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Is Your Car on the Most Stolen List? What Drivers Need to Know

Every 48 seconds, a vehicle is stolen somewhere in the United States. While that statistic may sound alarming, there is some encouraging news: according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), auto theft dropped to its lowest level in four decades in 2025, with 659,880 vehicles reported stolen — a 23% decrease from 2024. Despite this progress, hundreds of thousands of vehicles are still being taken each year, and Pennsylvania drivers are far from immune.

The Most Stolen Vehicles in the U.S.

Contrary to what you might expect, thieves aren’t targeting flashy sports cars or high-end luxury vehicles. The most stolen cars are everyday, popular models — the kind that blend into any parking lot. Many are driven or towed to “chop shops” where they are dismantled and sold for parts, including catalytic converters, which can fetch $250 or more on the gray market due to the precious metals they contain.

According to the NICB, the top 10 most stolen vehicles in 2025 were:

  1. Hyundai Elantra — 21,732 thefts

  2. Honda Accord — 17,797 thefts

  3. Hyundai Sonata — 17,687 thefts

  4. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 — 16,764 thefts

  5. Honda Civic — 12,725 thefts

  6. Kia Optima — 11,521 thefts

  7. Ford F-150 — 10,102 thefts

  8. Toyota Camry — 9,833 thefts

  9. Honda CR-V — 9,809 thefts

  10. Nissan Altima — 8,445 thefts

Pennsylvania Ranks #7 in the Nation for Auto Theft

Pennsylvania is no stranger to auto theft. The Commonwealth ranked 7th in the nation in 2025, with 20,568 vehicles reported stolen. Philadelphia alone accounted for 19,117 of those thefts, placing it 7th among the top metropolitan areas in the country. Here is a look at the top 10 states for auto theft:

  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

How to Protect Your Vehicle

The good news is that there are simple, effective steps you can take to reduce your risk:

  • Always park in a well-lit area with windows closed and doors locked.

  • Never leave your vehicle running unattended, even for a brief moment.

  • Keep your keys or key fob on your person — never hide a spare inside the vehicle.

  • Do not leave your vehicle’s title inside the car.

  • Install a quality vehicle alarm or consider a hidden “kill switch” to disable the ignition.

  • Use a visible steering wheel lock, such as “The Club” as a deterrent.

  • Protect your catalytic converter with an anti-theft guard.

  • Use a GPS tracking device — even an inexpensive Apple AirTag can help recover a stolen vehicle.

  • Avoid leaving valuables visible inside the car when parked.

  • If your vehicle is stolen, contact the police immediately and file an insurance claim within 24 hours.

 

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), as reported by Forbes. “These Are the Most Stolen Cars in the U.S., Data Shows” by Jim Gorzelany, March 18, 2026. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimgorzelany/2026/03/18/these-are-the-most-stolen-cars-in-the-us-data-shows/

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