{"id":2810,"date":"2026-04-10T13:39:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T13:39:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/egocene.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/10\/u-s-vehicle-thefts-hit-lowest-level-in-decades\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T13:39:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T13:39:34","slug":"u-s-vehicle-thefts-hit-lowest-level-in-decades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/egocene.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/10\/u-s-vehicle-thefts-hit-lowest-level-in-decades\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Vehicle Thefts Hit Lowest Level in Decades"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Lewis Nibbelin, Research Writer, Triple-I<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Vehicle thefts dropped 23 percent nationwide in 2025, marking the second consecutive year of historic declines, according to the latest analysis<\/a> from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).<\/p>\n

At 659,880 thefts, last year\u2019s drop built on the momentum of a 17 percent decline in 2024, previously the largest decrease in total thefts in four decades. Several jurisdictions experienced even greater year-over-year decreases, with vehicle theft down by 39 percent in Washington, 35 percent in Colorado, and 34 percent in Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n

\u201cCoordinated prevention efforts by law enforcement, auto manufacturers, insurance companies, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau are having a major impact on vehicle thefts nationwide,\u201d said NICB president and CEO David J. Glawe, adding that such efforts \u201cremain key to protecting families, businesses, and communities nationwide.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vehicle thefts surged in 2020 to about one vehicle stolen every 36 seconds<\/a>, fueled in part by shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Levels remained elevated into 2023, which recorded more than one million thefts<\/a> as social media trends highlighting vehicle security system vulnerabilities gained traction.<\/p>\n

Many trends targeted Kia and Hyundai models, comprising six of the ten most stolen vehicles that year. In response, both manufacturers began implementing stronger prevention measures and software updates, reducing their share of total thefts from 21 percent in 2023 to 14 percent in 2025.<\/p>\n

Despite overall progress, vehicle theft across the U.S. still occurs every 48 seconds, the NICB reported. Urban communities are at greater risk, with more than one-third of thefts concentrated in the top ten metro areas in 2025. Accordingly, California \u2013 home to three of the top ten areas \u2013 recorded the highest number of vehicle thefts in 2025, contributing more than 20 percent of the nation\u2019s total.<\/p>\n

Beyond the direct financial cost of losing these assets, theft of vehicles or car components add upward pressure on auto insurance rates, particularly within areas known to be high-risk. The cost to repair and replace stolen vehicles is also rising, compounding a market already impacted by mounting fraud and legal system abuse across the country.<\/p>\n

While systemic improvements have helped improve theft rates, vehicle owners must take steps to help mitigate their own risk. Triple-I recommends the following precautions:<\/p>\n