road conditions, vehicle crime concerns and insurance-related indicators.

1. Bath

Bath tops the rankings as the UK city with the fewest driver challenges. The city recorded just 357 road incidents in 2024, the lowest figure among the top five locations, while traffic volumes have remained broadly stable, falling by 0.9% over the past decade. Bath also performed strongly for concerns around vehicle theft and theft from vehicles, helping it secure the highest overall driveability score in the report.

2. Lincoln

Lincoln ranks second overall, supported by some of the strongest insurance-related indicators in the study. The city recorded a 9.1% reduction in driving offences between 2023 and 2025, one of the largest decreases in the rankings. It also recorded some of the lowest levels of concern about vehicle theft and items being stolen from vehicles, helping to support its strong overall score.

3. Oxford/Oxfordshire

Oxford and the wider Oxfordshire area ranked third overall, performing consistently across a range of measures. Vehicle traffic increased by just 1.4% between 2015 and 2025, while the area recorded 1,250 road incidents in 2024. The average across all locations analysed was 1,906, with this reaching as high as 9,586 in Birmingham. 

4. Reading

Reading ranks fourth, helped by a 4.1% reduction in vehicle traffic over the past decade and fewer than 1,000 road incidents recorded in 2024. The town also performs consistently across a range of insurance and infrastructure measures, demonstrating how a balanced performance across different factors can contribute to a positive driving experience.

5. York

York stands out for exceptionally low concerns around theft from vehicles. The city also recorded an 8.3% reduction in driving offences and a 2.9% reduction in penalty points between 2023 and 2025. These factors, combined with a relatively modest number of road incidents, contribute to York's strong overall performance.

Tips for driving in more challenging areas

To help reduce stress when driving in unfamiliar or challenging locations, insurance expert Alicia Hempsted from MoneySuperMarket shares the following tips.

1. Plan Ahead

Preparation can make driving in busy or unfamiliar areas less stressful. Plan your route before setting off, review unfamiliar roads in advance and use navigation apps with real-time traffic updates. Allow plenty of time for your journey and, where possible, avoid travelling during peak traffic periods.

2. Adapt to Local Road Conditions

Many urban areas have lower speed limits, roundabouts, complex junctions and other traffic-calming measures. Using your vehicle's speed limiter can help you stay within the speed limit and reduce pressure while driving. Looking ahead, reading road signs early and adjusting your speed appropriately can give you more time to react and make safe decisions.

3. Stay Aware of Other Road Users

Busy towns and cities are shared by pedestrians, cyclists, buses, trams and other vehicles. Scan the road ahead, give vulnerable road users plenty of space and anticipate unexpected movements. Familiarising yourself with local road layouts and transport systems can also help make journeys feel more manageable.

Alicia Hempsted
Insurance Expert

Preparation isn't just about the drive itself. Alicia adds:

"It's also important to make sure you have the right car insurance for the trips you take. The cover that's right for you may need adapting as your circumstances, driving habits or location changes. Taking a few minutes to compare policies can help make sure you're getting the protection you need, while potentially saving money at the same time.

“Wherever you're driving, feeling confident that you have the right cover in place can provide valuable peace of mind when you're on the road."

Tips for helping to build driving confidence

For many drivers, confidence comes less from planning and more from experience, familiarity and having a few techniques on hand for the moments stress creeps in. Carmine Mastrogiacomo at Drive Therapy shares the following advice for building driving confidence over time.

1. Start small and build gradually

Confidence comes from experience. Start with routes you already know and repeat them regularly to build comfort. Gradually introduce new routes and challenges, setting realistic goals that stretch your ability without feeling overwhelming.

2. Use breathing techniques to manage anxiety

If anxiety starts while driving, slowing your breathing can help your body relax. Try breathing in through your nose for four seconds, pausing, then breathing out through your mouth for six seconds. Practise this outside the car first, then use it when needed while driving.

3. Try commentary driving

Commentary driving involves describing what you can see around you, such as road conditions, traffic and weather. This helps keep your attention focused on the present moment, improves hazard awareness and reduces focus on anxious thoughts.

4. Know when to seek support

If anxiety causes you to avoid driving, limits where you travel or makes you feel distressed behind the wheel, professional refresher lessons or specialist driving support can help rebuild confidence and independence.

Methodology and sources

To create the UK Driveability Report, MoneySuperMarket analysed 58 UK cities, boroughs and local authorities using a range of publicly available datasets, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and internal insurance data.

Each location was assessed across a series of measures relating to road infrastructure, traffic levels, road safety, vehicle crime concerns and driving behaviour. Individual metrics were ranked and combined to create an overall driveability score, with higher scores indicating more favourable driving conditions.

Road infrastructure

MoneySuperMarket submitted Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to local councils across the UK to collect data on:

• Total number of traffic calming measures

• Total number of speed cameras

• Road condition scores

These measures were used to assess the infrastructure and road environment available to drivers in each location.

Insurance and driving behaviour data

MoneySuperMarket analysed anonymised internal insurance data between January 2023 and January 2025 to assess changes in driving and insurance-related indicators, including:

• Average number of penalty points held by policyholders

• Percentage change in penalty points (2023-2025)

• Average number of driving offences

• Percentage change in driving offences (2023-2025)

• Average number of years' no-claims discount held by policyholders

• Percentage change in no-claims discount (2023-2025)

• Average number of years policyholders had held their driving licence

• Percentage change in licence tenure (2023-2025)

Commuting and congestion

Data from Numbeo was used to assess commuting conditions and congestion levels across the UK. Metrics included:

• Average one-way daily commute distance (predominantly car travel)

• Average one-way daily commute time in a vehicle

• Average overall one-way commute time

• Time Exp. Index (dissatisfaction due to long commute times)

• Inefficiency Index

Traffic volumes

Traffic volume data was sourced from UK Government estimates and used to assess changes in vehicle usage over time.

The analysis included:

• Vehicle kilometres travelled in 2015

• Estimated vehicle kilometres travelled in 2025

• Percentage change in vehicle kilometres travelled between 2015 and 2025

Road safety

Road safety data was sourced from the Department for Transport's Road Casualties Statistics dashboard.

Metrics analysed included:

• Road collisions (2024)

• Road casualties (2024)

• Drivers involved in accidents (2024)

Vehicle crime concerns

Public perception data was used to assess concerns relating to vehicle crime, including:

• Concern about a vehicle being stolen

• Concern about items being stolen from a vehicle

Driver survey

Alongside the driveability analysis, MoneySuperMarket commissioned a survey of 2,002 UK drivers aged 18 and over who have regular access to a car.

The survey was conducted between 27th April 2026 and 1st May 2026.