Report: 78% of Americans Have Judged a Stranger’s Politics Based on the Car They Drive

The car you drive can say a lot about you to your fellow drivers. An extra large SUV might point to a big family, while an electric vehicle may indicate an effort to minimize environmental impacts. Of course, these assumptions aren’t always accurate. A large SUV can be more about personal style, and an EV can be chosen as much for lower fuel costs as for environmental reasons.

As Lemon Law Experts, we know that people can be quick to draw all sorts of conclusions about a person just by looking at their vehicle.

Whether it’s fair or not, Americans often take these judgments one step further, making assumptions about a person’s values and political beliefs  based only on the car they drive. To learn more about this, we surveyed people by state to get their opinions. 

We asked how frequently they make assumptions about a person based on their vehicle, if politics would impact their choice of brands when shopping for a car, the brands people associate with Democrats and Republicans, and more.

We then awarded points to responses that represented critical views and calculated a judgy score on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 representing the most judgemental people. Read on to learn where Americans are judging cars most. 

Key Takeaways

• Connecticut and California residents are the most likely to judge others’ politics by the car they drive. 
• 49% of Americans say Tesla is the car they’d least want to be seen driving because of what it signals about their politics.
• 1 in 2 Americans would decide against buying a car because of its political associations.
• Among Americans who’d reject a car over politics, 74% say they’d steer clear of Tesla.
• 78% of Americans have made assumptions about a stranger’s politics based on the car they drive.
• Americans see Ford as the most Republican brand (54%) and Subaru as the most Democratic (41%).
• 58% of Americans say a car’s political vibe would change how they feel about a first date.
• Nearly 1 in 4 of Americans say political associations have made them less likely to buy an electric vehicle.

States with the Judgiest Residents

A person can make a lot of assumptions based on the car you drive. They might guess things like your income, whether or not you have kids, and even the political party you support. In fact, 78% of Americans have made assumptions about a stranger’s politics based on the car they drive.

However, the level of stereotyping depends on which part of the U.S. you’re driving through. Political bumper sticker or not, Connecticut and California residents are the most likely to judge others’ politics by the cars they drive.

On the other hand, South Carolina and Mississippi residents are the least likely to make political assumptions about drivers based on their cars. Location isn’t the only factor that influences these assumptions. Judging drops steadily with age as 86% of 18 to 27 year olds have done it, versus 67% of those 60 to 78.

Politics can also deter Americans from purchasing a certain vehicle depending on the state, as Colorado and Maine residents are the most likely to reject a car over its politics.

Also, next time you pick up a first date, just know, they might be rating you based on more than just your outfit or choice of music. Minnesota and Maine residents are the most likely to judge a first date by associating their car with politics. 

While some are oblivious to what their car might say about their party affiliation, others are self-aware. Utah and Maryland residents are the most likely to think their car would give away their politics. 

The Brands Americans Expect Based on Political Views

While a car can spark assumptions about who the driver is likely to vote for, certain auto makers have developed their own political reputations as a whole.

In fact, Americans see Ford as the most Republican brand (54%) and Subaru as the most Democratic (41%). The numbers aren’t close either, Ford ranks well ahead of Chevrolet (37%) and Tesla (37%), and Subaru ranks well ahead of Honda (28%) and Toyota (28%). This goes to show that whether or not the assumptions are correct, they’re still widely held. 

It’s difficult to pinpoint why particular car brands have developed their reputation. It could come from repeated personal experiences with drivers of a certain brand or the mention of brands in political discussions.

However, where a car brand comes from geographically could impact the rankings. Interestingly, the eight car brands Americans most associate with Republicans are all American made, and the seven brands Americans most associate with Democrats are all foreign.

When shopping for a new vehicle, most people consider practical things, like their budget, family size, and reliability. However, some consider another factor: whether they lean left or right. Even though they may secretly love a car and its features deep down, 1 in 2 Americans would decide against buying a car because of its political associations.

Among Americans who’d reject a car over politics, 74% say they’d steer clear of Tesla. While the brand has released vehicles with innovative features, it has also developed a political reputation of its own.

For some, the hesitation to own one of their vehicles can stem from what they believe the brand represents and their public image, and for others, the hesitation is less from the vehicle itself and more the identity others believe it communicates. 

Situations When Americans Judge a Person’s Car

While assumptions aren’t always true, they can still impact how a person views you in all different areas of life. Romantically, 58% of Americans say a car’s political vibe would change how they feel about a first date.

However, it matters least at work, where 38% say it would change how they feel about a coworker. But these reputations don’t typically have to be permanent. They can change or be corrected as people get to know each other better. 

Still some are cautious about what certain vehicles may say about their views, as nearly 1 in 4 Americans say political associations have made them less likely to buy an electric vehicle. While some are cautious, others are just aware about what their vehicle might say about them.

For Americans, 1 in 4 think a stranger could guess their politics from their car, while 3 in 4 Americans think a stranger wouldn’t be able to guess theirs.

You Can’t Judge a Car by Its Cover

If you see a car driving down the road, you may subconsciously make an assumption about the person behind the wheel. But the truth is, you can tell a lot less from the outside than you might think, and that goes for the car just as much as the driver. 

As Lemon Law Experts, we know a vehicle can look perfect in the lot, turn heads on the road, and still hide problems you won’t spot until the paperwork has been signed. If you have bought a car that has led to repeat trips to the repair shop, you may be entitled to compensation. Find out more today by submitting a free case evaluation to determine if your car qualifies as a lemon.  

Methodology

In this study, we set out to learn how Americans connect cars and politics. To do this, we surveyed 2,016 Americans and asked a variety of questions including their own vehicle (brand, body style, and fuel type), whether they judge a stranger’s politics by the car they drive, whether they would avoid a brand over its political associations, and more. 

We then awarded points to responses that represented judgement toward specific cars based on political opinions. Next, we averaged scores by state and calculated a judgy score on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 representing the most judgy. We then ranked states from the most to least judgy based on this score.