RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina is the seventh best state to drive in, a new study has found. WalletHub released the 2025's Best and Worst States study Tuesday, which compares the 50 states across 31 key metrics, including average gas prices, rush hour traffic congestion, and road quality. North Carolina received a total score of 63.12 to rank seventh overall. According to the study, North Carolina ranks seventh in auto repair shops per capita and cost of ownership and maintenance, ninth in car dealerships per capita, 10th in access to vehicles and maintenance, 11th in average gas prices and auto maintenance costs, 18th in car theft rates, 25th in road quality and safety, and 31st in traffic and infrastructure. The study found the following states the top 10 to drive in: Kansas Idaho Indiana Iowa Oklahoma Alabama North Carolina Ohio Texas Tennessee