American drivers reported over 880,000 car thefts in 2020, a dramatic increase from just under 800,000 in 2019. This means hundreds of thousands of Americans have to deal with having their cars stolen annually. And though cars differ in value, no doubt they are all essential to the drivers.
No car is completely immune from theft, but some cars are stolen much more frequently than others. More than a quarter of the nearly 800,000 reported stolen cars were one of just 10 different models.
To determine the 10 most stolen cars in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the NICB’s Hot Wheels report. Car brands were ranked based on the total number of thefts in 2019, the most recent year for which data is available.
Many auto thefts are crimes of opportunity — meaning that thieves had no prior plans to steal a car but decided to swipe one once they noticed a chance. This may happen if a car is running unattended or perhaps is parked in a dark, isolated area. The NICB recommends drivers lock their doors, not leave their keys in their vehicle, and park in well-lit areas. For added security, drivers can add additional locks, kill switches, and tracking devices.
Of the 10 most stolen cars, five are sedans, four are pickup trucks, and one is an SUV. The most stolen cars are likely on the list in large part because of how popular they are. Each of the 10 most stolen cars sold well over 100,000 units in 2020, averaging over 365,000 sales that year. These are the best selling cars of 2020.
Click here to see the 10 most stolen cars in America
Methodology
To determine the 10 most stolen cars in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s 2019 Hot Wheels report. Car brands were ranked based on the total number of thefts in 2019. NICB numbers are based on data submitted by law enforcement to the National Crime Information Center. Additional data on the most frequent vehicle year stolen also came from the NICB. Data on unit sales in 2020 came from automobile industry site GoodCarBadCar.
10. Honda CR-V
> Total thefts: 10,094
> Model year most stolen: 2001 (1,394 stolen)
> 2020 unit sales: 323,502
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9. GMC Pickup (full size)
> Total thefts: 11,164
> Model year most stolen: 2018 (1,101 stolen)
> 2020 unit sales: 253,014
8. Dodge Pickup (full size)
> Total thefts: 11,292
> Model year most stolen: 2001 (1,174 stolen)
> 2020 unit sales: 563,676
7. Toyota Corolla
> Total thefts: 12,137
> Model year most stolen: 2018
> 2020 unit sales: 237,179
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6. Nissan Altima
> Total thefts: 13,355
> Model year most stolen: 2015 (1,349 stolen)
> 2020 unit sales: 137,988
5. Toyota Camry
> Total thefts: 15,656
> Model year most stolen: 2007
> 2020 unit sales: 294,348
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4. Honda Accord
> Total thefts: 30,745
> Model year most stolen: 1997 (3,563 stolen)
> 2020 unit sales: 199,458
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3. Chevrolet Pickup (full size)
> Total thefts: 32,583
> Model year most stolen: 2004 (2,099 stolen)
> 2020 unit sales: 593,057
2. Honda Civic
> Total thefts: 33,220
> Model year most stolen: 2000 (4,731 stolen)
> 2020 unit sales: 261,225
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1. Ford Pickup (full size)
> Total thefts: 38,938
> Model year most stolen: 2006 (3,061 stolen)
> 2020 unit sales: 787,372
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