Leave your vehicle unattended for too long in any major US city; there’s a good chance it won’t be there when you return – after all, 0.33% or 1 in 294 vehicles in America end up stolen annually. Even a short stop presents an opportunity for would-be car thieves. After all, cars are a costly asset, presenting a prize for criminals of all banners.
Coming back to find your car missing is confusing at first. “Did I park here,” you wonder. Slowly it dawns on you that your car is gone. It’s an experience hundreds of thousands of motorists experience annually, leaving them stranded or unable to get to important engagements. But how common is it precisely?
Are vehicle break-ins becoming more common? And where are the car theft hotspots in the US? We’re answering all these questions and more below.
Key Insights
- In 2022, over a million vehicles were stolen (1,001,967 to be precise) – the highest number since 2008.
- In 2022, on average 116 vehicle stolen per hour in the US, meaning a vehicle was stolen every 30 seconds.
- Vehicle break-ins are up 25% since 2019.
- An estimated, 9 billion dollars worth of motor vehicles were stolen in 2022.
- California witnessed the highest number of motor vehicle break-ins (202,685) in 2022, followed by Texas (105,015) and Washington (46,939).
- In 2021, 268.2 cases of motor vehicle theft were reported per 100,000 population in the US, which equates to 932,329 vehicle thefts nationwide. This figure represents a 6% increase from 2020 and a 17% rise from 2019.
- Of the roughly 294 million cars in the US, 0.33% are stolen each year, which translates to a 1 in 294 chance of getting a car stolen.
- Statista reports that 56.4% of all locally stolen vehicles are recovered by their owners. This recovery rate falls to 1 in 5 when considering the nationwide data.
- In 2022, Bakersfield, CA, had the highest vehicle break-ins per capita – 905 thefts per 100k residents. Yuba City, CA was second at 724, and Denver, CO, was third at 706 break-ins per 100k residents.
- The average value of a stolen car is $8,303. The average value of recovered vehicles is uniformly less than this, with an 11% differential in the South.
- Despite a recent uptick in car thefts since 2019, the overall trend shows a sharp decline in car theft since 1990.
- The state with the highest car theft rate in 2021 was Colorado, with a rate of 661.21 thefts per 100,000 population, followed by Washington DC (651.00), California (511.05), New Mexico (475.50), and Oregon (471.16). The state with the lowest car theft rate was Maine, with a rate of 60.7 per 100,000 residents.
- The most commonly stolen car in the US in 2021 was the 2004 Chevrolet Full-Size Pickup, with 48,206 units stolen.
- Analysis from Compare.com indicates that weekdays between 5 pm and 10 pm are the riskiest times for vehicle thefts, with the highest number of break-ins reported. Monday was the day with the highest frequency of break-ins (13,937), followed by Friday (13,822).
How Many Cars Are Stolen in the US Each Year?
Car break-ins are more common than you might think. In 2022 alone, there were 1,001,967 or over a million vehicle break-ins – an increase of 7% from 2021 and the highest since 2008.
According to Statista, in 2021, 268.2 reported cases of motor vehicle theft occurred per 100,000 population. Translating that into absolute figures, the National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that nationwide, 932,329 vehicle thefts occurred – a 6% increase over 2020 and a 17% rise since 2019.
What caused this recent spike? Experts put the rise in vehicle thefts down to the change in habits since the COVID-19 pandemic. As more and more people cut their commutes to work from home, vehicles are more likely to be left unattended. Seizing on the opportunity and exploiting high demand for cars and parts (due to supply chain issues and shortages), criminals are stealing vulnerable vehicles to make a fast buck.
How Often is a Car Stolen in the US?
Regardless of whether you’re a shopper or a suburbanite, your car is a prime target for criminals. According to Forbes, in 2019, a vehicle was illegally driven off every 36 seconds. That’s roughly two a minute or 100 vehicles an hour. By 2021, that rate rose to 106 vehicles an hour!
To put that in perspective, the US has approximately 294 million cars. That equates to 0.33% of all cars being stolen every year or a 1 in 294 chance of getting your car stolen! (For comparison, the annual risk of being struck by lightning is 1 in 1.2 million.)
What Percentage of Stolen Cars are Recovered?
Panicked upon finding your car missing, your first thoughts are about getting it back. But how common is that? The answer: more than you think. In fact, Statista reports that 56.4% of all locally stolen motor vehicles are recovered by their owners. That’s higher than the average recovery rate of stolen property (31.1%).
Other recovery rates of stolen property include household goods (39%), firearms (10.5%), and livestock (9.9%). Still, with almost half of all stolen cars never seen again, it’s a disheartening statistic.
