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The Most Stolen Vehicles in the United States

Each year, over one million cars are stolen in the United States. In 2023, car thefts across the US rose 1%, indicating the trend of surging vehicle thefts that began during the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet come to an end. Even with the continuous advancements in automotive security, such as transponders and GPS tracking, determined car thieves are still finding ways to circumvent these measures.

Though the models most at risk change over time, car theft has always been a significant concern for vehicle owners and law enforcement agencies. For those who frequently travel with their vehicles or live in areas with high vehicular crime rates, it can help to know the factors that contribute to car theft, as well as which vehicles are most frequently targeted. Convoy Car Shipping has released this new report revealing the most stolen cars in the United States based on an analysis of data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and Edmunds.

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The Most Stolen Vehicles in the United States

 

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Reasons a Car May Be Targeted

There are many reasons car thieves target certain vehicles, including:

  1. Ease of Theft: A car parked in an isolated and poorly lit location will be easier to hit than one parked in a locked garage or busy street.
  2. Resale Value: Luxury vehicles, cars with high resale value, and those in high demand are prime targets. These vehicles turn a substantial profit when sold whole or for parts.
  3. Security: Older cars and those with poorer security measures are easy prey. Owners who leave their cars unlocked or with the keys inside are at significant risk as well.
  4. Make and Model: Unsurprisingly, certain brands and cars are at higher risk than others. These thefts may be influenced by social media trends, or are attractive to thieves looking to take stolen vehicles for joy rides.

 

The Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicle Models in 2023

 

RankMake and ModelThefts in 2023
1Hyundai Elantra48,445
2Hyundai Sonata42,813
3Kia Optima30,204
4Chevrolet Silverado 150023,721
5Kia Soul21,001
6Honda Accord20,895
7Honda Civic19,858
8Kia Forte16,209
9Ford F15015,852
10Kia Sportage15,749

 

The Kia Challenge

Notably, Kias and Hyundais make up 6 out of the 10 most commonly stolen cars for the year 2023. Since 2020, these brands have experienced a 1000% increase in theft, primarily starting in 2022.

At the start of 2020, these makes did not make the list of America’s most stolen cars. At the time, fewer than 1% of Kias were reported stolen. This number increased throughout the year to 11.2 per 1000 cars.

A contributing factor to the rise in thefts of Kia and Hyundai models was their vulnerable and insufficient security. Vehicles with turn-key ignition, such as many of the cheaper models of Kia and Hyundai released between 2016-2019, are easy targets. Additionally, many of these models lacked modern security measures such as electronic mobilizers, which had been present in these makes prior to 2016.

However, it’s believed that the spike in thefts for Kias and Hyundais was first kicked off due to the spread of the so-called “Kia Boys” (sometimes also known as Kia Boyz). In May 2022, a YouTube video using the hashtag #Kiaboys was posted, depicting a stolen Hyundai Elantra. This sparked a “Kia Challenge” trend across social media, resulting in thousands of videos being uploaded. These posts depicted perpetrators stealing Kias and Hyundais and sharing tips on how to easily circumvent their security systems. As a result, thefts of Kia and Hyundai models are now up to seven times higher than other vehicles.

 

The Most Stolen Car Models by State

Prior to 2022’s Kia Challenge, Kia and Hyundai were rarely the target of car theft, as demonstrated in the data for 2020’s car theft statistics by state.

