Auto Insurance
The Most Searched Cars in the U.S.
According to ValuePenguin's latest study, the Ford F-150 is the most searched car in America, though results vary from state to state. And while searches for cars, especially pickup trucks like the Ford F-150, trended downward in March during the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic in the United States, recent data suggests that searches for some models may be hitting annual highs. In fact, several manufacturers like General Motors and Fiat Chrysler have expressed concern that demand may outstrip supply amid factory shutdowns due to the novel coronavirus.
The most searched cars in every state
1. Ford F-150
Most searched car in 32 states MSRP: $28,745
America's best-selling pickup truck, the Ford F-150, took the top spot for online searches in almost two-thirds of the U.S. The Ford F-150 was popular all over the country but captured the most consistent interest in the Midwest and South. In fact, the Ford F-150 was in the top three most searched vehicles in all 50 states except for California.
As states begin to reopen, new data is suggesting that searches for the Ford F-150 and other pickup trucks are hitting annual highs. J.D. Power has noted that May truck sales are only off by 1% relative to pre-pandemic forecasts, and some auto manufacturers are concerned they may not have enough inventory to meet upcoming demand.
2. Chevrolet Silverado
Most searched car in eight states MSRP: $28,300
Another pickup truck, the Chevy Silverado, was not far behind the Ford F-150 in most states and garnered the most search volume in eight of them: Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Maine, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. Interest in the Silverado spanned all regions and propelled it to the top three most searched cars in 42 states.
3. Honda Civic
Most searched car in six states MSRP: $19,850
The top-ranking sedan in our study, the Honda Civic, was the third most searched vehicle in the country and the first in six states. While interest in the Honda Civic was less geographically widespread than interest in the Ford F-150 and Silverado, it was the most searched car overall in the entire Northeast region. Similarly, the Civic packs a punch by taking the top spot in two of the country's most populated states: California and New York.
4. Toyota Tacoma
Most searched car in three states MSRP: $26,050
Another pickup truck beloved by Americans was the Toyota Tacoma, which captured the most searches among all vehicles in Hawaii, Vermont and Washington. The Toyota Tacoma has been among the top-selling pickups in the U.S. for the past two decades and is manufactured in Texas and Baja California, Mexico.
5. Honda Accord
Most searched car in one state and the District of Columbia MSRP: $24,020
The Honda Accord received more searches than any other vehicle in Rhode Island and the District of Columbia — the smallest states in our analysis. At a slightly higher price than its sibling, the Honda Civic, the Accord offers a bit more space and a larger trunk, which may make it attractive to drivers in densely populated areas like D.C. Notably, in all six states where the Honda Civic was the most searched vehicle, the Honda Accord was right behind in second place.
The most searched car in each United States region
The Ford F-150 was the most searched vehicle in three out of four main geographic regions in the U.S., with the exception being the Northeast. There, the Honda Civic captured the most interest.
The high population density in the Northeast may make sedans like the Honda Civic and Honda Accord more popular, whereas more open space out West and in the rest of the country makes driving a pickup more attractive and accessible. Indeed, outside of the Northeast and California, a pickup truck was the most searched car in every state.
Complete ranking of cars by search volume in every state
State | Most searched vehicle |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Ford F-150 |
| Alaska | Ford F-150 |
| Arizona | Chevrolet Silverado |
| Arkansas | Chevrolet Silverado |
| California | Honda Civic |
| Colorado | Ford F-150 |
| Connecticut | Honda Civic |
| Delaware | Ford F-150 |
| District of Columbia | Honda Accord |
| Florida | Ford F-150 |
| Georgia | Ford F-150 |
| Hawaii | Toyota Tacoma |
Methodology
To identify the most searched cars in the United States, we compared interest in 25 car models using Google Trends. Data from Google Trends included search metrics for March 9, 2019, to March 8, 2020. The 25 car models analyzed were the top 25 highest-selling vehicles in the U.S. in 2019 according to Kelley Blue Book.
For the purposes of this study, U.S. geographic regions were classified as follows. The Northeast included Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. The Midwest consisted of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. The South included West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The West was made up of Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Wyoming, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico.