Does your personality match what you drive?

When you think about how your personality impacts certain areas of life, you may consider how it affects your relationships. How does it play a role in your work performance, for example. Here's another for you: how does your personality impact your car choices and driving habits?

We thought it'd be interesting to dive deeper into this topic and show you how your character may influence the type of car you’re driving and performance behind the wheel. And we wouldn’t be HiRoad if we didn’t drop some hints for staying mindful while driving—regardless of your personality. 

The science of car choices

Visiting a car dealership for the first (or fifth) time to purchase a new car can be an experience that's filled with a lot of emotions—especially that moment you drive your new ride off the lot. With all of the choices and wider range of features, options and colors—why do we gravitate to one car over another?

Although there have been studies that have linked vehicle qualities such as safety and performance to a purchase decision, what you may not think about is how personality can play an intricate role in that decision. While few in number, there are some studies done on how car choices were directly influenced by an individual's personality.

Linking this connection, according to research done in

Personality and Individual Differences, starts by understanding the life history theory (LHT). As an early evolutionary theory, it describes how species allocate their time and energy into life tasks—either fast or slow.

A slow life strategy highlights stability, growth, and increased socioeconomic status. A fast life strategy often resembles unpredictable environments, impulsivity and aggression. 

Stay with us here. 

Understanding LHT may account for why some folks live in the fast lane and others lean more towards the slow and steady route—both approaches shaped by those same personalities that may influence car choices.

Connection between the ride and personality type

Let’s see how well the driver matches the car, shall we? You may not know this but there are five big personality traits : openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism (The “Big-Five”). Each having their own flair and finesse, shaping your vehicle decisions. 

To dive deeper into this connection, we found research that connects the Big-Five to car preferences. Let’s take a quick look and see where you land. 

Openness 

Folks that have a broad range of interests or are more imaginative will lean more into the openness personality trait. And when it comes to vehicle choices, you could be seen as a mix of style and power—practical enough to match your energetic spirit. Here are some possibilities:

• Hybrids

• Sports cars

Conscientiousness 

For those who display thoughtfulness, leveled impulse control and extreme organization fall into this personality type. Conscientious people are more mindful and think about how their behavior may affect others. 

Conscientious car options will be reliable, and avoid the flashy or noise that would draw attention. You may look at:

• EV vehicles

• Minivans 

• Compact cars

Extraversion

If you’re a social butterfly, outgoing, talkative and are big on emotional expressiveness—you’re likely falling into the extraversion personality category. Because of your extroverted personality, you may look for an attention-getting ride. 

These cars will have foldable seats, touchscreens—all of which are high quality features and materials. Here are some cars you may gravitate towards:

• Sports cars

• SUVs

• Luxury cars

Agreeable

Trust, kindness, affection and being cooperative are all signs you’re an agreeable person. You care about others and enjoy assisting others who are in need of help. If you fall into this category, you may opt for:

• Hatchbacks

• Sedans

• Minivans

Neuroticism 

While not the most pleasant sounding, folks with neuroticism may be characterized by sadness, moodiness and emotional instability. Though the research on preferences of vehicles related to neuroticism is limited, what we could find is that folks may gravitate toward:

• Small cars

• Pickup trucks

With all of that in mind, where do you see yourself? Does the car match the personality? Even if the car to personality model doesn't seem to line up for you, there's also a connection between how your personality may impact your behavior behind the wheel.

Matching the ride to the road

Since we’re on the topic of personality types and car preferences, it only makes sense for us at HiRoad to see how they may also impact how you drive. And although personality may not be a direct correlation to your driving behavior, we found research that makes the connection.

Now, we can’t exactly change your personality, but at HiRoad we want to encourage you to be your best on and off the road. With the right tools and practices in place, you can help contribute to safer roads. Plus, with HiRoad car insurance, you can be rewarded for the good you do while driving. 

Here are a few (not all) of our favorite tips for safe driving: 

• Set up your phone to Do Not Disturb and set it in a cradle or on a mount before driving

• Focus on the road and be aware of other cars and obstacles ahead, behind and to the sides

• Merge gracefully and let others do the same

And when you feel your personality taking over (in a less than positive way) while driving, pull over and take some deep breaths. Everyone can drive mindfully—regardless of your personality type. 

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with HiRoad®. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. HiRoad is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. HiRoad makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.