Motor vehicle theft costs the U.S. billions of dollars in losses each year. Motor vehicle theft can be detrimental to most vehicle owners. This is because only comprehensive car insurance can cover a stolen vehicle.
The following analysis was created using different databases and sources. This includes the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Insurance Information Institute, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Table of context:
- How Many Cars Are Stolen Each Year?
- Motor Thief Statistics Over The Years
- Motor Vehicle Thefts By State
- Motor Vehicle Theft By Region
- Holidays Ranked By The Number Of Vehicle Thefts
- Frequently Asked Question On Motor Vehicle Theft
How Many Vehicles Are Stolen Each Year?
According to data released by the Insurance Information Institute, 2023 saw a 1% increase in car theft rates from 2022. About 1,020,729 vehicles were stolen in 2023, while there were 1,008,756 reported car thefts in 2022. The methods used in stealing vehicles have changed a lot over the last few years. As technology advances, the way thieves steal vehicles has become more sophisticated.
Some methods require changing a car’s VIN or the usage of smart keys to succeed in a theft. A big factor that increases the chances of vehicle theft is vehicle negligence from the owner. Between 2017 and 2019 there were about 244,845 vehicles that were stolen only because the key fob of the vehicle was left inside it by the owner. This number has been on the rise when compared to the 230,000 vehicles stolen for this same reason from 2016 to 2018.
Below are some key points of motor thief statistics over the years:
- Vehicle owners lose an average of $8,886 when their vehicle gets stolen
- In 2019, the number of vehicle thefts was 219.9. per 100,000 residents.
- Motor vehicle theft dropped 4% between 2018 and 2019.
- Motor theft increased by 1.2% between 2015 to 2018 but dropped 2.4% from 2010 to 2015.
- 74.5% of vehicles stolen in 2019 were cars.
Motor Thief Statistics Over The Years
Motor theft rates have dropped by 52% over the past two decades. In 1991, the number of stolen vehicles went over 1.5 million. This is less than the average 730,000 vehicles stolen annually in recent years.
The main reason why motor thief rates have been cut in half has to do with the advancement of technology that cars are built with today. This makes it more challenging for thieves to access and steal. Law enforcement has also increased its focus on vehicle theft to try to prevent it from happening.
The total number of vehicle theft in the U.S during each year
| Year | Vehicles Stolen |
Percent Change
|
| 2010 | 739,565 | -7.00% |
| 2011 | 716,508 | -3.10% |
| 2012 | 723,186 | 0.90% |
| 2013 | 700,288 | -3.20% |
| 2014 | 686,803 | -1.90% |
| 2015 | 713,063 | 3.80% |
| 2016 | 767,290 | 7.60% |
| 2017 | 772,943 | 0.70% |
| 2018 | 751,904 | -2.70% |
| 2019 | 721,885 | -4.00% |
| 2020 | 810,400 | 11.80% |
| 2021 | 937,976 | 6.00% |
| 2022 | 1,008,756 | 8% |
| 2023 | 1,020,729 | 1% |
Motor Vehicle Thefts By State
Based on statistics, California is the state with the highest number of motor vehicle thefts in 2023, with 208,668 reported thefts. However, when adjusted per 100,000 residents, the District of Columbia has the highest theft rate, with 1,149.71 thefts per 100,000 residents. California, on the other hand, had 534.49 reported thefts per 100,000 residents.
Below is a list of motor vehicle thefts per state in 2021:
| State | Vehicles stolen |
|---|---|
| Texas | 87,053 |
| Colorado | 40,853 |
| Washington | 35,326 |
| Michigan | 21,283 |
| Tennessee | 20,142 |
| Ohio | 19,402 |
| Oregon | 19,242 |
| North Carolina | 18,779 |
| Georgia | 17,985 |
| Wisconsin | 15,950 |
| Oklahoma | 15,387 |
| Minnesota | 14,562 |
| South Carolina | 13,937 |
| Nevada | 13,709 |
| Indiana | 12,585 |
| Illinois | 11,735 |
| California | 11,272 |
| Virginia | 11,248 |
| Kentucky | 11,100 |
| Arkansas | 8,110 |
| Utah | 7,960 |
| Pennsylvania | 7,648 |
| Louisiana | 7,505 |
| Connecticut | 7,407 |
| New Mexico | 7,316 |
| Alabama | 7,308 |
| Massachusetts | 6,819 |
| Arizona | 5,823 |
| Iowa | 5,799 |
| Kansas | 5,681 |
| New Jersey | 5,207 |
| Hawaii | 4,286 |
| New York | 4,088 |
| Maryland | 4,026 |
| Mississippi | 3,059 |
| Montana | 2,967 |
| North Dakota | 2,085 |
| South Dakota | 1,959 |
| West Virginia | 1,797 |
| Nebraska | 1,750 |
| DC | 1,716 |
| Rhode Island | 1,635 |
| Idaho | 1,618 |
| Delaware | 1,609 |
| New Hampshire | 892 |
| Maine | 891 |
| Wyoming | 856 |
| Alaska | 611 |
| Vermont | 450 |
| Florida | 50 |
Motor Vehicle Theft by Region
Motor theft can happen anywhere in the country, but chances remain higher in more populated areas. Metropolitan areas have the highest motor vehicle theft rates in the region when compared to the outer city and rural areas.
