Car TV shows let enthusiasts see, hear, and enjoy awesome cars without having to leave the comfort of their homes (or their garages). Many of the best TV shows about cars have enjoyed decades of success not only because they showcase great (or not-so-great) cars to their viewers, but also because they incorporate automotive DIY tips, opinions, interactions, and sometimes, buffoonery, to keep their audience engaged. Nowadays, when most shows can be seen on demand via several free or subscription-based streaming services, many people have become more critical or more selective of which car series or shows they should watch first – or even watch at all.

Join us as we take a look at some of the best binge-worthy car TV shows that gearheads can truly enjoy.

UPDATE: 2023/09/21 by Ron FP

What are the best car shows on TV? If you're looking for the best TV shows about cars that you can binge-watch or view during break times, you're in the right place. We've updated this article with some more of our top picks for the best car TV shows that gearheads will enjoy watching.

13 The Grand Tour

When Top Gear's main presenter Jeremy Clarkson parted ways with BBC back in 2015, he and his fellow presenters Richard Hammond and James May decided to create a new show called The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime.

The Grand Tour became a pseudo-continuation of Top Gear, but it showed more of the crazy and hilarious challenges and stunts that the trio, or the "Carnage A Trois", used to embark on regularly in their original TV show. As of 2023, Clarkson, Hammond, and May are on their 5th season of the new show. Check out the video trailer above.

12 AmeriCarna

AmeriCarna is a show that pays tribute to the great American cars of the past, as well as the pieces of American culture that they helped shape. Presented by former NASCAR crew chief Ray Evernham and his friend Rick Hendrick, AmeriCarna features the duo traveling across the country to find some of America's most iconic cars, and sometimes even get behind the wheel for some real vintage or classic driving fun.

11 Fifth Gear

Top Gear's success in the UK spawned several "me too" car shows, but not one program came close to Top Gear's popularity except Fifth Gear. Presented by renowned automotive industry personalities such as Le Mans winner and former Top Gear presenter Tim Needell, British Touring Car Racing Champion Jason Plato, and British motoring journalist Tom Ford, Fifth Gear debuted in 2002 and was broadcast on British TV's Channel 5. Aside from doing the usual car reviews, Fifth Gear also gained a lot of fans from the program's “shoot-out” races between popular vehicles, old and new.

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10 Formula 1: Drive To Survive

Drive to Survive Poster
Netflix

Formula 1: Drive To Survive is a documentary-style show that focuses on providing viewers with an insight into everything that goes on behind the scenes during the Formula 1 championship. We get a glimpse into the careers and private lives of current Formula 1 drivers, we learn about the team dynamics, and we discover how extremely competitive F1 really is.

The show is full of emotions, drama, and excitement, as racers win, lose, or crash their way through a season. It's the perfect show for those who want all the action of an entire race season squeezed into a handful of episodes.

9 Fastest Car

Netflix Fastest Car Teaser
Netflix

Fastest Car features a bunch of regular people who have tuned and modified their sleeper cars to insane levels, and at the end of each episode, they get to race against a supercar. The show provides an answer to the age-old question of whether it's more sensible to spend years modifying a regular car, or just go all out and splurge on a supercar.

Fastest Car also tells the story of each competitor, illustrating how car enthusiasts come from very diverse backgrounds and have a different ethos, sometimes taking the viewer for a ride on an emotional rollercoaster.

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8 Top Gear

Probably one of the most respected car shows to ever air on television, this show is perfect for gearheads of any sort. It's a straight-up show that doesn't overly dramatize anything. It's raw, concise, and to the point and gives us what we want, which is information about the things we love: cars. After all, isn't that what it's all about?

At the same time, the show is well produced and has had a very long run, having premiered in the UK in 2002—and that was a reboot of a show that originally aired on TV back in 1977. And hey, another positive is that one of Top Gear's frequent presenters is Matt LeBlanc, and that's Joey from Friends. Who doesn't like Joey?

7 Jay Leno's Garage

Jay Leno thinks the new Cadillac Escalade V is unbelievable.
Jay Leno's Garage

Jay Leno hosted The Tonight Show for many years and did so expertly. His knack for comedy was rather impressive, and he proved it time and time again. With perfect timing and a great demeanor, he entertained audiences for decades. But he was always known to have another love close to his heart outside of comedy, and that was cars, cars, and did we mention cars?

