Nationwide Prevention Efforts Yield Multi-Decade Low in 2025, NICB Reports
Vehicle thefts across the United States declined sharply in 2025, falling 23% from the prior year to the lowest level in several decades, according to new data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
A total of 659,880 vehicles were reported stolen nationwide in 2025, continuing a downward trend that began in 2024, when thefts dropped 17%—previously the largest single-year decline in 40 years. The latest figures signal a sustained reversal of the pandemic-era surge in auto thefts.
Despite the improvement, vehicle theft remains a persistent exposure. NICB noted that one vehicle is still stolen every 48 seconds nationwide, with higher concentrations in certain urban markets.
Coordinated industry efforts cited as key driver
NICB attributed the decline to coordinated efforts across multiple stakeholders, including law enforcement, insurers, and auto manufacturers.
“Coordinated prevention efforts by law enforcement, auto manufacturers, insurance companies, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau are having a major impact on vehicle thefts nationwide,” said NICB President and CEO David J. Glawe. “But with several hundreds of thousands of vehicles stolen in a single year, vigilance and prevention efforts remain key to protecting families, businesses and communities nationwide.”
State-level improvements led by Washington, Colorado
Several states recorded substantial year-over-year declines in theft activity. Washington State experienced the largest percentage decrease of any state with 39% less vehicles stolen in 2025 compared to 2024. Colorado and Puerto Rico followed closely, with 35% and 34% declines in vehicle thefts, respectively.
Top 10 States by Percentage Decrease in Vehicle Thefts
| # | State | Percentage Change |
| 1 | Washington | -39 % |
| 2 | Colorado | -35 % |
| 3 | Puerto Rico | -34 % |
| 4 | South Dakota | -32 % |
| 5 | Tennessee | -31 % |
| 6 | New Mexico | -31 % |
| 7 | North Dakota | -30 % |
| 8 | Florida | -29 % |
| 9 | Georgia | -28 % |
| 10 | Arizona | -27 % |
Theft activity remains concentrated in major metro areas
Even as the United States overall experiences a decline in thefts, however, theft volume remains heavily concentrated in large metropolitan areas. More than one-third of all vehicle thefts occurred in the top 10 Census-defined statistical areas.
Top 10 Metropolitan Areas by Total Vehicle Thefts
| # | CBSA (Metropolitan Areas) | 2025 Total Thefts |
| 1 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 53,911 |
| 2 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 27,138 |
| 3 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 24,299 |
| 4 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 23,659 |
| 5 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 22,197 |
| 6 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 21,638 |
| 7 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 19,117 |
| 8 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 15,204 |
| 9 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 14,111 |
| 10 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 12,684 |
California leads states by theft volume
California reported 136,988 stolen vehicles in 2025—more than 20% of the national total—maintaining its position as the highest-volume state.
California led the nation in vehicle theft rates among metropolitan areas. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area (477.51 thefts per 100,000 people) and the Bakersfield-Delano area (477.27 thefts per 100,000 people) experienced the two highest theft rates of all metro areas with more than 1,000 thefts. These rates pushed the Memphis, Tennessee metro area – which previously suffered the worst vehicle theft rates – to third place at 427.75.
The Golden State also reported the highest number of vehicle thefts in 2025, with 136,988 vehicles stolen – contributing more than 20% of the nation’s total. Following California, Texas, Illinois, Florida and New York rounded out the top five states by volume of vehicle thefts.
Top 10 States by Total Vehicle Thefts
| # | State | 2025 Total Thefts |
| 1 | California | 136,988 |
| 2 | Texas | 75,269 |
| 3 | Illinois | 28,327 |
| 4 | Florida | 27,142 |
| 5 | New York | 24,206 |
| 6 | Ohio | 20,628 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 20,568 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 20,395 |
| 9 | Washington | 18,039 |
| 10 | Missouri | 17,496 |
Hyundai Elantra remains most stolen vehicle
By vehicle model, the Hyundai Elantra remained the most frequently stolen vehicle in 2025, with 21,732 reported thefts, followed by the Honda Accord (17,797) and Hyundai Sonata (17,687).
The report also noted a continued decline in thefts involving Hyundai and Kia vehicles. These manufacturers accounted for 14% of total thefts in 2025, down from 16% in 2024 and 21% in 2023, reflecting the impact of software updates and theft-prevention measures implemented in response to prior loss trends.
Ongoing exposure for carriers and policyholders
While the overall trend is favorable, the volume of thefts continues to represent a material loss driver for insurers and a significant disruption for policyholders. NICB emphasized that continued vigilance and prevention efforts remain necessary as theft activity persists at scale.
Most Stolen Vehicles in 2025
| # | Make/Model | 2025 Theft Totals |
| 1 | Hyundai Elantra | 21,732 |
| 2 | Honda Accord | 17,797 |
| 3 | Hyundai Sonata | 17,687 |
| 4 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 16,764 |
| 5 | Honda Civic | 12,725 |
| 6 | Kia Optima | 11,521 |
| 7 | Ford F150 | 10,102 |
| 8 | Toyota Camry | 9,833 |
| 9 | Honda CR-V | 9,809 |
| 10 | Nissan Altima | 8,445 |
