21,732
Hyundai Elantra thefts reported in 2025, the most of any model (NICB)
NICB counts and HLDI claim rates, labelled plainly
Most Stolen Cars in America (2026)
The Hyundai Elantra was the most stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with 21,732 reported thefts. Adjusted for how many are on the road, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is the most likely to be stolen. Both lists are below, with the difference explained.
Last reviewed September 3, 2026. National counts come from NICB's analysis of calendar year 2025 thefts (published March 18, 2026). Per-vehicle risk comes from HLDI's 2022β24 model-year whole-vehicle theft report (published May 2025).
See the top 10The short answer
By raw count, the Hyundai Elantra is the most stolen car in America: NICB recorded 21,732 Elantra thefts in 2025, ahead of the Honda Accord (17,797) and Hyundai Sonata (17,687). By theft risk per insured vehicle, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 leads HLDI's 2022β24 ranking at 39.49 times the average claim frequency. The first list is driven by how many of a model are on the road; the second is adjusted for that.
Advertisement
659,880
vehicles reported stolen nationally in 2025, down 23% from 2024 (NICB)
39.49Γ
average claim frequency: Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, HLDI's highest 2022β24 result
Top 10 most stolen vehicles in America by count (2025)
NICB's national list counts every reported theft of a model, across all model years. It is the "most stolen" list most people mean, and it favours popular, long-running models with millions of older examples on the road.
| 2025 rank | Make / model | Reported thefts |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Advertisement | ||
| 6 | Kia Optima | 11,521 |
| 7 | Ford F-150 | 10,102 |
| 8 | Toyota Camry | 9,833 |
| 9 | Honda CR-V | 9,809 |
| 10 | Nissan Altima | 8,445 |
Source: NICB, "U.S. Vehicle Thefts Experience Historic Decline", March 18, 2026, covering calendar year 2025. NICB reports 659,880 thefts in 2025, a 23% decline from 2024, following a 17% drop in 2024. One vehicle was still stolen every 48 seconds.
Why the Elantra can top this list and still score well in HLDI data. NICB counts all reported Elantra thefts, including older model years without the anti-theft software. HLDI's 2022β24 Elantra hybrid result is one of the lowest in the country (13% of average) because it adjusts for the number of insured vehicles exposed to theft. A headline about a model name is not enough to judge a specific model year or trim.
"Most stolen" versus "most likely to be stolen"
Two different questions produce two different number-one vehicles. Mixing them is how a page can call two cars "most stolen" in the same paragraph. We show both, labelled.
Most stolen by count (NICB)
NICB tallies reported thefts nationwide by make and model, across all model years. This measures scale. A model with millions on the road, or a decade of older versions with weak immobilisers, can lead this list even if the newest version is hard to steal.
Most likely to be stolen (HLDI)
HLDI divides whole-vehicle theft claims by insured vehicle-years and adjusts for other factors, then indexes the result so 100 is the all-vehicle average. This measures the risk to a particular 2022β24 model series, which is the number that matters when choosing a car.
Neither list is a theft rate for your car. HLDI publishes model-series results and NICB publishes national counts; both vary sharply by model year, drivetrain, trim and where the car is parked. Use them as evidence, not as a promise.
The 20 most theft-prone 2022β24 vehicles (HLDI)
Ranked by HLDI relative whole-vehicle theft claim frequency. A relative frequency of 3,949 means a claim frequency 39.49 times the all-passenger-vehicle average, not that 39% of the vehicles were stolen.
| Rank | Vehicle series | Relative frequency | Plain-English comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 2dr | 3,949 | 39.49Γ average |
| 2 | Acura TLX 4dr 4WD | 2,138 | 21.38Γ average |
| 3 | Chevrolet Camaro 2dr | 1,287 | 12.87Γ average |
| 4 | GMC Sierra 2500 crew cab 4WD | 1,023 | 10.23Γ average |
| 5 | Acura TLX 4dr | 805 | 8.05Γ average |
| 6 | GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD | 742 | 7.42Γ average |
| 7 | Chevrolet Silverado 3500 crew cab 4WD | 662 | 6.62Γ average |
| 8 | Dodge Durango 4dr 4WD | 592 | 5.92Γ average |
| 9 | Land Rover Range Rover 4dr 4WD | 540 | 5.40Γ average |
| 10 | Ram 1500 crew cab short-wheelbase 4WD | 524 | 5.24Γ average |
| 11 | Chevrolet Silverado 2500 crew cab 4WD | 402 | 4.02Γ average |
| 12 | Ram 3500 crew cab long-wheelbase 4WD | 387 | 3.87Γ average |
| 13 | Honda CR-V hybrid 4dr 4WD | 340 | 3.40Γ average |
| 14 | GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab 2WD | 324 | 3.24Γ average |
| 15 | Dodge Durango 4dr | 300 | 3.00Γ average |
| 16 | GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab 4WD | 292 | 2.92Γ average |
| 17 | BMW X7 4dr 4WD | 277 | 2.77Γ average |
| 18 | Mercedes-Benz S-Class long-wheelbase 4WD | 267 | 2.67Γ average |
| 19 | Jeep Gladiator crew cab convertible 4WD | 264 | 2.64Γ average |
| 20 | Cadillac Escalade ESV 4dr 4WD | 260 | 2.60Γ average |
Source: HLDI whole-vehicle theft report, 2022β24 model years. HLDI's series-specific results are adjusted to make the comparisons more useful than raw counts alone.
