Lagos has been ranked the seventh most stressful city in the world for van drivers, scoring 4.4/10 in a new MoneySuperMarket study of 222 cities
Lagos Named Among World’s Worst Cities for Van Drivers, Ranks 7th Globally
Lagos has been ranked among the world’s most stressful cities for van drivers, coming seventh on a global list compiled by MoneySuperMarket.
The Nigerian commercial hub scored 4.4 out of 10 in the study, which assessed 222 cities worldwide based on factors including congestion, parking, refuelling, fees and road disruptions.
According to the research, Bogotá in Colombia emerged as the most stressful city globally for van drivers, scoring just 2.9 out of 10, followed by Mexico City in Mexico with 3.3 and Guadalajara, also in Mexico, with 3.7.
Lagos shared a 4.4 overall score with Mumbai, India, although Mumbai ranked sixth while Lagos occupied seventh place.
At the other end of the ranking, Turku in Finland emerged as the world’s least stressful city for van drivers, scoring an impressive 9.0 out of 10. Reykjavik in Iceland followed with 8.7, while Finland’s Tampere ranked third with 8.4.
MoneySuperMarket said its new index examined five factors that can significantly affect a van driver’s daily journey, including the ease of refuelling and parking, additional fees and charges, congestion and the frequency of breakdowns, road closures, accidents and other disruptions.
The study found that Nordic cities dominated the best-performing end of the rankings, with Turku and Tampere in Finland and Reykjavik in Iceland occupying three of the top positions.
The full top 10 least stressful cities for van drivers are:
| Rank | City | Country | Overall Score | Refuel | Parking | Disruption | Fees | Congestion |
| 1 | Turku | Finland | 9.0 | 7.5 | 9.5 | 8.7 | 10.0 | 9.4 |
| 2 | Reykjavik | Iceland | 8.7 | 10.0 | 9.3 | 9.0 | 7.0 | 8.3 |
| 3 | Tampere | Finland | 8.4 | 7.0 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 10.0 | 9.3 |
| 4 | Minsk | Belarus | 8.3 | 9.5 | 10.0 | 7.7 | 7.0 | 7.2 |
| 5 | Darwin | Australia | 8.3 | 5.0 | 7.5 | 9.6 | 10.0 | 9.3 |
| 6 | Wroclaw | Poland | 8.2 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 6.6 | 10.0 | 7.0 |
| 7 | Lansing | United States | 8.2 | 6.5 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 10.0 | 9.4 |
| 8 | Bratislava | Slovakia | 8.2 | 9.5 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 7.0 | 6.6 |
| 9 | Bruges | Belgium | 8.2 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 10.0 | 8.0 |
| 10 | Helsinki | Finland | 8.1 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 7.4 | 10.0 | 6.3 |
Higher scores indicate a more positive driving experience. For the disruption category, a higher score means drivers experience fewer disruptions.
Turku’s overall victory was driven largely by its perfect 10 out of 10 score for fees, with MoneySuperMarket noting that drivers do not face congestion, low-emission or toll charges on the city’s roads. It also recorded a strong congestion score of 9.4, suggesting relatively smooth traffic flow.
Reykjavik ranked second with 8.7 and was the only city in the top five to receive a perfect 10 for refuelling. The Icelandic capital has the highest density of electric vehicle chargers among the top five cities. Its fees score, however, fell to 7.0 following the introduction of a national per-kilometre road tax, known as kílómetragjald, in January 2026.
Tampere’s 8.4 overall score secured third place. Like Turku, the Finnish city received a perfect 10 for fees because it has no congestion, low-emission-zone or toll charges. Its congestion score of 9.3 was also attributed partly to the Tampere Tunnel, which routes through traffic away from the city centre.
Minsk came fourth with 8.3 and recorded a perfect 10 for parking, supported by more than 564 parking spaces per 100 kilometres. The Belarusian capital also scored 9.5 for refuelling, although its fees score stood at 7.0 because of toll charges on the national M-route motorway network.
Darwin completed the top five with 8.3. The Australian city recorded the strongest disruption score among the top five, at 9.6, indicating fewer crashes, breakdowns, road closures and roadworks. It also received a perfect 10 for fees.
Meanwhile, Lagos featured prominently on the opposite end of the ranking.
The 10 most stressful cities worldwide for van drivers are:
| Rank | City | Country | Overall Score | Refuel | Parking | Disruption | Fees | Congestion |
| 1 | Bogotá | Colombia | 2.9 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 5.1 |
| 2 | Mexico City | Mexico | 3.3 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 5.9 |
| 3 | Guadalajara | Mexico | 3.7 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 5.5 | 4.0 | 5.8 |
| 4 | Bangkok | Thailand | 3.9 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 5.7 | 1.0 | 7.1 |
| 5 | Lima | Peru | 4.2 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 7.0 | 5.8 |
| 6 | Mumbai | India | 4.4 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 7.0 | 7.9 |
| 7 | Lagos | Nigeria | 4.4 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 6.7 |
| 8 | São Paulo | Brazil | 4.6 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 3.3 |
| 9 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 4.7 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 6.6 |
| 10 | Monterrey | Mexico | 4.7 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 5.6 |
Lagos’ overall score of 4.4 was dragged down particularly by its parking and refuelling scores. The city scored just 1.0 out of 10 for parking and 1.5 for refuelling. Its congestion score was 6.7, while disruption scored 6.0 and fees 7.0.
Bogotá topped the list of the most stressful cities with 2.9. The Colombian capital recorded the lowest disruption score among the 10 cities at 1.8, with its traffic restrictions contributing to the difficult driving environment.
The city operates the Pico y Placa system, which restricts vehicles from circulating according to the final digit of their registration plates, a measure designed to ease rush-hour congestion and reduce air pollution.
Mexico City ranked second with 3.3. It scored just 1.5 for refuelling and 2.6 for disruption. The city also operates Hoy No Circula, a programme that restricts cars from driving on one weekday between 5am and 10pm based on licence plate numbers.
Guadalajara was third with 3.7 and recorded the lowest refuelling score across the entire top 10 at just 1.0. Its parking score was also only 2.0, creating difficulties for drivers looking for both fuel and suitable places to stop.
Bangkok ranked fourth with 3.9. Its biggest weakness was fees, where it scored just 1.0, while parking stood at 1.8. The Thai capital performed better for congestion, recording 7.1, although its refuelling score was only 4.0.
Lima completed the bottom five with 4.2. The Peruvian capital scored 2.3 for disruption and 3.0 for refuelling and parking, highlighting the difficulties drivers face from roadworks, crashes, breakdowns and limited parking and refuelling options.
Commenting on the findings, Alicia Hempsted, van insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “Parking availability and congestion fees, and the risk of unexpected roadworks on your route, are all complications that can make a van driver’s journey more stressful. So, whether you’re a delivery driver or heading to a job site, the city you drive your van in can make a huge difference to your journey, and our new research highlights just how different one city can be to the next.
“Nordic cities, such as Finland’s Turku, came out well in the global rankings thanks to a combination of zero fees and low congestion scores. In contrast, busier more populated cities such as Bogotá attract heavier congestion and have more vehicle restrictions.
“But no matter where you’re driving your van, having the right insurance is essential. Van drivers face a different set of risks and challenges on the road, so it’s always worth checking your cover reflects how and where you drive.”
