Car museums are a great way to experience the history and future of the automobile industry, especially for the car fans out there. If you consider yourself to be a car enthusiast, you may have wondered about some of the best car museums in the world.
A car museum is a place where you discover more about the history of automobiles and view some of the best car collections in the world. There are over 300 car museums in the world and in the US, states like Michigan, California, and North Carolina have the most car museums.
Visiting some of the biggest car museums in the world will take you from Los Angeles to Germany and even to Japan. Each museum has unique features and allows you to learn more about the history of their automobiles. Many of the museums even have their own track where you can test drive some of the cars, which is an unforgettable experience.
From unique exhibits to interactive experiences, the car museums on this list have something for everyone, no matter what your specific automobile interest is. Even if you wouldn’t normally visit a car museum, visiting any of the museums on this list can be a fun experience and an opportunity to visit some of the largest car collections in the US and the world.
To determine the most amazing car museums in the world, 24/7 consulted several car-concentrated sites as well as news stations. We also looked at reviews, commentary, and discussions around the varying car museums and determined what each museum contains to determine the largest collections. (Check Out The Most Iconic Cars in Movies.)
Here are the 13 must-see car museums in the world.
The Henry Ford Museum
- Dearborn, Michigan, US
There’s no denying the impact Ford had on the automobile industry. The Henry Ford Museum in Michigan is a must-see for any automobile fan or history buff. In the Driving America exhibit, you can explore the history of Ford and learn more about some of the most significant historical automobiles.
The Petersen Automotive Museum
- Los Angeles, California, US
If you’re looking for a wide selection of automobiles, you’ll find it at The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California. With a building so large it occupies an entire city block, this museum has been the home of incredible vehicles like the DeLorean from the “Back to the Future” films and the 1989 Batmobile.
Louwman Museum
Louwman Museum (2010)
- The Hague, Netherlands
The Louwman Museum is home to the most extensive vehicle collections in the Netherlands. Here, you can discover over 100 years of progress and view their collection of 275 vehicles. This museum has the oldest private collection of historic cars in the world, with vehicles from 16 different countries.
Mercedes-Benz Museum
- Stuttgart, Germany
You can discover the history and evolution of Mercedes-Benz at the Mercedes-Benz Museum located in Stuttgart, Germany. The Mercedes-Benz Museum has nine levels to explore with over 1,500 different exhibits. At this museum, you’ll find both vintage cars and futuristic vehicles.
The Porsche Museum
Stuttgart Porsche Museum (Ank Kumar, Infosys Limited)
- Stuttgart, Germany
Few brands are more iconic than Porsche, and at The Porsche Museum in Germany, you can experience the brand through a series of interactive exhibits. This museum was established in 1976 and has significantly grown since then, now featuring over 80 exhibits.
BMW Museum
- Munich, Germany
The BMW Museum in Munich, Germany, attracts visitors from all across the globe. At this museum, you can experience all that BMW has to offer. Some of the permanent exhibits include the House of Design, House of Company, and the House of the Motorcycle.
The Ferrari Museum
- Maranello, Italy
The Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy, is home to a vast collection of Ferrari models, including vintage and modern vehicles. You’ll find exhibits displaying the evolution of Ferrari over time as well as the development of their Formula 1 racing models.
Toyota Automobile Museum
Toyota Automobile Museum
- Nagoya, Japan
While you can experience some of the best Toyota vehicles at the Toyota Automobile Museum, there are vehicles from other manufacturers on display as well. You can check out vehicles such as the Cadillac Model Thirty from 1912 or the Ford Model T from 1909.
America’s Car Museum
- Tacoma, Washington, US
America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington is a 165,000 square foot facility with 12 different exhibits. This museum has been ranked as one of the top automotive museums by USA Today, MSN, and local publications. The collection at America’s Car Museum includes over 200 different automobiles.
Larz Anderson Auto Museum
- Brookline, Massachusetts, US
The Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline claims to have the oldest car collection in America. This museum was started by Larz and Isabel Anderson, a wealthy American diplomat and his wife. The Larz Anderson Auto Museum is located in the former Anderson home, and the museum’s collection includes the first vehicle the Andersons purchased in 1899.
National Motor Museum
- Birdwood, Australia
Explore the Australian automotive culture at the National Motor Museum in Birdwood. The National Motor Museum has a vast collection of vehicles, including antique, veteran, vintage, and motorcycles. This automobile museum was established in 1964 and is now owned by the South Australian Government.
Gilmore Car Museum
- Hickory Corners, Michigan, US
The Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan has one of the largest car collections in the US with over 400 vehicles. Since 1966, this museum has displayed a wide selection of cars. It’s the largest automobile museum in the country with over 190,000 square feet of space stretched across 90 acres. They also have one of the largest collections of automotive mascots and hood ornaments.
Cité de l’Automobile
- Mulhouse, France
The Cité de l’Automobile in Mulhouse, France is a collection worth seeing. Considered the largest automobile collection in the world, this museum has over 500 vehicles from a variety of different time periods. The Cité de l’Automobile is located in a former factory and includes a private track where you can test out some of the classic vehicles. (Don’t miss A Porsche 917K Sold for More Than Any Car Ever Used in the Movies.)