No one loves a powerful and smooth ride better than this man right here, and on his latest project, Jay Leno's Garage, he often showcases some of the rarest and most sought-after vehicles known to man. He even drove The Tumbler—the Batmobile from Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy.

6 MotorWeek

John Davis of MotorWeek
MotorWeek /YouTube

What's better than straight-up news on the automotive industry with professional journalists doing what they do best? This show, which is the longest-running on TV, plays out like 60 Minutes for automotive enthusiasts, bringing the viewer all the up-to-date news and information on some rare cars and even the "normal" cars most of us drive every day.

Like most trustworthy automotive magazines and TV shows, this particular show brings to your doorstep what you want to know with as little frills as possible. It has been running for a whopping 42 seasons on PBS. MotorWeek aired first in 1981 and is widely considered the American response to Top Gear.

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5 Chasing Classic Cars

Wayne Carini
via Pinterest

The show Chasing Classic Cars first aired in 2008 and almost feels like a documentary. Essentially, it plays out like one, and the authenticity we seek comes through from frame to frame. The host, Wayne Carini, does his job like a seasoned veteran and the search for these rare cars is enthralling to watch. The plot is similar to other shows, where the goal is to restore old cars and make a profit on them, but a profit is not always garnered, no matter how hard the modifications were, and therein lies the reality factor we don't always get with other shows. Furthermore, the vehicles on this show are often very rare, and that's always a bonus for gearheads everywhere.

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4 Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee

Jerry Seinfeld
Sprudge.com

Here was an original thought if ever there was one. Just think, if twenty years ago, someone would have pitched an idea about a comedian getting in cars with his peers and interviewing them, many would have ridiculed them. But what a difference a change in generations can make, eh?

As it turns out, Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee, featuring Jerry Seinfeld riding around in classic or high-performing cars, is actually a fine treat for gearheads anywhere, as there are great shots of the vehicles, great conversations, and epic laughs. We recommend this one to gearheads and fans of talk shows alike. Besides, it's always great to see Jerry on screen, no matter the setting.

3 Monster Garage

Monster Garage
screenrant.com

As the Orange County Choppers company featured on American Chopper, the TV show Monster Garage, and its star, Jesse James, are some of the original heavyweights in the industry. His no-frills attitude and approach to putting on a show like this are what garnered him a spot on our list. Much respect goes out to him, for his builds and what he's been able to accomplish as a mechanic and TV personality. Sure, he's had a few bad days in the press, but they shouldn't discredit what he's done as a mechanic and the fact that, at the end of the day, Monster Garage was, and remains, a positive look at the automotive industry.

2 Fast N' Loud

Now, this one is an exception to our rule of not including scripted reality shows, as the show's episodes are often scripted. But what we like here is that this isn't hidden from the viewer. They are not pretending that they aren't scripted, and it's this transparency that we appreciate here. And it's in the scripted scenes that unfold that the "characters" actually show a decent amount of conviction and even a decent amount of credibility so that it doesn't take away from the subject at hand. Fast N' Loud showcases some excellent vehicles, and the camera work lives up to the hype as well. This one's apparently got it all and is worth the time.

Unfortunately, Fast N' Loud was canceled early in 2023, but you can still watch its previous seasons via streaming services.

1 American Pickers

American Pickers Stars
Cleveland Scene

American Pickers is a series that follows antique experts Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz as they go around the country looking for rare and unique finds to flip for a profit. Many would consider this reality show not really designated particularly for gearheads, and we would more than understand that sentiment. But we urge you to look back on some of the rare automotive finds these dudes have made over the seasons. These finds are enough to get any automotive enthusiast cheering in disbelief and watching in wonder. Case in point: two very rare 1954 Nash Healeys, a 1935 Auburn Phaeton 653, a 1914 Merz Cycle car, a 1910 Royal Pioneer motorcycle valued at $55,000, and an incredible amount of Harleys, Indians, and other vehicular accessories, like vintage leather license plates and rare signs.