- How To Research Car Thefts
- 10. GMC 2500HD & 3500HD
- 9. Dodge Caravan
- 8. Toyota Corolla
- 7. Nissan Altima
- 6. Dodge/Ram 1500
- 5. Toyota Camry
- 4. Chevrolet Silverado
- 3. Ford F-150
- 2. Honda Civic
- 1. Honda Accord
Surprisingly, the most stolen car is not a pickup.
Buying a car is one of the most costly exercises the average person in America will ever undertake. That's why it's extra sad when you walk out the door to find your pride and joy is not where you left it the night before.
Sure, car insurance will have your back, but having your vehicle stolen is probably the highest on the list of inconveniences car owners can experience. Not only do you have to find a replacement, but if there was an emotional connection to the car, that's likely gone forever. Vehicle thefts are a pain in the butt, but they are a part of everyday life and should therefore factor in when buying a car. Why buy a commonly stolen car when a possible rival isn't even on the car theft radar?
Luckily, there's no shortage of information on the matter. Auto theft statistics are readily available from several sources, including law enforcement agencies, the National Crime Information Center, and auto insurance companies.
How To Research Car Thefts
The best way to use information from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is a combination of insurance companies and law enforcement figures. The NICB data is the most reliable and spans multiple years.
Naturally, there are trends to consider. Hyundai and Kia have been under the spotlight for certain models that are pretty easy to steal. Apart from a software upgrade and telling owners to park in well-lit areas with CCTV cameras, there wasn't much the South Korean manufacturers could do. And yet, none of their cars make this list because while the keyless ignition oversight is quite bad, the easiest cars to steal are older vehicles without any new technologies.
To get a clearer picture of the most stolen cars in America, we need to dive into a decade of motor vehicle thefts, with the most frequently stolen model years provided by NICB. Cars that fell just outside the top 10 list include the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Honda CR-V, Nissan Maxima, and the Acura Integra.
With the method out of the way, let's get down to the most stolen cars over the last decade, with a few interesting recent developments thrown in for good measure.
10. GMC 2500HD & 3500HD
As you'd expect, pickup trucks account for a large portion of stolen vehicles. GMC's trucks are not the pickups of choice for car thieves, but they still rank in the top 10. The specific models are of the larger variety, including the 2500HD and 3500HD.
Roughly 47,000 GMC trucks were stolen from 2010-2020, and the most frightening bit is that miscreants aren't targeting old models. The motor vehicle theft statistics show that newer models are a higher risk than models produced during the '90s and early 2000s.
The main target is the catalytic converter. In most cases, the cat is simply chopped off, and the car is left standing. But thieves have become brazen and won't hesitate to steal the entire vehicle. In addition to selling the catalytic converter, they can also make money from selling parts off one of the USA's most popular vehicles.
If you are looking at buying a GMC pickup, best get comprehensive coverage and park it in a garage. If that's not possible, park in a well-lit area. That will make the truck less of a target to cat thieves.
9. Dodge Caravan
Car thieves are family people, too, as the Dodge Caravan of the early 2000s is remarkably popular among thieves. The total thefts over 10 years came to approximately 55,000 units.
Because of parts sharing between the various Dodge models, the Caravan is worth more in pieces than it is as a whole. That makes it even harder for the police to track, so you should invest in some robust measures that can prevent car theft. Data dots are one avenue, but the tech only assists in tracking down where the parts originally came from and who might have stolen the car. They don't stop the vehicle from being unceremoniously removed from your possession.
Early Dodge Caravan models are also easier to steal because they lack ignition identification on the keys. In short, nothing in the ignition system stands in a thief's way. Breaking the lock is easy, and then all a delinquent needs to do is bash a screwdriver deep enough into the ignition.
To protect a Caravan, you need a robust steering wheel lock, an aftermarket immobilizer, or a steel cover that goes over the ignition to prevent anything from getting in there.
8. Toyota Corolla
The Corolla's entry on this list should come as no surprise. It's a global best-seller, so it would make sense for it to rank on this list. The most frequently stolen years range from 2014-2020, making it a commonly stolen car with supposed modern anti-theft measures.
According to our vehicle theft statistics, the Corolla is the final car to have fewer than 100,000 units reported stolen. From here on, the car theft rates escalate to six figures.
The Corolla is a hot target because it's so darn popular. They're no easier or harder to steal than the average car, but thieves are willing to take the risk because they know it will result in a handsome payday. Toyotas retain their value, so the payday will be bigger than if that same thief poached a Hyundai Elantra.
To get around modern anti-theft devices, thieves will go to great lengths. They'll use signal jammers to get access to the inside or gain access to the diagnostic computer by breaking the hood latch. We've even heard of baddies loading a Corolla on the back of a truck and driving away.
Modern problems require modern solutions, so there are steps you can take. These precautions also work for the other modern vehicles on this list. We recommend upgrading the alarm the car came with for something more sensitive. Adding a tracking device is also a good idea.
If you want to go hardcore, ask your local mechanic to install a killswitch to cut off the fuel supply whenever you park.
7. Nissan Altima
Car thieves also prefer modern Altimas. The NICB data shows that later models are stolen at a higher rate, once again proving that it's not just older cars that get targeted. Roughly 113,000 vehicles were stolen over a decade, most of them in the latter half of the decade.
According to North Texas police, it's a prime candidate for catalytic converter theft, reports MotorBiscuit, but there is a weakness in the communication between the key fob and the car.
A thief will get close enough to the car to pick up the signal sent from the key to the vehicle. Once thieves have that signal, they can use it as a replacement key. The same locking, unlocking, and remote start features are available. An Altima can be stolen without doing any physical damage to the car.
All you need then is a dodgy chop shop for a fresh set of VINs, and you get a neat profit on Nissan's cheapest sedan.
6. Dodge/Ram 1500
Marketed under the Ram brand these days, most thefts go back to when Stellantis trucks still used Dodge in their name. The total number of Dodge vehicles stolen over 10 years is roughly 130,000, and with several Chargers, Durangos, and Challengers being unfairly repossessed of late, Dodge could do with upgrading its automotive security systems. That said, things could be worse.
130,000 thefts of Dodge/Ram pickups alone. That's a considerable number, but still some way off the number of robberies recorded for America's most stolen pickup truck. You can place your bets on what it is now.
First, you need to know that modern security features don't put thieves off. Necessity is the mother of invention, which is how thieves came up with a device that can relay the signal from the key fob to the car, even if the key is in the house. Think of it as a high-tech mediator. That's how they gain access to the vehicle.
Then there's the demand. Ram's are famous in third-world countries, even though they're not sold there. Believe it or not, a Ram is seen as an object of wealth, if only because it's much bigger and more potent than third-world pickups like the Toyota Hilux. Rams are stolen to order, and there are many corrupt people in Africa with boatloads of money.
5. Toyota Camry
Not surprisingly, the Camry is the most stolen Toyota model you can buy in the USA. Thieves target both older models and newer cars right up until 2019. New technology like keyless entry does have a downside, as mentioned earlier. The motor vehicle theft rate for the Camry is roughly 180,000 over 10 years.
The Toyota Camry lasts a lifetime, so almost every example is suitable for a wide selection of parts, not to mention a quick buck to be made from selling the catalytic converter. The more modern cars fall prey to theft despite anti-theft devices. As we've learned by now, there are ways to get around these systems.
People target the Camry because it's an easy payday. Because it's a popular car, a sale is almost guaranteed. As mentioned earlier, Toyotas retain their value. The money is still good even if a thief sells it for $1,000 less than the average market price.
4. Chevrolet Silverado
Car theft statistics show that Chevrolet pickup owners should be cautious, especially when it comes to older models.
The theft rate for Chevy trucks is roughly 310,000 across the various models. It is a common victim of motor vehicle theft, and these last few years, it has traded places with the Ford F-150 as the most stolen truck.
There's one main reason older Chevy Silverados are frequently stolen. They lack modern technologies that prevent theft, so it's a case of shimmying the door open and bashing a screwdriver into the ignition. Unfortunately, if your Silverado is poached, there's little chance of getting it back.
Older Silverados are worth more as parts than as a single unit. The most valuable part that can be easily sold is obviously the catalytic converter. With such a large pool of Silverados running around in the USA, you can find a buyer for almost every single part of this car, whether it's a headlight, side mirror, seat hinge, or rim.
3. Ford F-150
The Ford F-Series is America's most successful pickup range, so it should be no surprise that it's been the most stolen car in the truck segment for over 10 years. Looking at single years, it often trades places with the Silverado. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau theft statistics, a little under 340,000 were stolen in a decade.
That's a shocking number of vehicle thefts, but luckily latest models are equipped with anti-theft devices. Older models are at higher risk, and the reason might surprise you. As with the Silverado, there will always be demand for parts. But the F-150 is so well-known that even older cars are stolen to order for export to other countries.
In the USA, we wouldn't take a second look at a ratty $5,000 used F-150, but in the correct country, an older model will sell for several times that. Basically, a thief has two options: harvest the F-150's organs and make a quick buck, or export it to a country where there is demand and make thousands.
2. Honda Civic
Out of all the Honda models, this is the one car thieves like second best. More modern models are equipped with devices that keep the thieves away and insurance rates low, but we'd still advise extra precautions to protect the vehicle. Because the Civic is so anonymous, a thief can get away without passers-by looking twice.
The Civic is one of the most stolen cars in America, and you'll want to remember that every time you park the car. More than 300,000 vehicles were stolen over a decade. They're such good cars and perfect for a first-time or college student buyer. But reliability is only one of the reasons why Civics are stolen so much.
The Civic is a darling of the tuner community, and if a car thief can get their hands on a built-up model, it's a huge score. While the car may be worth $3,000, there's a good chance the average owner put $7,000 into it. They can sell a nice set of wheels for $800, an aftermarket steering wheel for $300, and a decent set of tires for $1,000. If a thief is willing to commit, he can take the entire car apart and sell things like the high-performing fuel pump and turbo kit, for example.
1. Honda Accord
According to NICB data, the Honda Accord is the top stolen car in America. Over a decade, the number of motor vehicle thefts is over half a million. That's a lot of stolen cars and a lot of insurance papers. Interestingly, more recent statistics from the NICB prove that the pattern is changing. For the last two years, Chevrolet and Ford's pickups have topped the list, followed by the Honda Civic.
To protect an Accord from theft, follow all the basic rules and get all the latest anti-theft devices. Park in a well-lit area, always keep your keys in check, and ensure you have comprehensive insurance.
Thankfully, modern Accords are semi-safe. Honda's latest anti-theft measures are good, but as we've seen before, they are not perfect. Even with all the security and a cutoff switch, thieves can still load it on the back of a flatbed. Most of the 500,000 plus stolen vehicles were made between 1994 and 1997.
The older Accords are an easy target thanks to a lack of security and many shared parts between the various models. Because there are so many on the road, they tend to get in accidents more often, which leads to a demand for parts. Folks who drive an Accord built between 1994 and 1997 don't have the biggest budget, so they often turn to dodgy online stores to get the best deal on a replacement bumper, radiator, etc.
Keyword: Most Stolen Cars In America: 10 Vehicles Thieves Can't Resist