Indeed, taken nationwide, the rate of recovered vehicles drops to 1 in 5, according to the Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Even if you recover your vehicle, you can expect an average of $1,490 in damage. The best rates for returned vehicles are in the Midwest (24%), with the worst rates in the Northeast (14%). It takes an average of 11 days for a stolen car to be recovered.
What is the Average Value of a Stolen Car?
Car thieves don’t always go for the most expensive or newest model. After all, these often come with the most advanced safety features (see below). Little wonder, then, that the average value of a stolen car is $8,303. Considering the standard sales price of a new US car was $39,000 in 2019, it shows a clear preference for older models over flashy new cars.
The average value of recovered vehicles is uniformly less than that of stolen vehicles. In the South, the gap between stolen and recovered vehicles is $1,066 – an 11% differential.
How Has Car Theft Changed Over the Years?
Despite the recent uptick in car theft since 2019, the overall picture shows a sharp decline in car theft since 1990. Back then, the rate of motor vehicle theft was 657.8 per 100,000 population. The rate fell precipitously until 2000, when a small bump occurred, followed by another decline until the financial crisis.
Throughout the 2010s, car theft rates remained stable, hovering around 230 motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 of the population. Whether the current surge in car thefts is a long-term trend remains unknown. However, at present, it’s set the rate back to before 2009.
Are New Cars Harder to Steal?
Yes and no. The statistics clearly indicate car thieves prefer to go for older models. However, that could be due to numerous factors, including older cars being more prevalent, easier to sell, and less likely to incur a criminal investigation.
That being said, some of the fanciest new cars – like the Kia, Hyundai i30 and Toyota Kluger – have fatal flaws, allowing criminals to drive off in your car within 30 seconds. How? By exploiting your vehicle identification number (VIN), would-be thieves can gain access to your car, change the key code, and secure the vehicle for themselves.
Manufacturers are working hard to rectify such flaws. But it highlights the significant risks posed by newer, less tried-and-test security technologies.
Car Theft State-By-State
In 2021, Colorado earned the ignominious title of highest car theft rate in the nation at 661.21 thefts per 100,000 – a 32% rise from 2020. Swiftly following Colorado were Washington DC (651.00), California (511.05), New Mexico (475.50), and Oregon (471.16).
In Colorado, the car criminals’ favorite car to steal was the 2004 Ford Pickup, followed by the Chevrolet Pickup. Other popular models include the Honda Civic and Honda Accord.
Maine was at the other end of the spectrum, boasting a minuscule car theft rate of 60.7 per 100,000 residents. Meaning you could leave it open with the engine running and the key in, and you’d still likely find it where you left it after an hour.
Car Theft By Model
The more expensive a car, the rarer it is. That’s a major risk for car thieves hoping to avoid excess attention. If you’re driving a Bugatti, it means you’re probably safe from car theft. Indeed, as just noted, car thieves tend to favor cheaper alternatives.
The most common car stolen in the US is a 2004 Chevrolet Full-Size Pickup – 48,206 were stolen in 2021. Despite their anti-theft technology, this classic pickup is highly popular among thieves, with thefts rising 17.67% year-on-year.
Here are the top ten most stolen vehicles in 2021:
- Chevrolet Full-Size Pickup: 48,206
- Ford Full-Size Pickup: 47,999
- Honda Civic: 31,673
- Honda Accord: 30,274
- Toyota Camry: 17,270
- GMC Full-Size Pickup: 15,599
- Nissan Altima: 14,108
- Honda CR-V: 13,308
- Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee: 13,210
- Toyota Corolla: 12,927
What Day of the Week Do Most Break-Ins Occur?
According to an analysis performed by Compare.com, weekdays are the riskiest days for vehicle theft. Evenings, between the hours of 5 pm to 10 pm, reported the greatest number of break-ins. The most common day for a break-in to occur is Monday (13,937), followed by Friday (13,822). Saturday and Sunday were by far the safest days for motor vehicles, seeing around 12,700 breaks each day.
Sources:
- https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/motor-vehicle-theft
- https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/auto/most-stolen-cars-in-america/
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimgorzelany/2021/09/06/heres-where-car-thefts-are-spiking-because-of-the-pandemic/?sh=65cb24cc7dae
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/191216/reported-motor-vehicle-theft-rate-in-the-us-since-1990/
- https://www.nicb.org/news/news-releases/nicb-report-finds-vehicle-thefts-continue-skyrocket-many-areas-us
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/252444/recovery-rate-of-stolen-property-in-the-us-by-type/
- https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/how-thieves-are-stealing-new-cars-in-under-a-minute
- https://carbuzz.com/news/do-manual-transmissions-really-deter-thieves-from-stealing-your-car
- https://www.compare.com/auto-insurance/resources/vehicle-theft-and-break-ins
