America's Most Stolen Cars: The Vehicles Behind Nearly $1.4B in Theft Losses

Auto theft continues to cause billions of dollars in loss across the United States despite recent declines. A new analysis by AutosToday looked at national vehicle theft data alongside used-vehicle pricing data to identify the cars thieves targeted most during the first half of 2025.

The results show that only 10 vehicle models account for more than $1.4 billion in estimated stolen vehicle value in the first six months of the year, indicating that a relatively small group of cars accounts for a large share of theft nationwide.

Top Ten Most Stolen Cars in America

According to the data obtained from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) theft reports and used-vehicle valuation estimates, the most stolen vehicles in the United States during the first half of 2025 include:

Across these ten vehicles alone, the estimated value of stolen vehicles reaches approximately $1.42 billion in the first half of 2025.

Hyundai, Kia, and Honda Dominate as the Most Stolen Vehicles

Hyundai and Kia models account for four of the ten most-stolen vehicles, including the Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, and Kia Soul. Meanwhile, Honda also has three models in the top ten, including the Accord, Civic, and CR-V.

These models made the list as the top-most stolen cars for two main reasons:

• They are the most popular cars currently in the US market, so they are the most common on the road.
• A few years prior, Hyundai and Kia had a series of models with faulty security systems, which made them easier to steal.

Research from AutosToday also shows this could be the aftermath of a viral social media trend between 2020 and 2021, which showed how certain Kia and Hyundai cars could be stolen.

Pickup Trucks Drive the Largest Losses

Although sedans dominate the list in terms of theft counts, pickup trucks account for the largest estimated financial losses.

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ranks first by total estimated loss, with thefts representing roughly $240 million in vehicle value. The Ford F-150, another popular pickup, also ranks among the top vehicles by total loss despite having fewer thefts than several sedans.

Because pickup trucks typically retain higher resale values than many compact cars and sedans, each theft represents a larger financial impact.

Top 10 States With the Highest Vehicle Theft Losses

AutosToday also analyzed the financial impact of vehicle theft across states using data from the NICB. We estimated the number of stolen vehicles in each state by applying the reported theft rates to 2025 state population estimates.

Using a conservative estimate of $8,000 per stolen vehicle, AutosToday then calculated the approximate value of vehicles stolen in each state.

California and Texas Drive the Majority of Theft Losses

California accounts for roughly $560 million in stolen vehicle value, representing about 44% of the total losses among the states analyzed.

Texas follows with approximately $314 million, meaning the two states together represent around 69% of the estimated theft value.

These totals are largely driven by the size of these states, their large populations, and the high number of vehicles on the road.

Smaller States Show High Theft Risk but Lower Total Losses

Some smaller states and regions report high theft rates relative to their population but lower overall financial losses.

For example, Washington, D.C. records the highest theft rate in the country, with 373 vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents, yet its smaller population means the total estimated loss remains significantly lower than larger states.

Why Some Vehicles Are Stolen More Often

Common reasons cited in most statistical reports as to why some cars are stolen more than others include the following:

• Popularity and availability. Cars that are widely owned, such as the Honda Accord, Honda Civic, and Toyota Camry, naturally appear more often in theft rankings because there are simply more of them on the road.
• Parts demand. Many stolen vehicles are dismantled and sold for parts. Models with strong aftermarket demand become frequent targets.
• Weaker anti-theft systems. In recent years, certain Hyundai and Kia models became frequent targets due to vulnerabilities in older ignition systems that made them easier to steal.
• High resale value. Pickup trucks such as the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado often generate larger financial losses when stolen because they retain high values in the used market.

The Real Cost of Vehicle Theft

The cost of vehicle theft goes far beyond replacing the car itself. It also leads to higher insurance premiums, increased costs for law enforcement, and major financial disruptions for people who rely on their vehicles to get to work or manage daily life.

For many victims, the loss also includes stolen personal belongings, extra transportation expenses, and the time and stress involved in filing insurance claims and dealing with the aftermath.

How to Keep Your Car Safe?

Experts recommend you follow these tips to keep your car safe from being stolen:

• Park in high-traffic, well-lit areas.
• Always take your keys with you when leaving your car.
• Never leave your car running, even if you think you will be “just a second”.
• Park in your garage whenever possible.
• Try to find secure parking spaces.
• Never keep a spare key in your car.
• Invest in a security or anti-theft system.

Methodology

For this analysis, vehicle theft data and state theft rates were sourced from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), which reports theft rates per 100,000 residents based on law enforcement records. Because NICB provides theft rates rather than total theft counts, AutosToday estimated theft totals by applying these rates to 2025 state population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

To estimate the typical value of the most stolen vehicles, AutosToday analyzed used-vehicle listings in its database. For each vehicle model, AutosToday identified the lowest and highest prices observed among used listings and calculated a median value between those prices to represent a typical used-market value. These estimates were then multiplied by theft counts to approximate the overall value of stolen vehicles.

State-level loss estimates were calculated using a conservative average value of $8,000 per stolen vehicle, reflecting the fact that many stolen vehicles fall within the lower-value used car segment.

Note: MSRP values were not used in this analysis because stolen vehicles are typically used rather than new.