Motor vehicle theft, one of the most serious offenses tracked by the FBI, is on the rise in the United States. There were a total of 810,400 motor vehicle thefts nationwide in 2020, up 12% from the previous year and the most in over a decade.
Motor vehicle theft can be either the theft or attempted theft of a vehicle, such as a car or ATV. Some experts attribute the rising rates of vehicle theft to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to vehicles sitting unattended and unused for longer stretches than usual. Here is a look at the 10 most stolen cars in America.
Adjusting for population, the national motor vehicle theft rate stands at 246 incidents for every 100,000 people, up 25 incidents per 100,000 over the previous year. All but 10 states also reported rising rates of vehicle theft, and in some, the surge was many times higher than the national increase.
Using data from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where vehicle theft is rising fastest. States are ranked by the year-over-year change in the number of motor vehicle thefts reported for every 100,000 people.
Depending on the state, the year-over-year change in vehicle theft ranges from a decline of 87 incidents per 100,000 people to a spike of 147 per 100,000. Though there are exceptions, a majority of states reporting the largest year-over-year increase in motor vehicle theft also have a higher than average motor theft rate overall, and vice-versa.
Vehicle theft accounts for about 13% of all property crime – a category that also includes burglary and larceny theft. Though most states reported rising rates of vehicle theft, the overall property crime rate fell in all but 11 states. Here is a look at the cities where property crime is soaring.
Click here for the states where the car theft rate is soaring
50. Alaska
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: -87.4
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 1,969 (8th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 269.3 (15th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -642.0 (2nd lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,260.5 (13th highest)
> Population: 731,545
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49. Alabama
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: -36.7
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 10,926 (23rd highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 222.0 (23rd lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -486.0 (3rd lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,136.8 (19th highest)
> Population: 4,903,185
48. Nevada
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: -28.3
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 10,556 (25th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 336.4 (9th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -403.8 (5th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,926.6 (24th lowest)
> Population: 3,080,156
47. New Mexico
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: -18.0
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 9,006 (21st lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 427.6 (2nd highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -337.0 (8th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,841.9 (2nd highest)
> Population: 2,096,829
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46. Maryland
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: -13.4
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 10,469 (25th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 172.9 (17th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -340.5 (7th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,609.8 (15th lowest)
> Population: 6,045,680
45. South Carolina
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: -12.0
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 14,718 (19th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 282.1 (13th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -225.4 (15th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,721.1 (5th highest)
> Population: 5,148,714
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44. Vermont
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: -6.4
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 264 (the lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 42.4 (the lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -220.1 (17th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,217.0 (6th lowest)
> Population: 623,989
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43. Florida
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: -5.8
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 38,271 (3rd highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 176.1 (18th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -375.4 (6th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,769.4 (19th lowest)
> Population: 21,477,737
42. Arizona
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: -5.6
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 17,937 (14th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 241.7 (24th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -208.3 (18th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,227.7 (15th highest)
> Population: 7,278,717
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41. New Jersey
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: -0.5
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 10,278 (23rd lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 115.7 (7th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -176.1 (22nd lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,158.2 (5th lowest)
> Population: 8,882,190
40. Nebraska
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +3.2
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 5,048 (13th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 260.5 (18th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -137.5 (22nd highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,909.2 (23rd lowest)
> Population: 1,934,408
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39. West Virginia
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +3.6
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 2,271 (10th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 127.2 (10th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -122.8 (16th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,399.4 (9th lowest)
> Population: 1,792,147
38. Delaware
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +4.4
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 1,665 (6th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 168.7 (14th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -284.2 (12th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,961.4 (25th highest)
> Population: 973,764
37. Michigan
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +5.8
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 18,385 (13th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 184.5 (19th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -224.7 (16th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,360.9 (8th lowest)
> Population: 9,986,857
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36. Virginia
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +5.8
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 10,853 (24th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 126.3 (9th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -190.8 (21st lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,456.4 (11th lowest)
> Population: 8,535,519
35. Idaho
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +6.8
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 1,767 (7th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 96.7 (4th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -131.5 (21st highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,111.9 (3rd lowest)
> Population: 1,787,065
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34. New Hampshire
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +7.1
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 1,044 (4th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 76.4 (3rd lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -117.5 (15th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,098.9 (2nd lowest)
> Population: 1,359,711
33. Maine
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +9.9
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 862 (2nd lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 63.8 (2nd lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -91.5 (13th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,156.2 (4th lowest)
> Population: 1,344,212
32. Massachusetts
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +10.2
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 6,835 (17th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 99.2 (5th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -127.4 (18th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,053.2 (the lowest)
> Population: 6,892,503
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31. Kansas
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +11.5
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 7,229 (18th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 248.1 (22nd highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -77.4 (12th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,199.1 (17th highest)
> Population: 2,913,314
30. Ohio
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +11.8
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 20,077 (11th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 171.7 (16th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -206.2 (19th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,850.3 (22nd lowest)
> Population: 11,689,100
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29. Hawaii
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +12.1
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 5,344 (14th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 379.8 (6th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -457.9 (4th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,411.4 (12th highest)
> Population: 1,415,872
28. Mississippi
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +12.9
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 6,083 (15th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 205.0 (22nd lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -239.6 (13th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,101.6 (23rd highest)
> Population: 2,976,149
27. Rhode Island
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +13.9
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 1,509 (5th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 142.7 (11th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -296.1 (11th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,245.5 (7th lowest)
