According to data from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and other news sources, theft rates of vehicles in the United States experienced a notable decline in 2024. This is in contrast to the continuous increase in vehicle theft numbers observed from 2020 onwards. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported around 850,700 stolen vehicles in 2024, which demonstrated a substantial decrease from over 1 million cases recorded in 2023.
Regardless of the declining trend, certain vehicle models continued to draw the attention of auto thieves. The NICB data highlights two Hyundai models – the Elantra and Sonata – as the most frequently stolen vehicles in 2024. It is noted that thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles surged drastically in 2020 following the dissemination of videos on social media platform TikTok illustrating how to exploit the vulnerabilities of these cars for theft. One major vulnerability was the absence of engine immobilizers, a standard anti-theft feature.
Progress has been made to address this issue with the affected models. Hyundai and Kia have offered anti-theft software upgrades to vehicle owners, consequently leading to a decreased number of thefts of these vehicles nationwide in 2024.
The top 10 most stolen vehicles in 2024, as per NICBs records, are the Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Sonata, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Honda Accord, Kia Optima, Honda Civic, Kia Soul, Ford F150 Series Pickup, Toyota Camry, and the Dodge Charger.
The likelihood of ones vehicle being targeted for theft is not solely dependent on the vehicle model. The geographical area also plays a significant role. According to the NICB, Washington D.C., California, New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada have the highest vehicle theft rates in the country.
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