Study ranks Brampton No. 1 in Canada for cleanest cars; Mississauga also shines

Brampton may have a reputation for busy roads, heavy traffic, and high auto insurance rates, but a new study suggests drivers in the city are among the most dedicated in Canada when it comes to keeping their vehicles spotless.

According to a new analysis by mobile car detailing platform Panda Hub, Brampton ranks No. 1 in Canada for car care, based on how often residents search online for vehicle cleaning and detailing services.

Mississauga also performed well, finishing third nationally, while Toronto claimed the No. 2 spot, giving the Greater Toronto Area a sweep of the top three positions.

Rather than inspecting vehicles or surveying drivers, Panda Hub based its rankings on Google search activity related to car care.

The company analyzed search demand from May 2023 through May 2026 for 27 keywords related to professional detailing, do-it-yourself cleaning and common cleanup problems. The search volume was then adjusted for population, allowing the company to compare cities on a per-capita basis.

Panda Hub said the findings suggest Ontario drivers are particularly invested in keeping their vehicles clean, with Brampton, Toronto and Mississauga leading the country in car-care searches.

The top 10 Canadian cities, based on annual car-care searches per 100,000 residents, are:

1. Brampton — 7,407
2. Toronto — 6,981
3. Mississauga — 6,617
4. Calgary — 5,290
5. Vancouver — 5,235
6. Ottawa — 4,983
7. Hamilton — 4,547
8. Edmonton — 3,016
9. Winnipeg — 1,931
10. Montreal — 1,575

The rankings include searches for services such as mobile car detailing and ceramic coating, as well as DIY cleaning tips and searches for removing stains, pet hair and other messes from vehicle interiors.

Panda Hub says the results point to strong interest in both professional detailing services and at-home vehicle care.

According to a Driving.ca story, Brampton’s large and active car enthusiast community could be one possible explanation for the city’s strong showing, with numerous car clubs, meets and automotive events throughout the Greater Toronto Area helping fuel interest in keeping vehicles in top condition.

The study also highlights a significant gap between Ontario’s top three cities and the rest of the country. Calgary and Vancouver rounded out the top five, while Montreal finished last among the 10 Canadian cities included in the analysis.

Panda Hub’s methodology examined Google search demand over three years for 27 car-care-related keywords, measuring interest in professional detailing, do-it-yourself cleaning and problem-solving searches before normalizing the results by population. The company analyzed the 100 largest U.S. cities along with 10 major Canadian cities. The rankings are based on searches per capita rather than total searches, which means that larger population centres did not receive an automatic advantage.