25 Car Theft Statistics Every U.S. Driver Should Know
How many cars are stolen each year, which models and states thieves target, how many stolen vehicles come back, and what theft costs insurers, in 25 cited statistics on U.S. car theft and comprehensive auto coverage.
Car theft climbed to a four-decade high in 2023, then fell by more than a third in just two years. For drivers, the risk is not only losing a vehicle: a stolen car is paid for only if the policy includes comprehensive coverage, the optional part of auto insurance that covers theft, fire, and vandalism. This report collects 25 cited statistics on how many vehicles are stolen, which models and places thieves target, how many stolen cars come back, and what theft costs insurers. Every figure comes from the FBI, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, state theft-prevention agencies, or insurance research bodies, never a sales page.
Key Takeaways
- Theft has fallen sharply - 659,880 vehicles were stolen in 2025, a 35.4% drop from the 2023 peak.
- The decline is continuing - 268,415 thefts were reported in the first half of 2026, and every state recorded a decrease.
- Older Hyundai and Kia sedans still top the list - the Hyundai Elantra was the most stolen vehicle of 2025 with 21,732 thefts.
- Theft is concentrated - California logged 136,988 thefts in 2025, nearly twice as many as Texas.
- Most stolen cars come back, motorcycles mostly do not - Colorado recovered 80% of stolen vehicles in 2025 but only 45% of stolen motorcycles.
- A whole-car theft is an expensive claim - the average whole-vehicle theft payment was $53,217 for 2022-24 models.
- Only comprehensive coverage pays - 80% of insured drivers carry comprehensive, which leaves one in five with no theft protection.
How many vehicles are stolen in the U.S.
1. 659,880 vehicles were stolen in 2025
National Insurance Crime Bureau data compiled by Triple-I counts 659,880 stolen vehicles in 2025. That is the second consecutive year below the one million mark, after two straight years above it. The figure may still rise slightly as law enforcement agencies finish reporting, but the direction is not in doubt. For insurers, fewer thefts mean fewer of the largest single-vehicle claims they pay.
2. Thefts are down 35.4% from the 2023 peak
The surge peaked in 2023, when 1,020,729 vehicles were stolen, the highest volume in more than 40 years. Thefts then fell 16.7% in 2024 and another 22.4% in 2025, leaving the 2025 total 35.4% below the peak. In just two years, annual thefts fell by more than 360,000 vehicles. The steepest part of that decline came in 2025, not 2024.
Data
| 2021 | 932,329 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,008,756 |
| 2023 | 1,020,729 |
| 2024 | 850,708 |
| 2025 | 659,880 |
3. The FBI measured a 22.7% drop in 2025
The FBI’s national crime estimates show motor vehicle theft decreased 22.7% from 2024 to 2025. The theft rate fell to 197.0 per 100,000 inhabitants, the lowest in 20 years and 38.8% below the 2023 rate, which had been the highest since 2007. Two independent data sets, police reports to the FBI and NICB’s own tally, point the same way. That agreement makes the decline one of the clearest crime trends in recent years.
4. Automobile thefts fell by more than 20% in 2024
The turnaround began a year earlier. In 2024, motor vehicle theft decreased an estimated 18.6%, and thefts of automobiles specifically fell from 829,425 to 657,411 among the 15,060 agencies reporting both years. Cars, rather than trucks or buses, are the most common target, so the drop in that category drove the national numbers. The decline followed the free Hyundai and Kia anti-theft software campaign that began in February 2023, covered in stat 10.
5. The decline continued into the first half of 2026
Early 2026 data shows no rebound. A total of 268,415 thefts were reported in the first six months of 2026, a national rate of about 77.81 per 100,000 people, and all 50 states recorded year-over-year decreases. California still had the most thefts, with 57,821 in the half-year. A third straight annual decline now looks likely.
6. Three in four vehicle thefts are reported to police
Most crime goes unreported, but car theft is the exception. The federal victimization survey found that 75.0% of motor vehicle thefts were reported to police in 2024, compared with 30.5% of all property crimes. Because so few vehicle thefts go unreported, police counts capture most of the problem. That is not true of other household theft, where roughly three in four incidents never reach police.
7. 0.58% of U.S. households had a vehicle stolen in 2024
The same survey estimated that 772,410 households, or 0.58% of all households, experienced at least one motor vehicle theft in 2024, up from 0.37% in 2020. The survey counts attempted thefts as well as completed ones, which makes it a broader measure than insurance claim counts. Even at well under 1%, that is roughly one household in 170 in a single year.
8. Evening is the peak window for vehicle theft
Timing matters for prevention. Police agencies reporting incident-level data logged 178,871 motor vehicle thefts between 6 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. in 2025, the most of any six-hour window:
- 6 p.m. to midnight: 178,871 thefts
- Noon to 6 p.m.: 146,675 thefts
- 6 a.m. to noon: 131,455 thefts
- Midnight to 6 a.m.: 130,584 thefts
Evening hours, when cars sit on the street or in lots after work, carry the most risk.