| Area type | Estimated total | Rate per 100,000 inhabitants |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan areas | 662,121 | 234.5 |
| Cities outside metropolitan areas | 29,762 | 158.9 |
| Non-metropolitan | 30,002 | 110.5 |
Regions also impact motor vehicle rates. Since the Western and Southern regions have the highest crime rates overall, they also experience the highest rate of auto theft in the U.S. Areas such as the Northeast and the Midwest have shown to be the safest regions when it comes to vehicle theft and crime rates in general.
The statistics below show the top 10 metropolitan areas with the highest numbers of auto theft in America:
| Area | Population | Total Motor Vehicle Theft | Rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 55,982,803 | 50,801 | 90.7 |
| New England | 14,845,063 | 50,801 | 103.5 |
| Middle Atlantic | 41,137,740 | 35,430 | 86.1 |
| Midwest | 68,329,004 | 129,542 | 189.6 |
| East North Central | 46,902,431 | 76,299 | 162.7 |
| West North Central | 21,426,573 | 53,243 | 248.5 |
| South | 125,580,448 | 280,447 | 223.3 |
| South Atlantic | 65,784,817 | 123,744 | 188.1 |
| East South Central | 19,176,181 | 47,700 | 248.7 |
| West South Central | 40,619,450 | 109,003 | 268.4 |
| West | 78,347,268 | 261,095 | 333.3 |
| Mountain | 24,854,998 | 71,880 | 289.2 |
| Pacific | 53,492,270 | 189,215 | 353.7 |
Holidays Ranked by the Number of Vehicle Thefts
The most popular holiday for car theft in 2020 was New Year’s Day, with a total of 2,320 motor vehicles stolen. According to statistics, the reason for this is because people are more likely to leave their cars in parking lots for prolonged hours on New Year’s Day. This makes it easier for thieves to take their time getting in the vehicle and driving off without getting caught.
| Rank | Holidays | Number of thefts |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | New Year’s Day | 2,320 |
| 2. | Labor Day | 2,222 |
| 3. | President’s Day | 2,204 |
| 4. | New Year’s Eve | 2,201 |
| 5. | Halloween | 2,191 |
| 6. | Valentine’s Day | 2,174 |
| 7. | Memorial Day | 2,162 |
| 8. | Christmas Eve | 2,011 |
| 9. | Independence Day | 1,995 |
| 10. | Thanksgiving | 1,683 |
| 11. | Christmas Day | 1,580 |
Frequently Asked Questions on Motor Vehicle Theft
How often does motor theft occur?
A vehicle is stolen every 43.8 seconds in the U.S. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, a vehicle was stolen every 36 seconds in 2020, which was the highest rate in the past 9 years.
Which is the most stolen car model?
The Ford Pickup was the car model that was the most likely to be stolen in 2020. In that same year, 44,014 Ford Pickups were stolen. Chevrolet Pickup holds second place with 40,968 cars stolen and Honda Civic holds third place with 34,144 cars stolen in 2020.
What color car is the least stolen?
Bold colors were the least likely to be stolen mainly because they are easily detectable. Cars with colors such as orange, red, and yellow are thought to be younger models with better security systems, which dissuades thieves from taking risks.
Conclusion
The United States is ranked among the top nations for vehicle theft. Of course, this may not come as a surprise if you live in one of the top states for car thefts.
The numbers are quite startling in many cases, but they also tell us which vehicles are at the greatest risk of being stolen, and how we can protect them. It’s information that we can all use to help stop auto theft and make our country a safer place to drive.
