The concept of a 'car-munity' where auto fans meet up in-person to show off their wheels to like-minded enthusiasts has existed as long as cars have. Car meet-ups were organised from the very earliest days of motoring by clubs and associations, and later coordinated through magazines, newspapers, and membership groups. Social media has since revolutionised the way people connect, making it easier than ever to find and join local car communities and share their excitement worldwide.
On Instagram alone, the hashtag #carmeet has over two and a half million posts, showcasing everything from local car shows to international automotive festivals. With enthusiasts constantly sharing their experiences online and connecting with like-minded individuals, the car-munity phenomenon shows no signs of slowing down.
Whether you own a classic car or lease the latest model, car meet-ups provide a brilliant way to participate in our ever-evolving car culture. Leasing a car offers drivers the perfect opportunity to experience the latest models and technology from their favourite brands, without the long-term commitment of ownership, and is an ideal way for drivers to be part of their favourite car brand community.
From Munich's classic car shows to the scenic gatherings in Cape Town, we're uncovering the top places for car meet-ups and why they are must-visit locations for motor fans.
To determine the cities with the most vibrant car communities, we conducted an extensive analysis of Eventbrite car events and auto shows in over 400 cities, meet-ups listed on Cars & Coffee, and the number of Instagram posts around car meets for each city.
Our research reveals that Austin, Texas, stands out as the city with the highest car-munity score of 98.1%, followed closely by Toronto, Canada, and Cape Town, South Africa.
While North American cities dominate the top three in the rankings, it's Europe that is the biggest hub for car meet-ups, being home to half of the top 20 cities with the biggest car-munity scores ; Turin, Munich, and London feature prominently on the list, showcasing the European love for auto culture.
| City | Car-munity Score % | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Austin, USA | 98.1% |
| #2 | Toronto, Canada | 95.4% |
| #3 | Cape Town, South Africa | 95.2% |
| #4 | Turin, Italy | 76.1% |
| #5 | Munich, Germany | 68.1% |
| #6 | London, UK | 61% |
| #7 | Warsaw, Poland | 58% |
| #8= | Frankfurt, Germany | 57.1% |
| #8= | Sydney, Australia | 57.1% |
| #10 | Christchurch, New Zealand | 41% |
| #11 | Edmonton, Canada | 39.3% |
| #12 | Wolverhampton, UK | 38.6% |
| #13= | Geneva, Switzerland | 38.1% |
| #13= | Stuttgart, Germany | 38.1% |
| #15 | Pretoria, South Africa | 29.3% |
| #16 | Madrid, Spain | 23% |
| #17= | Shenzhen, China | 22% |
| #17= | Koto City, Japan | 22% |
| #19 | Naples, Italy | 19.1% |
| #20 | Manila, Philippines | 19% |
Austin is renowned for its vibrant car culture, and leads the global rankings with the highest car-munity score. A haven for auto enthusiasts, the city hosts numerous events, from the Lonestar Rod & Kustom Round Up, a massive outdoor car show featuring vintage hot rods and custom cars, to regular gatherings like Cars & Coffee Austin and the Central Texas Stangs meet-ups dedicated to Ford Mustangs. The presence of these diverse events highlights Austin's appreciation for both new and classic vehicles, including Porsches, Audis, Ferraris, and even vintage military vehicles. But, undeniably so, it's the classic Americana vehicles that most often feature in the social media posts from Austin car events.
Coming in as the second city with the biggest car-munity spirit, Toronto's car culture is a melting pot of international automotive enthusiasm. Events such as the ImportFest and Canadian International AutoShow attract thousands of visitors, displaying everything from sleek new models to exotic imports and vintage classics. Toronto's varied car culture is also evident with meet-ups ranging from European sports cars to JDM vehicles . The city's active online communities share updates and stories from these meet-ups, with Reddit users excitedly sharing meet-up locations and photo galleries to draw in the next generation of car nuts.