The most stolen vehicles
9. The Hyundai Elantra was the most stolen vehicle of 2025
The Hyundai Elantra topped the 2025 list with 21,732 thefts across all model years. The rest of the top 10 is a mix of popular sedans and full-size pickups:
- Hyundai Elantra: 21,732
- Honda Accord: 17,797
- Hyundai Sonata: 17,687
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500: 16,764
- Honda Civic: 12,725
- Kia Optima: 11,521
- Ford F-150: 10,102
- Toyota Camry: 9,833
- Honda CR-V: 9,809
- Nissan Altima: 8,445
10. A software fix cut Hyundai and Kia theft claims by 46%
Many older Hyundai and Kia models lacked an engine immobilizer as standard equipment, which made them easy targets. After the brands offered a free software upgrade, the frequency of theft claims was 46% lower for upgraded vehicles than for those without it, and whole-vehicle theft claims were 52% less frequent. Yet only 41% of eligible Hyundais and 40% of eligible Kias had received the upgrade as of December 2024. That gap helps explain why the Elantra, Sonata, and Optima still rank in the top 10.
11. Older Hyundai and Kia models still draw five times the theft claims
In December 2024, eligible 2011-22 Hyundai and Kia vehicles were still generating theft claims at nearly 11 and 10 per 1,000 insured vehicle years, respectively. The comparable figure for 2011-22 vehicles from all manufacturers was under two. With only about four in ten eligible vehicles upgraded, HLDI says it is not surprising that thieves still target them. For owners, the gap is a strong argument for getting the free fix.
12. The Camaro ZL1 is stolen at 39 times the average rate
Insurance claim data tells a different story than raw theft counts because it adjusts for how many of each model are on the road. Among 2022-24 models, the high-horsepower Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 had a whole-vehicle theft claim frequency 39 times the average. The Acura TLX 4WD ranked second at more than 21 times the average, and pickups filled much of the rest of the top 20. Powerful and expensive vehicles draw thieves out of proportion to their numbers.
13. Electric vehicles are among the least stolen
At the other end of the list, the 20 least-stolen 2022-24 models include eight electric vehicles and two plug-in hybrids, all with theft claim frequencies more than 85% below the average. The Tesla Model 3 4WD posted a whole-vehicle theft claim frequency just 1% of the all-vehicle average. HLDI notes that EVs are likely to be garaged or parked near buildings to charge, which makes them less attractive to thieves.
Where vehicle theft is concentrated
14. California recorded 136,988 thefts in 2025
No state comes close to California on volume. It logged 136,988 vehicle thefts in 2025, followed by:
- Texas: 75,269
- Illinois: 28,327
- Florida: 27,142
- New York: 24,206
- Ohio: 20,628
- Pennsylvania: 20,568
Large populations explain much of the ranking, but California’s total is still nearly double that of second-place Texas. See local coverage rules on our California auto insurance page.
15. Los Angeles leads every metro area with 53,911 thefts
Theft is an urban crime. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area recorded 53,911 thefts in 2025, about double the New York-Newark-Jersey City area (27,138). Chicago (24,299), Houston (23,659), and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont (22,197) round out the top five. Three of the top 10 metros (Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Riverside-San Bernardino) are in California.
16. Washington, D.C. has the highest theft rate in the country
Rates per resident tell a different story than totals. In the first half of 2026, the District of Columbia had the highest theft rate of any state or jurisdiction at 181.94 per 100,000 people, even after thefts fell 52%, the steepest drop in the country. Among metro areas, Bakersfield-Delano, California, posted the highest rate at 223.28 per 100,000, nearly triple the national rate. For an individual driver, the rate is a better guide to the odds than the raw total.
17. Colorado cut vehicle thefts by 56% since 2021
Colorado shows how quickly a state can reverse course. It recorded 16,291 stolen vehicles in 2025, down 34% from 2024 and 56% from 37,182 in 2021. Its theft rate of 271 per 100,000 residents ranked sixth-worst nationally, a sharp improvement from first-worst in 2021. Our Colorado auto insurance page covers how the state’s coverage rules work.
18. Texas vehicle thefts carried a $4.7 billion loss
The dollar toll is large even in a single state. Texas recorded 126,241 motor vehicle thefts in 2023 with a value of loss of $4,694,815,952, and break-ins and parts thefts added another $412 million. Combined, motor vehicle crime cost Texans about $5.1 billion that year. Drivers in the state help pay for prevention through a fee on every auto policy, covered in stat 24. See how coverage works on our Texas auto insurance page.
How many stolen cars come back, and what theft costs
19. Four in five stolen vehicles in Colorado were recovered
Of the 16,291 vehicles reported stolen in Colorado in 2025, 80% (13,084) were recovered that year, down from 82% in 2024. The state also found that 53% of stolen vehicles were recovered outside the jurisdiction where the theft occurred. A recovered car is not always an undamaged one, and comprehensive coverage pays for theft damage as well as outright losses.
