The states with the highest share of pickup trucks are (almost) all landlocked, whereas drivers in coastal states are more likely to choose a regular passenger car.

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Pickup trucks are some of the best selling vehicles in the U.S.

Top 10 states for pickup trucks

In a recent study,

iSeeCars

reviewed 8 million used car sales from February to July 2021, and found that landlocked states had the highest share of pickup trucks.

In fact, if you look at the 10 states with the highest share of pickup trucks as a percentage of total vehicle sales, Alaska is the only exception to the landlocked rule:

Wyoming: 37.20%

Montana: 34.60%

Idaho: 31.10%

South Dakota: 30.20%

Alaska: 29.50%

North Dakota 28.50%

Oklahoma 24.20%

Vermont 24.20%

Arkansas 23.50%

West Virginia 23.50%

Conversely, the 10 states with the lowest share of pickup trucks as a percentage of total vehicle sales all have a coastline (if you count Lake Michigan):

New Jersey 7.80%

Connecticut 9.40 %

Maryland 10.00%

California 10.30%

Illinois 10.80%

Massachusetts 10.80%

Delaware 11.30%

New York 11.40%

Florida 12.10%

Virginia 12.40%

Why are pickup trucks more popular in landlocked states?

MORE:

The Best American Pickup Trucks for 2021 Aren't Made by Ford or Chevy

iSeeCars analyst Karl Brauer suggests that the weather plays a big role in determining which cars people choose to drive. He says "States with temperate climates tend to have more lower-priced sedans, while mountainous and harsh climate areas prefer trucks and SUVs."

This explains the inclusion of Alaska on the list of states which favor trucks, and why regular passenger cars (defined in the study as sedans, coupes, convertibles, hatchbacks, and wagons) are more popular in California and Florida.

States which are synonymous with rugged, outdoor activities have a high share of pickup trucks, as evidenced by Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho taking the top three spots. This suggests many drivers buy trucks to aid with recreational activities, like camping, hunting, and off-roading.

Another reason for the popularity of pickup trucks in certain regions is farming. The states with the most farmers and agricultural workers, per capita, tend to be located in America’s heartland, far away from the coastal regions. Trucks are a necessity for these labor intensive jobs.

Interestingly, nine of the top 10 states that favor pickups are Republican, with only Vermont going to the Democrats in the most recent presidential election. The opposite is true for states with the lowest share of pickups, with nine of them voting blue, and just Florida going to the Republicans.

Pickup Trucks

Written By

Alex Healey · Expert Insurance Writer

Alex Healey is an insurance writer specializing in car insurance and personal finance. Alex’s mission is to create informative, just-in-time content for car owners and buyers. Alex has written articles for Jerry on topics ranging from hybrid vehicle rankings to used car costs. Before joining Jerry, Alex worked as a digital content specialist and editor for brands including InsuranceHotline.com, Rates.ca, and Booking.com. When not writing for Jerry, Alex continues to build his freelance digital content portfolio in the insurance and automotive industries.

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