Trucks and muscle cars dominate the risk list. Eleven of HLDI's 20 highest-frequency series are pickups or large SUVs, led by heavy-duty crew cabs. The Camaro ZL1 and standard Camaro hold two of the top three spots; HLDI found theft claims for 2016β24 Camaros peaked in March 2024 at 18.3 claims per 1,000 insured vehicle-years, and GM launched a free theft-risk software campaign for 2020β24 Camaros in March 2025.
Looking for the other end of the list? See the 20 hardest cars to steal, led by the Tesla Model 3 AWD at 1% of the average claim frequency.
Top 10 states for vehicle theft (2025)
California accounted for more than 20% of the nation's thefts. NICB also notes that more than one-third of all 2025 thefts happened in just 10 metropolitan areas, led by Los Angeles (53,911), New York (27,138) and Chicago (24,299).
| Rank | 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 |
Source: NICB, "U.S. Vehicle Thefts Experience Historic Decline", March 18, 2026. Totals, not rates; populous states rank high partly because they have more vehicles. Washington posted the largest year-over-year decline of any state (down 39%), followed by Colorado (down 35%).
Searching from Canada, South Africa or elsewhere? Every figure on this page is U.S. data from NICB and HLDI. Theft patterns differ by country, and models that are rarely stolen here can be prime targets elsewhere, so check your national insurance bureau or police statistics before applying these lists locally.
Are Hyundai and Kia still the most stolen?
Still in the top 10, but falling fast
The Elantra, Sonata and Kia Optima remain in NICB's 2025 top 10. But Hyundai and Kia thefts have declined for the third consecutive year: the two brands accounted for 14% of all U.S. thefts in 2025, down from 16% in 2024 and 21% in 2023, which NICB attributes to software updates and other theft-prevention measures.
The software update works, if it was installed
HLDI found whole-vehicle theft claims 52% lower for eligible Hyundai and Kia vehicles that received the anti-theft software upgrade. At the end of 2024, only about 41% of eligible Hyundai vehicles and 40% of eligible Kia vehicles had it, so a used-car buyer should verify completion rather than assume it.
Sources: NICB 2025 theft analysis; IIHS/HLDI: Camaro ZL1 tops chart of most-stolen vehicles.
How to make your car harder to steal
Most thefts are crimes of opportunity. NICB's recommendations are simple, and they apply whether or not your car appears on either list above.
- Lock the doors and roll the windows up. Thieves walk parking lots testing handles; an unlocked car is the easiest target.
- Take the keys, every time. Never leave the vehicle running unattended, even for a quick errand.
- Park in well-lit areas. Visibility deters thieves; a garage or a spot near a streetlight is better than a dark corner.
- Add a visible or hidden layer. Steering wheel locks, audible alarms, kill switches and GPS trackers deter theft and make a stolen car easier to recover.
- Check for manufacturer campaigns. Hyundai and Kia owners should confirm the free anti-theft software update; 2020β24 Camaro owners should ask about GM's 2025 theft-risk software campaign.
Prevention tips summarised from NICB's 2025 theft release.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most stolen car in America?
By raw count, the Hyundai Elantra: NICB recorded 21,732 Elantra thefts in 2025, ahead of the Honda Accord (17,797) and Hyundai Sonata (17,687). By theft risk per insured vehicle, HLDI's 2022β24 data puts the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 first at 39.49 times the average claim frequency.
Which trucks are stolen most?
By count, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (16,764 thefts in 2025) and Ford F-150 (10,102) are the only pickups in NICB's top 10. By claim frequency, heavy-duty crew cabs dominate HLDI's list: the GMC Sierra 2500 crew cab 4WD (10.23Γ average), GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD (7.42Γ) and Chevrolet Silverado 3500 crew cab 4WD (6.62Γ). See our safest pickup trucks ranking for the crash-test side of the decision.
Are Kias and Hyundais still the most stolen?
The Elantra, Sonata and Kia Optima are still in NICB's 2025 top 10, but Hyundai and Kia thefts have fallen for three straight years: 14% of all U.S. thefts in 2025, down from 16% in 2024 and 21% in 2023. HLDI found theft claims 52% lower for eligible vehicles that received the anti-theft software upgrade, so confirm the update on any used Hyundai or Kia.
How do I make my car harder to steal?
Lock the doors, roll the windows up, take your keys, never leave the car running unattended, park in well-lit areas, and add a steering wheel lock, audible alarm, kill switch or GPS tracker. If you want a car that is rarely stolen in the first place, start with the hardest cars to steal.
Advertisement
Related rankings
Hardest cars to stealHLDI's 20 least-stolen 2022β24 vehicles
Insurance losses by modelCollision, injury and theft claims compared
Safest cars 2026Every model ranked by crash tests
Safest pickup trucksCrash-test rankings for the most-stolen class
Safest electric carsEVs lead the least-stolen list too
Safety by brandWhich makes earn the most awards
Sources and definitions
- NICB: U.S. vehicle thefts experience historic decline (March 18, 2026): 2025 national total, top 10 models by count, top 10 states and metro areas, Hyundai/Kia share of thefts, and prevention tips.
- HLDI whole-vehicle theft losses, 2022β24 model years: the source for the 20 most theft-prone series and the definition of relative claim frequency.
- IIHS/HLDI: Camaro ZL1 tops chart of most-stolen vehicles: Camaro claim trend, GM's 2025 software campaign, and the Hyundai/Kia update results.
- IIHS auto-insurance research area: current theft-loss context by vehicle class and size.