Cape Town, with a car-munity score of 95.2%, is one of two hotspots for car enthusiasts in South Africa, joined by Pretoria, in 15th place. Boasting an active car-munity scene with regular events like the Cape Town Motor Show and Cars & Coffee Cape Town, the Cape events attract a wide range of vehicles, including classic British cars, high-end supercars, and everything in between. The scenic backdrop of Cape Town's mountains and coastline adds to the appeal of these gatherings, allowing for stunning images and videos to come from these events.
As the home of Fiat, Turin has a deep-rooted automotive history that continues to thrive today. Events such as the Automotoretrò, an international exhibition for vintage cars and motorcycles, draw enthusiasts from all over Europe. The city's passion for both classic and contemporary Italian design is evident in these meet-ups. Turin's car culture is well documented across social media: from short TikTok videos, to snaps of rare vehicles on Reddit and full-length YouTube videos, petrolheads love sharing Italy's exciting motors, encouraging other car fans to visit.
Munich, known for being the headquarters of BMW, wraps up the top five cities with the biggest sense of car-munity, with a thriving motor culture centred around German engineering excellence. The Munich Classic Car Show and BMW Welt events are particularly popular, showcasing the latest models as well as classics. Munich's car meet-ups often focus on precision engineering and high performance, attracting a dedicated following of car enthusiasts who take to social media to highlight the latest gatherings and the impressive vehicles on display.
Landing in sixth place, with a car-munity score of 61%, London's car community is diverse and dynamic, with events happening regularly throughout the year, like the London Classic Car Show and Ace Cafe London meet-ups drawing large crowds, while hosting a mix of classic British marques and exotic supercars. And the city's motor fascination on social media is not just limited to the infamous hot pink McLaren abandoned outside St Pancras; from meet-ups to car shows, London's scene is a petrolhead paradise.
Warsaw's car culture is growing rapidly, with events like the Warsaw Motor Show and regular meet-ups organised by various car clubs. These gatherings feature a mix of European and American cars, highlighting the city's eclectic taste in vehicles. Warsaw's car community is super-active on social media, where enthusiasts seem particularly adept to sharing the unique cars spotted on the city's streets and at its events.
Frankfurt is the next German city with a strong automotive presence. Home to some of the world's largest auto shows, Frankfurt's car culture leans heavily towards high-performance and luxury vehicles, unsurprising given its status as a city of bankers and others in the financial world. Instagram users take to the social platform to celebrate the city’s vibrant car community, sharing where the next meet-ups will be hosted and admiring modded drift cars.
In joint eighth position, with a car-munity score of 57.1%, both Sydney and Frankfurt boast active car scenes with regular meet-ups and car shows. Sydney is best known for hosting the annual Hot Rod and Custom Auto Expo, one of the largest car shows in Australia, which attracts enthusiasts from all over the country. This event showcases everything from restored classics to cutting-edge custom builds, which flood social media with posts from attendees. The city is also famed for the Sydney Motorsport Park in Eastern Creek, which is a major hub for racing events, track days, and car club activities, hosting events like the World Time Attack Challenge, attracting international attention.
Christchurch is synonymous with a vibrant mix of automotive interests, from the classics to American muscle cars, Japanese imports and European sports cars. The 4andRotary Nationals, a highlight of the automotive calendar, is a perfect display of the city's strong sense of community and motoring passion, attracting locals and tourists alike. Additionally, the wide, open spaces of Ruapuna Park often host large-scale car events, club activities and track days, like the annual Classic Car Racing Series and the New Zealand Superlap Series.
If you're looking to join the car-munity and experience the latest automotive innovations, leasing a car is an excellent option. At Auto Trader, we offer flexible leasing options that allow you to enjoy the latest models and features from your favourite brands, so you can fully immerse yourself in the vibrant world of car meet-ups.
We gathered a list of 411 cities across the globe and assigned each city a 'car-munity score' based on three different data points: the number of past events per city according to Cars & Coffee events, the number of Instagram posts under the hashtag “CityName+carmeets”and the number of car meets and auto/motor shows in each city according to Eventbrite and Google Events. Each data point was scored and weighted in equal value to calculate a final score of car-munity spirit. Any irrelevant data was removed to ensure only car-related events remained.
All data correct as of June 2024.