Feeling inundated by the sheer volume of shows you have to watch on Netflix? If you’re a motorhead, you’re sure to find something in our list of best car shows and movies on Netflix. These shows are perfect for passing the time.
Best car shows on Netflix
Looking for something with a few episodes so you can really sink your teeth in? If so, here are our top picks on the UK Netflix.
1. Rust Valley Restorers
Set against the stunning backdrop of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, this series follows the eccentric crew at Rust Bros Restoration as they hunt for classic cars to restore and sell. Led by Mike Hall and his ragtag team of mechanics, each episode brings new challenges and discoveries as they breathe new life into forgotten relics.
Rust Valley Restorers” combines stunning scenery with quirky characters and captivating restoration projects, offering a unique glimpse into the world of Canadian car culture.
2. Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
This show was a massive surprise to us. What started as a series on Crackle has now turned into a huge Netflix success. In essence, host and comedian Jerry Seinfeld drives around with another comedian as his guest. Much fun ensues.
Perhaps most surprising is Jerry Seinfeld’s car collection. Almost everyone knows about his love for all things Porsche, but there are also some other beauties on the show. Among them, a 1956 Chevrolet Corvette, 1976 Lamborghini Countach and even a 1966 Jaguar E-Type.
The guests are massive names in the industry, from Eddie Murphy and Ricky Gervais to Alec Baldwin and Jamie Foxx. We really couldn’t fault this show: it strikes the perfect balance between cars and comedy. A must see.
Watch the trailer here.
3. Formula 1: Drive to Survive
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of Formula 1? This Netflix show provides exclusive interviews with drivers, managers, and team principals alike, giving us a glimpse into the emotions behind the often-ultra-calm facades that racers have. The series also documents how racers really feel about their rivals, for a truly humanising portrayal.
The first season covers the 2018 World Championship, while the second documents the 2019 World Championship.
Not only does it focus on the drivers and other stakeholders, but it also highlights just how political Formula 1 can be. Even if you’re not a fan of the sport itself, this series could get you hooked.
Watch the trailer here.
4. Fastest Car
This is the ultimate battle between supercars and sleeper cars. This show has it all: drama, danger, and driving.
Each episode follows a quarter-mile drag race between a couple of contestants from either category. If you’re thinking about pimping your ride or investing in a supercar, this is a great show to watch – and the results of each episode could surprise you!
You’ll come for the cars, but it’ll be the characters who steal your heart.
Watch the trailer here.
5. Car Masters: Rust to Riches
As car insurance specialists for modified and classic cars, we hold this show close to our heart. Car Masters follows the team at Gotham Garage, which has built numerous props for films and TV shows over the years.
The aim is to modernise classic cars, all with a budget of up to $1,000. Surprisingly, the team is usually able to pull in a profit comfortably in the five and six-figure range.
This is quite a polarising show; you’ll probably either love it or hate it. Whilst some of the mods leave a lot to be desired, it’s a great way of learning what does and doesn’t work if you’re thinking about modifying your own car.
Watch the trailer here.
5. Hyperdrive
Another polarising programme. The premise of Hyperdrive is that it follows international drifting drivers who compete against one another on an automotive course. But it’s not just any course; it includes obstacles that require strong manoeuvring skills.
The contestants are also given some air time before the contest begins, in a move that seems very similar to the X Factor.
Watch the trailer here.
Best car movies on Netflix
Here are our top picks for car movies on Netflix.
1. Baby Driver
Directed by Edgar Wright, Baby Driver follows a young getaway driver named Baby who relies on the perfect soundtrack to fuel his high-stakes heists. When a robbery goes wrong, Baby finds himself on the run from crime boss Doc while trying to protect his newfound love.
Filled with heart-pounding action, stylish visuals, and a killer soundtrack, Baby Driver is a genre-defying thrill ride.
It provides a masterclass in filmmaking, blending slick car chases with a great soundtrack and compelling characters to create an unforgettable cinematic experience.
2. Rush
If you’re a fan of Formula 1, you’re probably aware of the rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Rush focuses on their opposition in the 1976 F1 racing season. The biographical film stars Chris Hemsworth as Hunt and Daniel Brühl as Lauda.
While this isn’t the most accurate portrayal, the movie is entertaining and insightful nonetheless. Information is Beautiful suggests that Rush is around 73.3% accurate.
3. Need for Speed
If you just want to relax and watch a great movie, Need for Speed is a fantastic choice. This film follows a character called Tobey Marshall who is framed by an ex-partner for a crime he didn’t commit. A custom-car builder and street-racer by trade, he enters himself into a race with high stakes to gain back his reputation, all while seeking revenge on his traitorous ex-partner.
Need for Speed includes a whole host of high-performance cars, including a Bugatti Veyron, McLaren P1, Koenigsegg Agera R and Lamborghini Sesto Elemento. Tune in for a tense movie with police chases, car crashes, and high-speed races.
4. Wheelman
Another getaway driver, another high octane chase drama featuring a stolen BMW 3 Series driven by the “Wheelman” who is double-crossed by the gang of bank robbers he has been recruited to drive for.
It’s cheesy, easy viewing but you can’t help but be impressed by some of the chase scenes involving the stolen Beamer and a motorcycle in hot pursuit.
The website Rotten Tomatoes said: “Wheelman takes B-movie action lovers on an uncommonly smooth ride, with taut plotting and exciting action topped off with solid work from Frank Grillo in the title role.”
5. Drive
What is it about fast cars and films about fated getaway drivers? Drive is a 2011 American film based on James Sallis’s 2005 novel of the same name.
It stars Ryan Gosling as an unnamed Hollywood stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver. He quickly grows fond of his neighbour, Irene (Carey Mulligan), and her young son, Benicio, but when her debt-ridden husband is released from prison, the two men take part in what turns out to be a botched million-dollar heist that endangers the lives of everyone involved.
6. Ford V Ferrari
Legendary American automotive designer Carroll Shelby and fearless British race car driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary vehicle for the Ford Motor Co.
Together, they plan to compete against and beat the world conquering race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.
When it was released in 2019 it received four nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won Best Film Editing and Best Sound Editing.
For the record, Ford knocked Ferrari off its perch and the rest, as they say, is history.
Does your fast car need a quick insurance quote?
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All images sourced via the Netflix Media Centre.