StateThe #1 Most Stolen VehicleThe #2 Most Stolen Vehicle The #3 Most Stolen VehicleThe #1 Most Sold VehicleDoes The Most Sold Vehicle Match Any of the Top 3 Most Stolen Vehicles?
AlabamaChevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150Nissan AltimaFord F-150Yes
AlaskaChevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150GMC Sierra 1500Ram 1500No
ArizonaChevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150Honda CivicRam 1500No
ArkansasChevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150GMC Sierra 1500Ram 1500No
CaliforniaHonda CivicHonda AccordChevrolet Silverado 1500Honda CivicYes
ColoradoFord F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500Honda CivicFord F-150Yes
ConnecticutHonda AccordHonda CivicJeep Cherokee/Grand CherokeeHonda CR-VNo
DelawareNissan AltimaHonda CivicHonda AccordFord F-150No
FloridaFord F-150Nissan AltimaHonda AccordToyota CorollaNo
GeorgiaFord F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500Nissan AltimaFord F-150Yes
HawaiiHonda CivicToyota TacomaFord F-150Toyota TacomaYes
IdahoChevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150Ram 1500Ford F-150Yes
IllinoisJeep Cherokee/Grand CherokeeChevrolet MalibuNissan AltimaFord F-150No
IndianaFord F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500Chevrolet ImpalaChevrolet Silverado 1500Yes
IowaChevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150Chevrolet ImpalaChevrolet Silverado 1500Yes
KansasFord F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500Ram 1500Ford F-150Yes
KentuckyFord F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500Toyota CamryChevrolet Silverado 1500Yes
LouisianaFord F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500Nissan AltimaFord F-150Yes
MaineChevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150GMC Sierra 1500Ford F-150Yes
MarylandHonda AccordToyota CamryNissan AltimaToyota RAV4No
MassachusettsHonda AccordHonda CivicToyota CamryToyota RAV4No
MichiganDodge ChargerJeep Cherokee/Grand CherokeeFord F-150Ford F-150Yes
MinnesotaHonda CivicHonda CR-VChevrolet Silverado 1500Chevrolet Silverado 1500Yes
MississippiChevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150Nissan AltimaFord F-150Yes
MissouriFord F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500Ram 1500Ford F-150Yes
MontanaChevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150Ram 1500Ford F-150Yes
NebraskaChevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150Honda AccordFord F-150Yes
NevadaChevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150Honda CivicRam 1500No
New HampshireFord F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500Honda CivicFord F-150Yes
New JerseyHonda AccordHonda CivicFord F-150Honda CR-VNo
New MexicoFord F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500Hyundai ElantraFord F-150Yes
New YorkHonda AccordHonda CR-VToyota CamryHonda CR-VYes
North CarolinaHonda AccordFord F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150Yes
North DakotaChevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150Chevrolet ImpalaFord F-150Yes
OhioFord F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500Honda AccordFord F-150Yes
OklahomaChevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150Ram 1500Ford F-150Yes
OregonHonda CivicHonda AccordFord F-150Toyota RAV4No
PennsylvaniaHonda AccordNissan AltimaHonda CivicFord F-150No
Rhode IslandHonda AccordToyota CamryHonda CR-VToyota RAV4No
South CarolinaFord F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500Honda AccordFord F-150Yes
South DakotaChevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150Chevrolet ImpalaFord F-150Yes
TennesseeFord F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500Nissan AltimaFord F-150Yes
TexasChevrolet Silverado 1500Ford F-150GMC Sierra 1500Ford F-150Yes
UtahFord F-150Honda CivicHonda AccordFord F-150Yes
VermontSubaru ImprezaFord F-150Toyota CorollaFord F-150Yes
VirginiaHonda AccordFord F-150Toyota CamryFord F-150Yes
WashingtonHonda CivicHonda AccordFord F-150Toyota RAV4No
West VirginiaFord F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500Ford EscapeFord F-150Yes
WisconsinHonda CivicHonda AccordHonda CR-VFord F-150No
WyomingFord F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500Ram 1500Ram 1500Yes

 

How to Prevent Car Theft

Given the increasing rate of vehicle theft, especially for certain makes and models, all car owners will benefit from taking certain steps to protect their vehicles. Here are some tips from the NICB to keep your car safe from thieves:

 

Owners of vehicles stolen the most may consider additional measures, such as installing GPS tracking systems, updating alarms and security systems, and using anti-theft devices like steering wheel locks and break locks. It’s important to note, however, that even the best prevention may not be enough to deter particularly skilled thieves.

What to Do If Your Vehicle is Stolen

If you happen to be the unfortunate victim of a car theft, then the first thing to do is report the theft to police immediately. According to NICB data, 34% of stolen cars are recovered the same day, and 45% will be found within two days.

Owners will also need to report their stolen vehicles to their insurers. Many insurers will require a police report before they can file a claim.

Finally, it’s important to have certain information about your vehicle prepared in the case of a theft. The make, model, color, year, and license plate number are all good to have on hand. Additionally, you’ll need to know the VIN number (located on your Proof of Insurance card).

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a car is stolen every 31 seconds in the United States. At Convoy Car Shipping, the security of your vehicle is at the top of our priority list. If you’re an individual or business who needs quick, easy, and affordable auto transport, get a quote for car shipping today.

 

This page was last updated by Marc Gregory

Convoy Car Shipping is dedicated to making nationwide auto transport from Point A to Point B as fast, easy, safe, and affordable as possible with transparency.

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