20. Motorcycles and trailers are the least likely to come back
Recovery odds depend heavily on what was stolen. Colorado’s 2025 data shows passenger cars and SUVs were each recovered 90% of the time, pickups 82%, motorcycles 45%, and trailers 44%. The state attributes the low rates partly to missing identification numbers and to placards or tags that thieves can easily remove. For riders and trailer owners, theft coverage matters more because the vehicle is less likely to come back.
21. The average whole-vehicle theft claim is $53,217
When an entire car is stolen and not returned intact, the payout is large. For 2022-24 models, the average loss payment per whole-vehicle theft was $53,217, with a claim frequency of 0.45 per 1,000 insured vehicle years. Spread across every insured vehicle, that works out to about $24 per vehicle per year in whole-vehicle theft losses. A single whole-car theft costs far more than the 2024 average bodily injury claim of $28,278.
22. Pickups are stolen twice as often as cars
Pickup trucks had a whole-vehicle theft claim frequency of 0.91 per 1,000 insured vehicle years for 2022-24 models, compared with 0.47 for passenger cars and 0.31 for SUVs. Pickup thefts were also the most expensive, averaging $66,984 per claim against $43,934 for cars and $48,750 for SUVs. HLDI notes that thieves gravitate to powerful, high-value vehicles, and full-size pickups fit that profile.
Catalytic converters and parts theft
23. Catalytic converter thefts fell 68% in 2024
The converter theft wave has largely broken. Roughly 14,000 converters were stolen in 2024, a 68% decrease from 2023, according to NICB figures reported by Consumer Reports. Nearly two-thirds of 2024 thefts occurred in California, and 10 states accounted for 73% of all converter thefts from 2022 through 2024. Replacement still runs roughly $2,177 to $2,506, and only comprehensive coverage pays for it.
24. One insurer’s converter claims jumped from $4.6 million to $112 million
At the peak, the cost to insurers was staggering. One insurer paid $4.6 million in converter theft claims in 2019, $73 million in 2021, and $112 million in 2022, according to NICB. States answered with legislation, introducing 123 converter theft bills in 2022 and enacting 24. Texas went further, raising the theft prevention fee charged on auto insurance policies from $4 to $5 in 2023 to fund converter theft enforcement.
Theft and your auto insurance
25. One in five insured drivers has no theft coverage
A Triple-I analysis of 2023 regulator data found that 80% of insured drivers buy comprehensive coverage, the part of a policy that pays for theft. The remaining 20% carry liability without comprehensive, so a stolen car, a missing catalytic converter, or a smashed window is entirely their loss. In 2024, 3.95% of drivers with comprehensive filed a claim, and the average comprehensive claim was $2,306. For anyone with a financed, newer, or frequently targeted vehicle, the coverage is doing real work.
- Carry comprehensive 80%
- No comprehensive 20%
How to protect your car and your claim
The data points to a short, practical checklist. Theft is falling, but the losses that remain are large, concentrated, and only insured if you chose the right coverage:
- Confirm you carry comprehensive. Liability-only policies pay nothing for theft, and one in five insured drivers goes without it.
- Install free anti-theft updates. Eligible Hyundai and Kia owners who took the software upgrade saw 46% fewer theft claims.
- Mind the evening hours. More thefts happen between 6 p.m. and midnight than in any other six-hour window, so a garage or a well-lit spot matters most then.
- Compare insurers on comprehensive pricing. Theft risk is priced differently by each carrier, so review our carrier comparison and then compare quotes for your vehicle and ZIP code.
- Check your state’s theft picture. Rates vary widely, from California’s volume to Colorado’s rapid decline, so start with your state’s auto insurance page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most stolen car in America?
By total thefts, the Hyundai Elantra was the most stolen vehicle in 2025 with 21,732 thefts, ahead of the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata. Adjusted for how many are on the road, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is stolen at 39 times the average rate for 2022-24 models.
Does car insurance cover theft?
Only if your policy includes comprehensive coverage. Liability coverage pays for damage you cause to others, not for your own stolen car. About 80% of insured drivers carry comprehensive, and it also covers stolen parts such as catalytic converters, which cost roughly $2,177 to $2,506 to replace.
What percentage of stolen cars are recovered?
Recovery rates vary by state and vehicle type. Colorado recovered 80% of stolen vehicles in 2025, including 90% of passenger cars but only 45% of motorcycles. Even a recovered car can come back damaged, and comprehensive coverage pays for that damage minus your deductible.
Which state has the most car thefts?
California had the most thefts by far in 2025, with 136,988 vehicles stolen, followed by Texas and Illinois. By rate, Washington, D.C. ranked highest in early 2026 at 181.94 thefts per 100,000 people.
Are car thefts going down?
Yes. Thefts fell from a peak of 1,020,729 in 2023 to 659,880 in 2025, and the FBI reported the 2025 theft rate was the lowest in 20 years. The first half of 2026 showed declines in every state.