> Population: 1,059,361
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26. Arkansas
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +14.2
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 7,933 (19th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 261.8 (17th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -234.3 (14th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,613.4 (8th highest)
> Population: 3,017,804
25. North Carolina
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +14.8
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 20,520 (10th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 193.6 (20th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -165.0 (24th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,226.5 (16th highest)
> Population: 10,488,084
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24. Texas
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +16.7
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 84,276 (2nd highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 287.0 (12th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -160.6 (25th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,245.0 (14th highest)
> Population: 28,995,881
23. Illinois
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +19.3
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 21,332 (8th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 169.5 (15th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -296.1 (10th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,559.4 (13th lowest)
> Population: 12,671,821
22. Iowa
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +21.1
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 6,235 (16th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 197.1 (21st lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -151.5 (23rd highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,698.2 (18th lowest)
> Population: 3,155,070
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21. Montana
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +22.1
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 2,676 (12th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 247.6 (23rd highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -115.3 (14th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,120.8 (22nd highest)
> Population: 1,068,778
20. Oregon
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +23.0
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 16,585 (15th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 391.0 (5th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -129.5 (19th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,659.0 (7th highest)
> Population: 4,217,737
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19. Tennessee
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +23.9
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 21,098 (9th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 306.4 (11th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -168.9 (23rd lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,492.8 (10th highest)
> Population: 6,829,174
18. Indiana
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +24.0
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 15,435 (17th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 228.5 (24th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -164.5 (25th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,783.2 (21st lowest)
> Population: 6,732,219
17. Pennsylvania
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +24.1
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 15,474 (16th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 121.0 (8th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: +240.3 (2nd highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,644.1 (17th lowest)
> Population: 12,801,989
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16. Georgia
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +26.5
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 25,506 (6th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 238.2 (25th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -766.6 (the lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,007.4 (24th highest)
> Population: 10,617,423
15. Kentucky
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +26.8
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 11,497 (22nd highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 256.8 (20th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -129.7 (20th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,779.5 (20th lowest)
> Population: 4,467,673
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14. North Dakota
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +30.2
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 2,074 (9th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 271.0 (14th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: +124.7 (6th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,124.1 (21st highest)
> Population: 762,062
13. Washington
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +30.6
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 27,399 (5th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 356.1 (8th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: +6.7 (11th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,732.4 (4th highest)
> Population: 7,614,893
12. Wisconsin
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +31.6
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 9,393 (22nd lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 161.0 (12th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: +12.7 (10th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,485.7 (12th lowest)
> Population: 5,822,434
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11. Louisiana
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +33.7
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 12,400 (21st highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 266.9 (16th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -302.0 (9th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,884.4 (the highest)
> Population: 4,648,794
10. New York
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +34.6
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 19,656 (12th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 101.7 (6th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: +24.6 (9th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,410.7 (10th lowest)
> Population: 19,453,561
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9. Oklahoma
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +37.5
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 15,047 (18th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 378.0 (7th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -160.1 (24th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,705.6 (6th highest)
> Population: 3,956,971
8. Wyoming
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +41.1
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 964 (3rd lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 165.5 (13th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: +42.5 (7th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,610.6 (16th lowest)
> Population: 578,759
7. Missouri
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +46.6
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 24,189 (7th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 393.2 (4th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -127.1 (17th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,531.0 (9th highest)
> Population: 6,137,428
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6. Minnesota
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +50.4
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 14,146 (20th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 250.0 (21st highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: +33.2 (8th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,124.9 (20th highest)
> Population: 5,639,632
5. South Dakota
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +61.0
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 2,315 (11th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 259.3 (19th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: +188.5 (4th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,956.7 (25th lowest)
> Population: 884,659
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4. California
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +68.1
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 168,323 (the highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 427.6 (3rd highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: -196.9 (20th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,138.9 (18th highest)
> Population: 39,512,223
3. Connecticut
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +68.7
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 8,422 (20th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 236.8 (25th lowest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: +132.8 (5th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,565.1 (14th lowest)
> Population: 3,565,287
2. Utah
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +106.4
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 10,288 (24th lowest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 316.6 (10th highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: +295.8 (the highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,464.4 (11th highest)
> Population: 3,205,958
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1. Colorado
> 1-yr. change in reported vehicle-theft cases per 100K people: +147.1
> Vehicle-thefts reported in 2020: 30,452 (4th highest)
> Vehicle-thefts per 100K people in 2020: 524.3 (the highest)
> 1-yr. change in all property crime: +219.2 (3rd highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,833.8 (3rd highest)
> Population: 5,758,736
Methodology
To determine the states where the motor vehicle theft rate is rising fastest, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the change in motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 people from the FBI’s 2019 and 2020 Uniform Crime Reports.
Limited data was available in the 2020 UCR for areas in Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though these states were not excluded from analysis. Because some state and local agencies changed reporting practices between 2019 and 2020, the figures are not comparable, and the areas were excluded.
Population figures are one-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. However, these estimates were not used to calculate crime rates. Crime rates per 100,000 people were calculated using population figures provided by the FBI in the 2020 and 2019 UCR.
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