Car thefts dropped in 2024 but which cars were still stolen the most?

(WJET/WFXP)– For the first time in four years, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has reported car thefts dropped nationwide in 2024 to pre-pandemic levels however some familiar models were still stolen the most.

Each year the NICB tracks how many vehicles are stolen in collaboration with law enforcement agencies in every state with 2024 seeing approximately 170,000 fewer thefts than in 2023 after they rose each year since 2020.

According to the NICB, 850,708 vehicles were reported stolen marking a 17% drop from 2023 where 1,020,729 were stolen with Washington (-32%), Nevada (-31%), Oregon (-30%), Nebraska (-29%) and Colorado (-26%) seeing the largest decrease in thefts percentage-wise.

The NICB also said only one state saw an increase in vehicle thefts in Maine which only saw a 2% increase in thefts from 2023 to 2024. The following five states had the highest vehicle theft rate per 100,000 people:

As for the cars that were stolen, Hyundai sedans took the two top spots again with the Elantra and Sonata being the two most stolen cars for the third year in a row stemming from a video posted on social media in May 2022 detailing how to steal different models of Kia and Hyundai vehicles sparking a trend called the “Kia Challenge.”

“The overall decrease in stolen vehicles nationwide is a testament to the hard work and collaboration between law enforcement, multi-jurisdictional auto theft task forces, governing bodies, vehicle manufacturers, and NICB,” said David J. Glawe, President and CEO of NICB. “Collectively, these groups used data and intelligence to develop actionable strategies to help local authorities investigate and prosecute offenders and to prevent vehicle theft from occurring in the first place.” 

To help prevent vehicle thefts, the NICB recommends drivers park in well-lit areas, close and lock all doors and windows when parked, hide any valuables where they can’t be seen, and not leave the area while your vehicle is running.

If your vehicle is stolen, the NICB said to contact law enforcement immediately and get a copy of the report to give to your auto insurance providers.

The top five most stolen vehicles were as follows: