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Thefts of Hyundai Elantras in Maryland and Honda CR-Vs in Vermont More Than Tripled Between 2021 and 2022

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If you double- or triple-check that you locked your car before going inside, there’s a good reason: There’s a higher chance your vehicle could be stolen nowadays. In fact, auto thefts increased 17.4% nationally between 2019 and 2021, and the coronavirus pandemic and a TikTok trend are partially to blame.

The newest LendingTree study looked at vehicle thefts nationally and at the state, metro and vehicle levels. And while you may assume car insurance would cover theft, that isn’t always the case.

Here’s what you need to know about vehicle thefts, whether you own a car or not.

Key findings

Vehicle thefts increased 17.4% between 2019 and 2021. 932,329 vehicles were reported stolen in the U.S. in 2021 (the latest year available nationally) — significantly more than the 794,019 thefts in 2019. The increase in vehicle thefts between 2019 and 2020 (10.9%) was bigger than between 2020 and 2021 (5.9%).
Utica, N.Y., saw a 161.5% increase in auto thefts in the same period. This central New York metro was one of nine metros that saw at least a 100.0% jump between 2019 and 2021. Milwaukee (116.6%) and Ithaca, N.Y. (112.0%), followed. 40 U.S. metros saw at least a 50.0% jump in the same period.
Colorado and Wisconsin were the only states where vehicle thefts rose by at least 75.0% between 2019 and 2021. Colorado saw an 80.4% spike, while auto thefts rose 75.2% in Wisconsin. Vermont (64.7%) joined them with the third-highest jump. 16 states saw at least a 25.0% jump between 2019 and 2021, while six states saw a decrease.
Thefts of Hyundai Elantras in Maryland and Honda CR-Vs in Vermont more than tripled between 2021 and 2022 at 253.8% and 230.0%, respectively. Looking at the percentage change in thefts between 2021 and 2022 among the 10 most stolen vehicles in each state, six states had at least one car with a 100.0% increase. Just two states — Kentucky and Utah — didn’t register an increase among their 10 most stolen vehicles.

Vehicle thefts jump 17.4% between 2019 and 2021

In 2019, 794,019 cars were reported stolen in the U.S., but that number jumped to 932,329 in 2021 (the latest available nationally). This represents a 17.4% spike over two years. Why the jump?

One key factor was the pandemic. In 2020, the sudden shift to working from home and people leaving their vehicles parked in the same place for longer periods offered new opportunities for car thieves. In fact, a May 2020 Associated Press report highlighted that the keys were nearby in 72% of stolen vehicle cases in April 2020 in Austin, Texas. After all, if you know the owner isn’t using a car, there’s a smaller chance of getting caught.

The data shows the severity of the pandemic problems, as 2019 to 2020 accounted for a bigger increase in vehicle thefts (10.9%) than 2020 to 2021 (5.9%). In 2021, most states that had set capacity limits or distancing and mask requirements had ended these restrictions. Vehicle thefts continued an upward trend as people started using their cars more regularly but not at the same pace as the previous year.

The prepandemic data tells a different story, with decreases between 2017 and 2018 (-1.6%) and 2018 and 2019 (-3.2%). Here’s a closer look dating to 2016:

Vehicle thefts nationally since 2016

Year Vehicle thefts % change YoY

2016 819,530 N/A

2017 833,740 1.7%

2018 819,988 -1.6%

2019 794,019 -3.2%

2020 880,595 10.9%

2021 932,329 5.9%

Year	Vehicle thefts	% change YoY
2016	819,530	N/A
2017	833,740	1.7%
2018	819,988	-1.6%
2019	794,019	-3.2%
2020	880,595	10.9%
2021	932,329	5.9%

Source: LendingTree analysis of National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) data. Note: U.S. totals include Puerto Rico.

Utica, N.Y., leads 9 metros where vehicle thefts spike by at least 100.0%

Where you live can have a major impact on how likely it is that your car will be stolen. According to the data, there were nine U.S. metros where vehicle thefts rose by at least 100.0% from 2019 to 2021, with Utica, N.Y., leading the pack at a whopping 161.5% increase. That’s the highest increase by a wide margin — Milwaukee (116.6%) and Ithaca, N.Y. (112.0%), ranked second and third, respectively.

All told, of the 100 U.S. metros with the largest percentage change, 40 saw jumps in vehicle thefts of at least 50.0% during the observed period. (If you zoom out and look at our full list of 383 metros analyzed, 277 saw an increase between 2019 and 2021, two saw no change and 104 saw a decrease).

Change in vehicle thefts by metro between 2019 and 2021

Rank Metro Vehicle thefts, 2019 Vehicle thefts, 2021 % change in vehicle thefts, 2019 to 2021

1 Utica, NY 135 353 161.5%

2 Milwaukee, WI 4,323 9,365 116.6%

3 Ithaca, NY 25 53 112.0%

4 Cheyenne, WY 197 411 108.6%

5 Wenatchee, WA 110 226 105.5%

6 Denver, CO 14,093 28,683 103.5%

7 Williamsport, PA 36 73 102.8%

8 Charlottesville, VA 133 267 100.8%

9 Glens Falls, NY 22 44 100.0%

10 Rochester, NY 911 1,788 96.3%

11 Elmira, NY 34 66 94.1%

11 Kalamazoo, MI 663 1,267 91.1%

13 Bellingham, WA 297 555 86.9%

14 Mount Vernon, WA 265 495 86.8%

14 Burlington, VT 159 297 86.8%

16 Grand Junction, CO 262 483 84.4%

17 Longview, WA 195 359 84.1%

18 Pueblo, CO 832 1,512 81.7%

19 Bangor, ME 81 146 80.2%

20 Buffalo, NY 1,426 2,558 79.4%

21 Greeley, CO 734 1,316 79.3%

22 Watertown, NY 25 44 76.0%

23 Bremerton, WA 479 839 75.2%

24 Grand Rapids, MI 1,139 1,965 72.5%

25 Idaho Falls, ID 116 195 68.1%

26 Poughkeepsie, NY 232 387 66.8%

27 Sioux Falls, SD 725 1,207 66.5%

28 Pittsfield, MA 67 111 65.7%

29 Midland, MI 28 46 64.3%

30 Billings, MT 699 1,143 63.5%

31 Kennewick, WA 494 793 60.5%

32 Fort Collins, CO 521 829 59.1%

33 Bloomsburg, PA 33 52 57.6%

34 Boulder, CO 684 1,064 55.6%

35 Binghamton, NY 128 199 55.5%

36 Santa Maria, CA 1,288 1,992 54.7%

37 Kankakee, IL 89 135 51.7%

37 Janesville, WI 149 226 51.7%

39 Pocatello, ID 147 221 50.3%

40 Green Bay, WI 204 306 50.0%

41 Portland, OR 11,400 17,084 49.9%

42 Hanford, CA 414 617 49.0%

43 Racine, WI 190 282 48.4%

44 Logan, UT 59 87 47.5%

45 Fargo, ND 540 796 47.4%

46 Jackson, MI 191 280 46.6%

47 Santa Rosa, CA 808 1,181 46.2%

48 Burlington, NC 264 385 45.8%

49 Columbus, OH 5,483 7,922 44.5%

49 Los Angeles, CA 49,441 71,422 44.5%

51 Akron, OH 1,108 1,594 43.9%

52 Dalton, GA 169 243 43.8%

53 Bakersfield, CA 6,538 9,394 43.7%

54 Bridgeport, CT 1,400 1,990 42.1%

55 Las Cruces, NM 603 856 42.0%

56 Syracuse, NY 714 1,013 41.9%

57 New York, NY 18,574 26,109 40.6%

58 Champaign, IL 217 304 40.1%

59 Monroe, MI 118 165 39.8%

60 Bismarck, ND 216 301 39.4%

61 Scranton, PA 361 503 39.3%

62 Waco, TX 518 721 39.2%

63 Santa Fe, NM 371 516 39.1%

64 Seattle, WA 16,807 23,366 39.0%

65 Washington, DC 9,907 13,759 38.9%

66 Albany, NY 693 962 38.8%

67 Duluth, MN 485 672 38.6%

68 La Crosse, WI 120 166 38.3%

69 Wichita Falls, TX 317 438 38.2%

70 Minneapolis, MN 10,163 14,039 38.1%

71 Waterloo, IA 219 302 37.9%

72 Jonesboro, AR 318 438 37.7%

73 Kingston, NY 59 81 37.3%

74 Philadelphia, PA 11,251 15,414 37.0%

75 Manchester, NH 255 349 36.9%

76 Casper, WY 106 145 36.8%

77 Madison, WI 969 1,325 36.7%

78 St. George, UT 182 248 36.3%

78 Winchester, VA 80 109 36.3%

80 Danville, IL 94 128 36.2%

81 San Luis Obispo, CA 456 620 36.0%

82 Ames, IA 109 148 35.8%

83 Owensboro, KY 176 238 35.2%

84 Lansing, MI 817 1,104 35.1%

84 Albany, OR 205 277 35.1%

86 Athens, GA 337 455 35.0%

87 Terre Haute, IN 409 551 34.7%

88 San Francisco, CA 23,296 31,247 34.1%

89 Fort Smith, AR 652 874 34.0%

89 Erie, PA 162 217 34.0%

91 Columbus, IN 96 128 33.3%

92 Abilene, TX 239 317 32.6%

92 Austin, TX 4,965 6,582 32.6%

94 Bay City, MI 91 120 31.9%

95 Saginaw, MI 142 187 31.7%

96 Hartford, CT 1,948 2,560 31.4%

96 Lafayette, LA 880 1,156 31.4%

98 Salt Lake City, UT 4,511 5,922 31.3%

99 Rapid City, SD 439 575 31.0%

100 Muncie, IN 223 292 30.9%

Rank	Metro	Vehicle thefts, 2019	Vehicle thefts, 2021	% change in vehicle thefts, 2019 to 2021
1	Utica, NY	135	353	161.5%
2	Milwaukee, WI	4,323	9,365	116.6%
3	Ithaca, NY	25	53	112.0%
4	Cheyenne, WY	197	411	108.6%
5	Wenatchee, WA	110	226	105.5%
6	Denver, CO	14,093	28,683	103.5%
7	Williamsport, PA	36	73	102.8%
8	Charlottesville, VA	133	267	100.8%
9	Glens Falls, NY	22	44	100.0%
10	Rochester, NY	911	1,788	96.3%
11	Elmira, NY	34	66	94.1%
11	Kalamazoo, MI	663	1,267	91.1%
13	Bellingham, WA	297	555	86.9%
14	Mount Vernon, WA	265	495	86.8%
14	Burlington, VT	159	297	86.8%
16	Grand Junction, CO	262	483	84.4%
17	Longview, WA	195	359	84.1%
18	Pueblo, CO	832	1,512	81.7%
19	Bangor, ME	81	146	80.2%
20	Buffalo, NY	1,426	2,558	79.4%
21	Greeley, CO	734	1,316	79.3%
22	Watertown, NY	25	44	76.0%
23	Bremerton, WA	479	839	75.2%
24	Grand Rapids, MI	1,139	1,965	72.5%
25	Idaho Falls, ID	116	195	68.1%
26	Poughkeepsie, NY	232	387	66.8%
27	Sioux Falls, SD	725	1,207	66.5%
28	Pittsfield, MA	67	111	65.7%
29	Midland, MI	28	46	64.3%
30	Billings, MT	699	1,143	63.5%
31	Kennewick, WA	494	793	60.5%
32	Fort Collins, CO	521	829	59.1%
33	Bloomsburg, PA	33	52	57.6%
34	Boulder, CO	684	1,064	55.6%
35	Binghamton, NY	128	199	55.5%
36	Santa Maria, CA	1,288	1,992	54.7%
37	Kankakee, IL	89	135	51.7%
37	Janesville, WI	149	226	51.7%
39	Pocatello, ID	147	221	50.3%
40	Green Bay, WI	204	306	50.0%
41	Portland, OR	11,400	17,084	49.9%
42	Hanford, CA	414	617	49.0%
43	Racine, WI	190	282	48.4%
44	Logan, UT	59	87	47.5%
45	Fargo, ND	540	796	47.4%
46	Jackson, MI	191	280	46.6%
47	Santa Rosa, CA	808	1,181	46.2%
48	Burlington, NC	264	385	45.8%
49	Columbus, OH	5,483	7,922	44.5%
49	Los Angeles, CA	49,441	71,422	44.5%
51	Akron, OH	1,108	1,594	43.9%
52	Dalton, GA	169	243	43.8%
53	Bakersfield, CA	6,538	9,394	43.7%
54	Bridgeport, CT	1,400	1,990	42.1%
55	Las Cruces, NM	603	856	42.0%
56	Syracuse, NY	714	1,013	41.9%
57	New York, NY	18,574	26,109	40.6%
58	Champaign, IL	217	304	40.1%
59	Monroe, MI	118	165	39.8%
60	Bismarck, ND	216	301	39.4%
61	Scranton, PA	361	503	39.3%
62	Waco, TX	518	721	39.2%
63	Santa Fe, NM	371	516	39.1%
64	Seattle, WA	16,807	23,366	39.0%
65	Washington, DC	9,907	13,759	38.9%
66	Albany, NY	693	962	38.8%
67	Duluth, MN	485	672	38.6%
68	La Crosse, WI	120	166	38.3%
69	Wichita Falls, TX	317	438	38.2%
70	Minneapolis, MN	10,163	14,039	38.1%
71	Waterloo, IA	219	302	37.9%
72	Jonesboro, AR	318	438	37.7%
73	Kingston, NY	59	81	37.3%
74	Philadelphia, PA	11,251	15,414	37.0%
75	Manchester, NH	255	349	36.9%
76	Casper, WY	106	145	36.8%
77	Madison, WI	969	1,325	36.7%
78	St. George, UT	182	248	36.3%
78	Winchester, VA	80	109	36.3%
80	Danville, IL	94	128	36.2%
81	San Luis Obispo, CA	456	620	36.0%
82	Ames, IA	109	148	35.8%
83	Owensboro, KY	176	238	35.2%
84	Lansing, MI	817	1,104	35.1%
84	Albany, OR	205	277	35.1%
86	Athens, GA	337	455	35.0%
87	Terre Haute, IN	409	551	34.7%
88	San Francisco, CA	23,296	31,247	34.1%
89	Fort Smith, AR	652	874	34.0%
89	Erie, PA	162	217	34.0%
91	Columbus, IN	96	128	33.3%
92	Abilene, TX	239	317	32.6%
92	Austin, TX	4,965	6,582	32.6%
94	Bay City, MI	91	120	31.9%
95	Saginaw, MI	142	187	31.7%
96	Hartford, CT	1,948	2,560	31.4%
96	Lafayette, LA	880	1,156	31.4%
98	Salt Lake City, UT	4,511	5,922	31.3%
99	Rapid City, SD	439	575	31.0%
100	Muncie, IN	223	292	30.9%

Source: LendingTree analysis of NICB data. Note: Limited to the 100 metros with the largest percentage increases.

In Utica, the median household income in 2021 was $43,509 — 37.0% lower than the U.S. average of $69,021. According to a 2022 report from the nonpartisan Common Sense Institute, vehicle thefts are more common in low-income communities. The Utica Police Department’s annual report cited an 84% annual jump in motor vehicle thefts between 2020 (118) and 2021 (217). (2019 figures weren’t listed.) The Utica metro also includes nearby Rome, where the rest of the thefts would have occurred.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee’s median household income in 2021 was only a touch higher than Utica’s, at $45,318 — still 34.3% lower than the national average. A similar scenario plays out in the city Police Department’s annual report, though its 2021 numbers there appear higher than on the NICB data. The annual report shows motor vehicle thefts in Milwaukee increased from 3,487 in 2019 to 4,509 in 2020 to 10,480 in 2021. This occurred as the city prioritized auto theft (among other crimes), partnering with companies to offer free steering wheel locks.

Lastly, Ithaca had the lowest median household income in 2021 of the top-three ranking metros, at $40,973 — 40.6% lower than the U.S. average. Ithaca’s totals are far lower than its counterparts, with motor vehicle thefts increasing 112.0% from 25 to 53. According to the city Police Department’s annual reports, the city itself saw a 13% decrease in motor vehicle thefts between 2019 and 2020 but a 208% increase between 2020 and 2021. Further, Ithaca is also home to Cornell University and Ithaca College — notably, in 2020, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that motor vehicle thefts accounted for 12.0% of reported on-campus crimes.

If you were to include all 383 metros analyzed, Florence, Ala. (-29.0%), Beckley, W.Va. (-28.9%), and Homosassa Springs, Fla. (-28.8%), saw the biggest decreases in car theft rates between 2019 and 2021.

While we focused on the number of vehicle thefts, the data can differ based on the vehicle theft rate per 100,000 residents. In this case, the top three metros remained the same, but other changes occurred among the top 100. Here’s a closer look:

Change in vehicle theft rates by metro between 2019 and 2021

Rank Metro Vehicle theft rate per 100,000 residents, 2019 Vehicle theft rate per 100,000 residents, 2021 % change in vehicle theft rate, 2019 to 2021

1 Utica, NY 46.6 121.6 161.3%

2 Milwaukee, WI 274.4 597.8 117.8%

3 Ithaca, NY 24.5 50.4 106.0%

4 Cheyenne, WY 198.0 407.5 105.8%

5 Denver, CO 475.0 964.9 103.2%

6 Williamsport, PA 31.8 64.3 102.3%

7 Wenatchee, WA 91.2 183.2 100.9%

8 Glens Falls, NY 17.6 34.8 97.7%

9 Charlottesville, VA 60.8 119.9 97.1%

10 Elmira, NY 40.7 79.5 95.1%

11 Kalamazoo, MI 250.1 485.2 94.0%

12 Rochester, NY 85.2 164.8 93.5%

13 Bellingham, WA 129.6 242.5 87.2%

14 Mount Vernon, WA 205.1 378.7 84.7%

15 Longview, WA 176.3 321.9 82.6%

16 Burlington, VT 72.1 131.1 81.7%

17 Grand Junction, CO 169.9 307.0 80.7%

18 Pueblo, CO 494.0 891.4 80.4%

19 Bangor, ME 53.2 95.6 79.5%

20 Buffalo, NY 126.4 220.1 74.1%

21 Bremerton, WA 176.4 305.9 73.3%

22 Greeley, CO 226.2 387.0 71.1%

23 Grand Rapids, MI 105.7 180.0 70.3%

24 Watertown, NY 22.8 37.8 66.2%

25 Midland, MI 33.7 55.1 63.7%

26 Poughkeepsie, NY 34.2 55.2 61.5%

27 Pittsfield, MA 53.6 86.3 60.9%

28 Billings, MT 384.8 611.1 58.8%

29 Sioux Falls, SD 270.3 428.1 58.4%

30 Bloomsburg, PA 39.7 62.7 58.0%

31 Fort Collins, CO 146.0 228.7 56.6%

32 Idaho Falls, ID 76.6 119.8 56.5%

33 Kankakee, IL 81.0 126.6 56.3%

34 Kennewick, WA 164.9 257.2 56.0%

35 Santa Maria, CA 288.5 446.2 54.7%

36 Boulder, CO 209.7 322.9 54.0%

37 Binghamton, NY 53.6 81.2 51.3%

38 Janesville, WI 91.2 137.5 50.7%

39 Pocatello, ID 153.9 229.7 49.2%

40 Portland, OR 457.4 680.2 48.7%

40 Santa Rosa, CA 163.5 243.1 48.7%

42 Hanford, CA 270.7 402.1 48.5%

43 Racine, WI 96.8 143.2 48.0%

44 Green Bay, WI 63.2 92.9 47.0%

45 Los Angeles, CA 374.1 549.5 46.9%

46 Dalton, GA 116.8 170.2 45.7%

47 Jackson, MI 120.5 175.0 45.2%

48 Akron, OH 157.5 227.7 44.6%

49 Fargo, ND 219.4 315.7 43.9%

50 Columbus, OH 258.4 368.3 42.5%

51 Champaign, IL 96.0 136.5 42.2%

51 Burlington, NC 155.7 221.4 42.2%

53 Danville, IL 124.1 175.1 41.1%

54 Bakersfield, CA 726.3 1,023.7 40.9%

55 Wichita Falls, TX 209.6 293.9 40.2%

56 Las Cruces, NM 276.4 386.4 39.8%

56 Syracuse, NY 110.1 153.9 39.8%

58 Bridgeport, CT 148.4 207.3 39.7%

59 Waterloo, IA 130.0 180.0 38.5%

60 Seattle, WA 422.3 582.5 37.9%

60 Logan, UT 41.5 57.2 37.9%

62 Lansing, MI 148.4 204.3 37.7%

63 Duluth, MN 168.0 231.1 37.6%

64 Casper, WY 132.7 182.3 37.3%

64 San Francisco, CA 492.3 675.9 37.3%

66 Washington, DC 157.7 216.5 37.2%

67 Fort Smith, AR 260.4 356.1 36.7%

67 Jonesboro, AR 237.6 324.7 36.7%

69 New York, NY 96.7 132.1 36.6%

70 Minneapolis, MN 279.2 380.4 36.3%

71 Waco, TX 189.1 257.1 36.0%

72 San Luis Obispo, CA 161.1 219.0 35.9%

72 Scranton, PA 65.2 88.6 35.9%

72 Albany, NY 78.7 107.0 35.9%

75 Terre Haute, IN 219.5 298.0 35.8%

76 La Crosse, WI 87.8 119.2 35.7%

77 Monroe, MI 78.4 106.3 35.5%

78 Columbus, IN 114.6 155.2 35.4%

79 Albany, OR 158.0 213.3 35.0%

80 Santa Fe, NM 246.7 332.5 34.7%

81 Manchester, NH 61.2 82.3 34.6%

82 Erie, PA 60.1 80.7 34.3%

83 Philadelphia, PA 184.4 247.5 34.2%

84 Lafayette, LA 179.9 241.2 34.1%

85 Brunswick, GA 176.8 236.9 34.0%

86 Bismarck, ND 167.5 223.9 33.7%

87 Muncie, IN 195.4 261.0 33.6%

88 Florence, SC 298.2 398.0 33.5%

89 Owensboro, KY 147.4 196.3 33.2%

89 Kingston, NY 33.2 44.3 33.2%

91 Madison, WI 145.7 194.0 33.1%

92 Ames, IA 88.4 117.3 32.7%

93 Athens, GA 157.7 209.0 32.5%

94 Saginaw, MI 74.5 98.6 32.3%

95 Bay City, MI 88.2 116.5 32.0%

96 Winchester, VA 56.9 75.1 31.9%

97 Lima, OH 92.8 122.0 31.4%

98 Rapid City, SD 308.9 405.0 31.1%

99 Hartford, CT 161.7 211.2 30.7%

100 Canton, OH 167.5 215.7 28.8%

Rank	Metro	Vehicle theft rate per 100,000 residents, 2019	Vehicle theft rate per 100,000 residents, 2021	% change in vehicle theft rate, 2019 to 2021
1	Utica, NY	46.6	121.6	161.3%
2	Milwaukee, WI	274.4	597.8	117.8%
3	Ithaca, NY	24.5	50.4	106.0%
4	Cheyenne, WY	198.0	407.5	105.8%
5	Denver, CO	475.0	964.9	103.2%
6	Williamsport, PA	31.8	64.3	102.3%
7	Wenatchee, WA	91.2	183.2	100.9%
8	Glens Falls, NY	17.6	34.8	97.7%
9	Charlottesville, VA	60.8	119.9	97.1%
10	Elmira, NY	40.7	79.5	95.1%
11	Kalamazoo, MI	250.1	485.2	94.0%
12	Rochester, NY	85.2	164.8	93.5%
13	Bellingham, WA	129.6	242.5	87.2%
14	Mount Vernon, WA	205.1	378.7	84.7%
15	Longview, WA	176.3	321.9	82.6%
16	Burlington, VT	72.1	131.1	81.7%
17	Grand Junction, CO	169.9	307.0	80.7%
18	Pueblo, CO	494.0	891.4	80.4%
19	Bangor, ME	53.2	95.6	79.5%
20	Buffalo, NY	126.4	220.1	74.1%
21	Bremerton, WA	176.4	305.9	73.3%
22	Greeley, CO	226.2	387.0	71.1%
23	Grand Rapids, MI	105.7	180.0	70.3%
24	Watertown, NY	22.8	37.8	66.2%
25	Midland, MI	33.7	55.1	63.7%
26	Poughkeepsie, NY	34.2	55.2	61.5%
27	Pittsfield, MA	53.6	86.3	60.9%
28	Billings, MT	384.8	611.1	58.8%
29	Sioux Falls, SD	270.3	428.1	58.4%
30	Bloomsburg, PA	39.7	62.7	58.0%
31	Fort Collins, CO	146.0	228.7	56.6%
32	Idaho Falls, ID	76.6	119.8	56.5%
33	Kankakee, IL	81.0	126.6	56.3%
34	Kennewick, WA	164.9	257.2	56.0%
35	Santa Maria, CA	288.5	446.2	54.7%
36	Boulder, CO	209.7	322.9	54.0%
37	Binghamton, NY	53.6	81.2	51.3%
38	Janesville, WI	91.2	137.5	50.7%
39	Pocatello, ID	153.9	229.7	49.2%
40	Portland, OR	457.4	680.2	48.7%
40	Santa Rosa, CA	163.5	243.1	48.7%
42	Hanford, CA	270.7	402.1	48.5%
43	Racine, WI	96.8	143.2	48.0%
44	Green Bay, WI	63.2	92.9	47.0%
45	Los Angeles, CA	374.1	549.5	46.9%
46	Dalton, GA	116.8	170.2	45.7%
47	Jackson, MI	120.5	175.0	45.2%
48	Akron, OH	157.5	227.7	44.6%
49	Fargo, ND	219.4	315.7	43.9%
50	Columbus, OH	258.4	368.3	42.5%
51	Champaign, IL	96.0	136.5	42.2%
51	Burlington, NC	155.7	221.4	42.2%
53	Danville, IL	124.1	175.1	41.1%
54	Bakersfield, CA	726.3	1,023.7	40.9%
55	Wichita Falls, TX	209.6	293.9	40.2%
56	Las Cruces, NM	276.4	386.4	39.8%
56	Syracuse, NY	110.1	153.9	39.8%
58	Bridgeport, CT	148.4	207.3	39.7%
59	Waterloo, IA	130.0	180.0	38.5%
60	Seattle, WA	422.3	582.5	37.9%
60	Logan, UT	41.5	57.2	37.9%
62	Lansing, MI	148.4	204.3	37.7%
63	Duluth, MN	168.0	231.1	37.6%
64	Casper, WY	132.7	182.3	37.3%
64	San Francisco, CA	492.3	675.9	37.3%
66	Washington, DC	157.7	216.5	37.2%
67	Fort Smith, AR	260.4	356.1	36.7%
67	Jonesboro, AR	237.6	324.7	36.7%
69	New York, NY	96.7	132.1	36.6%
70	Minneapolis, MN	279.2	380.4	36.3%
71	Waco, TX	189.1	257.1	36.0%
72	San Luis Obispo, CA	161.1	219.0	35.9%
72	Scranton, PA	65.2	88.6	35.9%
72	Albany, NY	78.7	107.0	35.9%
75	Terre Haute, IN	219.5	298.0	35.8%
76	La Crosse, WI	87.8	119.2	35.7%
77	Monroe, MI	78.4	106.3	35.5%
78	Columbus, IN	114.6	155.2	35.4%
79	Albany, OR	158.0	213.3	35.0%
80	Santa Fe, NM	246.7	332.5	34.7%
81	Manchester, NH	61.2	82.3	34.6%
82	Erie, PA	60.1	80.7	34.3%
83	Philadelphia, PA	184.4	247.5	34.2%
84	Lafayette, LA	179.9	241.2	34.1%
85	Brunswick, GA	176.8	236.9	34.0%
86	Bismarck, ND	167.5	223.9	33.7%
87	Muncie, IN	195.4	261.0	33.6%
88	Florence, SC	298.2	398.0	33.5%
89	Owensboro, KY	147.4	196.3	33.2%
89	Kingston, NY	33.2	44.3	33.2%
91	Madison, WI	145.7	194.0	33.1%
92	Ames, IA	88.4	117.3	32.7%
93	Athens, GA	157.7	209.0	32.5%
94	Saginaw, MI	74.5	98.6	32.3%
95	Bay City, MI	88.2	116.5	32.0%
96	Winchester, VA	56.9	75.1	31.9%
97	Lima, OH	92.8	122.0	31.4%
98	Rapid City, SD	308.9	405.0	31.1%
99	Hartford, CT	161.7	211.2	30.7%
100	Canton, OH	167.5	215.7	28.8%

Source: LendingTree analysis of NICB data. Note: Limited to the 100 metros with the largest percentage increases.

Notably, Bakersfield, Calif., had the highest number of car thefts per capita as of 2021, at 1,023.7 per 100,000 residents — thefts there rose 43.7% from 2019 to 2021.

Auto thefts climb by at least 75.0% in Colorado, Wisconsin

Some states fared better than others when it came to vehicle thefts. For example, Colorado (80.4%) and Wisconsin (75.2%) were the only states where vehicle thefts rose by at least 75.0% from 2019 to 2021.

While our data analyzed auto thefts through 2021, the previously cited Common Sense Institute report examined motor vehicle thefts in the Centennial State in the first six months of 2022, highlighting interesting points:

Colorado’s motor vehicle theft rate was the highest across the U.S. in the first six months of 2022
The estimated value of stolen vehicles in that period was $468.1 million to $848.3 million
The arrest rate per motor vehicle theft was below 10%
Vehicle thefts from Denver International Airport accounted for nearly 3% of thefts statewide

In our metro analysis of those with the biggest increases between 2019 and 2021, Colorado was represented three times in the top 20 — Denver (No. 6), Grand Junction (No. 16) and Pueblo (No. 18) — with Greeley just outside at No. 21.

Milwaukee — the largest city in Wisconsin (and No. 2 in our metro analysis) — was the dominant reason Wisconsin placed second here. The next-closest Badger State metro, Janesville, finished at No. 38.

Rounding out the top three was Vermont, with a 64.7% increase in car thefts, with the largest leap coming from 2020 to 2021. Despite the significant rise, however, we should note that the number of vehicles stolen in 2021 was 621 — the lowest in the U.S. by more than 200.

In total, 16 states — including seven in the West (Colorado, Wyoming, Washington, Utah, Oregon, Montana and California) — saw at least a 25.0% jump between 2019 and 2021. At the same time, six states — Alaska, West Virginia, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina — saw a decrease. Interestingly, all but one of those states are in the South.

Change in vehicle thefts by state between 2019 and 2021

Rank State Vehicle thefts, 2019 Vehicle thefts, 2021 % change in vehicle thefts, 2019 to 2021

1 Colorado 21,299 38,430 80.4%

2 Wisconsin 7,965 13,957 75.2%

3 Vermont 377 621 64.7%

4 New York 14,257 22,913 60.7%

5 District of Columbia 2,857 4,362 52.7%

6 Wyoming 638 937 46.9%

7 South Dakota 1,659 2,363 42.4%

8 Washington 25,210 35,746 41.8%

9 Maine 613 833 35.9%

10 Minnesota 12,640 16,968 34.2%

11 Utah 6,505 8,538 31.3%

12 Oregon 15,253 20,006 31.2%

13 Connecticut 5,944 7,771 30.7%

14 Pennsylvania 13,826 18,044 30.5%

15 Montana 2,313 2,919 26.2%

16 California 160,377 200,524 25.0%

17 Ohio 22,602 27,824 23.1%

18 Hawaii 2,694 3,313 23.0%

19 North Dakota 1,441 1,735 20.4%

20 New Hampshire 716 858 19.8%

21 New Jersey 12,386 14,818 19.6%

22 Michigan 18,089 21,283 17.7%

23 Virginia 10,791 12,320 14.2%

24 Louisiana 11,458 13,010 13.5%

25 Illinois 25,198 28,559 13.3%

26 Rhode Island 1,519 1,712 12.7%

26 Massachusetts 6,202 6,989 12.7%

28 Kentucky 9,521 10,707 12.5%

29 Arkansas 8,185 9,108 11.3%

30 Texas 85,253 94,500 10.8%

30 Arizona 18,624 20,637 10.8%

32 Kansas 8,287 9,151 10.4%

33 Nevada 12,169 13,417 10.3%

34 Idaho 1,673 1,839 9.9%

35 Tennessee 19,129 20,722 8.3%

35 Maryland 12,702 13,756 8.3%

37 Mississippi 5,910 6,396 8.2%

38 New Mexico 9,391 10,061 7.1%

39 Missouri 24,792 26,408 6.5%

40 Oklahoma 13,468 14,325 6.4%

41 North Carolina 21,321 22,487 5.5%

42 Delaware 1,790 1,872 4.6%

43 Iowa 5,673 5,913 4.2%

44 Indiana 15,630 16,081 2.9%

45 Nebraska 4,539 4,657 2.6%

46 South Carolina 16,372 16,209 -1.0%

47 Georgia 26,907 26,017 -3.3%

48 Alabama 12,252 11,384 -7.1%

49 Florida 46,465 42,808 -7.9%

50 West Virginia 2,747 2,297 -16.4%

51 Alaska 2,385 1,756 -26.4%

Rank	State	Vehicle thefts, 2019	Vehicle thefts, 2021	% change in vehicle thefts, 2019 to 2021
1	Colorado	21,299	38,430	80.4%
2	Wisconsin	7,965	13,957	75.2%
3	Vermont	377	621	64.7%
4	New York	14,257	22,913	60.7%
5	District of Columbia	2,857	4,362	52.7%
6	Wyoming	638	937	46.9%
7	South Dakota	1,659	2,363	42.4%
8	Washington	25,210	35,746	41.8%
9	Maine	613	833	35.9%
10	Minnesota	12,640	16,968	34.2%
11	Utah	6,505	8,538	31.3%
12	Oregon	15,253	20,006	31.2%
13	Connecticut	5,944	7,771	30.7%
14	Pennsylvania	13,826	18,044	30.5%
15	Montana	2,313	2,919	26.2%
16	California	160,377	200,524	25.0%
17	Ohio	22,602	27,824	23.1%
18	Hawaii	2,694	3,313	23.0%
19	North Dakota	1,441	1,735	20.4%
20	New Hampshire	716	858	19.8%
21	New Jersey	12,386	14,818	19.6%
22	Michigan	18,089	21,283	17.7%
23	Virginia	10,791	12,320	14.2%
24	Louisiana	11,458	13,010	13.5%
25	Illinois	25,198	28,559	13.3%
26	Rhode Island	1,519	1,712	12.7%
26	Massachusetts	6,202	6,989	12.7%
28	Kentucky	9,521	10,707	12.5%
29	Arkansas	8,185	9,108	11.3%
30	Texas	85,253	94,500	10.8%
30	Arizona	18,624	20,637	10.8%
32	Kansas	8,287	9,151	10.4%
33	Nevada	12,169	13,417	10.3%
34	Idaho	1,673	1,839	9.9%
35	Tennessee	19,129	20,722	8.3%
35	Maryland	12,702	13,756	8.3%
37	Mississippi	5,910	6,396	8.2%
38	New Mexico	9,391	10,061	7.1%
39	Missouri	24,792	26,408	6.5%
40	Oklahoma	13,468	14,325	6.4%
41	North Carolina	21,321	22,487	5.5%
42	Delaware	1,790	1,872	4.6%
43	Iowa	5,673	5,913	4.2%
44	Indiana	15,630	16,081	2.9%
45	Nebraska	4,539	4,657	2.6%
46	South Carolina	16,372	16,209	-1.0%
47	Georgia	26,907	26,017	-3.3%
48	Alabama	12,252	11,384	-7.1%
49	Florida	46,465	42,808	-7.9%
50	West Virginia	2,747	2,297	-16.4%
51	Alaska	2,385	1,756	-26.4%

Source: LendingTree analysis of NICB data.

Looking at the vehicle theft rate per 100,000 residents, Colorado again stood out with an astonishing rate of 661.2 — highest across the U.S. That’s compared with Wisconsin’s rate of 236.7 per 100,000 residents. The District of Columbia jumped from fifth based on percentage increases to third place based on the per-capita calculations.

Vermont fell to fourth, with a rate of just 96.2 thefts per 100,000 residents — one of four states with a vehicle theft rate below 100.

Change in vehicle theft rates by state between 2019 and 2021

Rank State Vehicle theft rate per 100,000 residents, 2019 Vehicle theft rate per 100,000 residents, 2021 % change in vehicle theft rate, 2019 to 2021

1 Colorado 369.9 661.2 78.8%

2 Wisconsin 136.8 236.7 73.0%

3 District of Columbia 404.8 651.0 60.8%

4 Vermont 60.4 96.2 59.2%

5 New York 73.3 115.5 57.6%

6 Wyoming 110.2 161.9 46.9%

7 South Dakota 187.5 263.9 40.7%

8 Washington 331.1 461.9 39.5%

9 Maine 45.6 60.7 33.1%

10 Minnesota 224.1 297.3 32.6%

11 Oregon 361.6 471.2 30.3%

12 Connecticut 166.7 215.5 29.3%

13 Pennsylvania 108.0 139.2 28.9%

14 Utah 202.9 255.8 26.1%

15 California 405.9 511.1 25.9%

16 Ohio 193.4 236.2 22.2%

17 Montana 216.4 264.3 22.1%

18 Hawaii 190.3 229.8 20.8%

19 North Dakota 189.1 223.9 18.4%

20 New Hampshire 52.7 61.8 17.3%

21 Michigan 181.1 211.8 16.9%

22 New Jersey 139.5 159.9 14.7%

23 Louisiana 246.5 281.4 14.2%

24 Illinois 198.9 225.4 13.3%

25 Virginia 126.4 142.6 12.8%

26 Kentucky 213.1 237.4 11.4%

27 Massachusetts 90.0 100.1 11.2%

28 Arkansas 271.2 301.0 11.0%

29 Arizona 255.9 283.6 10.8%

30 Kansas 284.5 311.8 9.6%

31 Mississippi 198.6 216.8 9.2%

32 Rhode Island 143.4 156.3 9.0%

33 Texas 294.0 320.0 8.8%

34 Nevada 395.1 426.8 8.0%

35 Maryland 210.1 223.1 6.2%

35 New Mexico 447.9 475.5 6.2%

37 Tennessee 280.1 297.1 6.1%

38 Missouri 404.0 428.1 6.0%

39 Oklahoma 340.4 359.3 5.6%

40 North Carolina 203.3 213.1 4.8%

41 Idaho 93.6 96.7 3.3%

42 Iowa 179.8 185.2 3.0%

43 Indiana 232.2 236.3 1.8%

44 Delaware 183.8 186.6 1.5%

45 Nebraska 234.7 237.2 1.1%

46 South Carolina 318.0 312.3 -1.8%

47 Georgia 253.4 240.9 -4.9%

48 Florida 216.3 196.5 -9.2%

49 Alabama 249.9 225.9 -9.6%

50 West Virginia 153.3 128.8 -16.0%

51 Alaska 326.0 239.7 -26.5%

Rank	State	Vehicle theft rate per 100,000 residents, 2019	Vehicle theft rate per 100,000 residents, 2021	% change in vehicle theft rate, 2019 to 2021
1	Colorado	369.9	661.2	78.8%
2	Wisconsin	136.8	236.7	73.0%
3	District of Columbia	404.8	651.0	60.8%
4	Vermont	60.4	96.2	59.2%
5	New York	73.3	115.5	57.6%
6	Wyoming	110.2	161.9	46.9%
7	South Dakota	187.5	263.9	40.7%
8	Washington	331.1	461.9	39.5%
9	Maine	45.6	60.7	33.1%
10	Minnesota	224.1	297.3	32.6%
11	Oregon	361.6	471.2	30.3%
12	Connecticut	166.7	215.5	29.3%
13	Pennsylvania	108.0	139.2	28.9%
14	Utah	202.9	255.8	26.1%
15	California	405.9	511.1	25.9%
16	Ohio	193.4	236.2	22.2%
17	Montana	216.4	264.3	22.1%
18	Hawaii	190.3	229.8	20.8%
19	North Dakota	189.1	223.9	18.4%
20	New Hampshire	52.7	61.8	17.3%
21	Michigan	181.1	211.8	16.9%
22	New Jersey	139.5	159.9	14.7%
23	Louisiana	246.5	281.4	14.2%
24	Illinois	198.9	225.4	13.3%
25	Virginia	126.4	142.6	12.8%
26	Kentucky	213.1	237.4	11.4%
27	Massachusetts	90.0	100.1	11.2%
28	Arkansas	271.2	301.0	11.0%
29	Arizona	255.9	283.6	10.8%
30	Kansas	284.5	311.8	9.6%
31	Mississippi	198.6	216.8	9.2%
32	Rhode Island	143.4	156.3	9.0%
33	Texas	294.0	320.0	8.8%
34	Nevada	395.1	426.8	8.0%
35	Maryland	210.1	223.1	6.2%
35	New Mexico	447.9	475.5	6.2%
37	Tennessee	280.1	297.1	6.1%
38	Missouri	404.0	428.1	6.0%
39	Oklahoma	340.4	359.3	5.6%
40	North Carolina	203.3	213.1	4.8%
41	Idaho	93.6	96.7	3.3%
42	Iowa	179.8	185.2	3.0%
43	Indiana	232.2	236.3	1.8%
44	Delaware	183.8	186.6	1.5%
45	Nebraska	234.7	237.2	1.1%
46	South Carolina	318.0	312.3	-1.8%
47	Georgia	253.4	240.9	-4.9%
48	Florida	216.3	196.5	-9.2%
49	Alabama	249.9	225.9	-9.6%
50	West Virginia	153.3	128.8	-16.0%
51	Alaska	326.0	239.7	-26.5%

Source: LendingTree analysis of NICB data.

Thefts of Hyundai Elantras in Maryland, Honda CR-Vs in Vermont more than triple

The type of car you own can also impact your chances of getting it stolen — and, as it turns out, having a flashy, expensive sports car isn’t the biggest risk factor here.

In fact, thefts in Maryland of Hyundai Elantras, estimated by Kelley Blue Book (KBB) to start at $21,000 for a 2024 model, increased 253.8% from 2021 to 2022. (Note: While the majority of our data looked at 2019 through 2021, the NICB had data on vehicle type through 2022.)

In Vermont, Honda CR-V thefts increased by 230.0% during that time. The cost of a new CR-V starts at $29,500, according to KBB. For context, the average price consumers paid for new cars was $47,899 as of September 2023.

Among the 10 most stolen vehicles in each state, six states had at least one car with a 100.0% increase from 2021 to 2022, and Hyundai models represented four of them.

The reason why may not surprise you if you’re on social media: A TikTok trend exposed a design flaw in Hyundais and Kias that made it possible to steal certain insert-and-turn key ignition systems in under a minute. This includes Hyundai models like the Elantra and Sonata, which were the most commonly stolen vehicles in eight states. It also helps explain why Kia models made the list twice. Combined, cars from these two companies comprised seven of the top 10 highest increases in thefts by state.

And, upon closer inspection, these types of vehicles also comprised other significant increases in thefts between 2021 and 2022 beyond the top ranking car in each state. For example:

Pennsylvania had increases of 145.7% and 101.0% for the Hyundai Sonata and Hyundai Elantra, respectively
Maryland’s second-ranking vehicle for theft rates was the Hyundai Sonata (197.3%)

Due to this rise in thefts, the two manufacturers agreed to pay a $200 million settlement for damages, via a class action lawsuit. Plus, cities like Cleveland, Milwaukee and Columbus, Ohio, have sued the manufacturers over these design flaws as well. This also led insurers to refuse to write policies for those high-risk models, leaving drivers scrambling to find coverage.

Vehicles with the biggest change in thefts by state between 2021 and 2022

Rank State Vehicle Vehicle thefts, 2021 Vehicle thefts, 2022 % change in vehicle thefts, 2021 to 2022

1 Maryland Hyundai Elantra 208 736 253.8%

2 Vermont Honda CR-V 10 33 230.0%

3 Connecticut Hyundai Elantra 109 291 167.0%

4 Pennsylvania Hyundai Sonata 247 607 145.7%

5 Rhode Island Hyundai Sonata 26 59 126.9%

6 Washington Ford pickup (small size) 421 858 103.8%

7 California Kia Optima 2,917 5,479 87.8%

8 New York Honda CR-V 735 1,315 78.9%

9 District of Columbia Hyundai Elantra 91 144 58.2%

10 New Mexico Hyundai Elantra 201 316 57.2%

11 Colorado Hyundai Sonata 1,044 1,572 50.6%

12 Mississippi Dodge Charger 80 119 48.8%

13 Alabama Dodge Charger 185 272 47.0%

14 Oregon Subaru Forester 432 624 44.4%

15 New Jersey Land Rover Range Rover 227 326 43.6%

16 Arizona GMC Savana 319 454 42.3%

17 New Hampshire Honda CR-V 12 17 41.7%

18 Alaska GMC pickup (full size) 57 80 40.4%

19 Maine GMC Savana 10 14 40.0%

20 Nevada GMC pickup (full size) 271 372 37.3%

21 Virginia Dodge Charger 161 220 36.6%

21 Delaware Ford pickup (full size) 41 56 36.6%

23 Massachusetts Chevrolet pickup (full size) 97 130 34.0%

24 Texas Ram pickup (full size) 1,420 1,898 33.7%

25 Montana GMC pickup (full size) 49 64 30.6%

26 South Dakota GMC pickup (full size) 40 52 30.0%

27 Idaho Toyota Camry 17 22 29.4%

28 Michigan Dodge Durango 438 563 28.5%

29 Wyoming Honda Accord 11 14 27.3%

30 Nebraska GMC pickup (full size) 80 101 26.3%

31 North Carolina Hyundai Sonata 270 339 25.6%

32 North Dakota Ram pickup (full size) 22 27 22.7%

33 Georgia Dodge Charger 600 703 17.2%

34 Iowa Chevrolet Equinox 71 82 15.5%

35 Indiana Dodge Charger 203 234 15.3%

36 Hawaii Ford pickup (full size) 183 210 14.8%

37 Tennessee Dodge Charger 413 469 13.6%

38 Minnesota Ford pickup (full size) 467 525 12.4%

38 Kansas Dodge pickup (full size) 210 236 12.4%

40 Ohio Ford pickup (full size) 794 887 11.7%

41 Louisiana GMC pickup (full size) 230 256 11.3%

42 South Carolina Nissan Altima 293 321 9.6%

43 Florida Ford pickup (full size) 1,876 2,030 8.2%

44 Illinois Dodge Charger 660 708 7.3%

45 Missouri Dodge pickup (full size) 639 684 7.0%

46 Wisconsin Kia Soul 367 383 4.4%

47 Oklahoma Honda Civic 179 182 1.7%

48 Arkansas Chevrolet pickup (full size) 528 534 1.1%

48 West Virginia Ford pickup (full size) 89 90 1.1%

Rank	State	Vehicle	Vehicle thefts, 2021	Vehicle thefts, 2022	% change in vehicle thefts, 2021 to 2022
1	Maryland	Hyundai Elantra	208	736	253.8%
2	Vermont	Honda CR-V	10	33	230.0%
3	Connecticut	Hyundai Elantra	109	291	167.0%
4	Pennsylvania	Hyundai Sonata	247	607	145.7%
5	Rhode Island	Hyundai Sonata	26	59	126.9%
6	Washington	Ford pickup (small size)	421	858	103.8%
7	California	Kia Optima	2,917	5,479	87.8%
8	New York	Honda CR-V	735	1,315	78.9%
9	District of Columbia	Hyundai Elantra	91	144	58.2%
10	New Mexico	Hyundai Elantra	201	316	57.2%
11	Colorado	Hyundai Sonata	1,044	1,572	50.6%
12	Mississippi	Dodge Charger	80	119	48.8%
13	Alabama	Dodge Charger	185	272	47.0%
14	Oregon	Subaru Forester	432	624	44.4%
15	New Jersey	Land Rover Range Rover	227	326	43.6%
16	Arizona	GMC Savana	319	454	42.3%
17	New Hampshire	Honda CR-V	12	17	41.7%
18	Alaska	GMC pickup (full size)	57	80	40.4%
19	Maine	GMC Savana	10	14	40.0%
20	Nevada	GMC pickup (full size)	271	372	37.3%
21	Virginia	Dodge Charger	161	220	36.6%
21	Delaware	Ford pickup (full size)	41	56	36.6%
23	Massachusetts	Chevrolet pickup (full size)	97	130	34.0%
24	Texas	Ram pickup (full size)	1,420	1,898	33.7%
25	Montana	GMC pickup (full size)	49	64	30.6%
26	South Dakota	GMC pickup (full size)	40	52	30.0%
27	Idaho	Toyota Camry	17	22	29.4%
28	Michigan	Dodge Durango	438	563	28.5%
29	Wyoming	Honda Accord	11	14	27.3%
30	Nebraska	GMC pickup (full size)	80	101	26.3%
31	North Carolina	Hyundai Sonata	270	339	25.6%
32	North Dakota	Ram pickup (full size)	22	27	22.7%
33	Georgia	Dodge Charger	600	703	17.2%
34	Iowa	Chevrolet Equinox	71	82	15.5%
35	Indiana	Dodge Charger	203	234	15.3%
36	Hawaii	Ford pickup (full size)	183	210	14.8%
37	Tennessee	Dodge Charger	413	469	13.6%
38	Minnesota	Ford pickup (full size)	467	525	12.4%
38	Kansas	Dodge pickup (full size)	210	236	12.4%
40	Ohio	Ford pickup (full size)	794	887	11.7%
41	Louisiana	GMC pickup (full size)	230	256	11.3%
42	South Carolina	Nissan Altima	293	321	9.6%
43	Florida	Ford pickup (full size)	1,876	2,030	8.2%
44	Illinois	Dodge Charger	660	708	7.3%
45	Missouri	Dodge pickup (full size)	639	684	7.0%
46	Wisconsin	Kia Soul	367	383	4.4%
47	Oklahoma	Honda Civic	179	182	1.7%
48	Arkansas	Chevrolet pickup (full size)	528	534	1.1%
48	West Virginia	Ford pickup (full size)	89	90	1.1%

Source: LendingTree analysis of NICB data. Notes: Vehicles had to be among the top 10 most stolen vehicles by state in 2022 to be included. Kentucky and Utah aren’t included because none of the 10 cars in either state saw an increase in vehicle thefts compared to 2021. Only the highest change is listed for each state.

Vermont also stood out for having four cars with theft increases of over 100.0%:

Honda CR-V (230.0%)
Honda Civic (155.6%)
Chevrolet full-size pickup (142.9%)
Subaru Outback (141.7%)

On the other end of the spectrum, just two states — Kentucky and Utah — didn’t register an increase among their 10 most stolen vehicles.

Does auto insurance cover theft?

“Car insurance only covers theft of your vehicle if you add comprehensive coverage to your policy,” says Rob Bhatt, LendingTree auto insurance expert and a licensed insurance agent. “If you have comprehensive coverage and your stolen car is unrecoverable, car insurance pays your car’s market rate after subtracting your deductible from your payment.”

For example, if your car is worth $20,000 and you have a $500 deductible, your insurer would pay out $19,500 — you’d then be able to use those funds to pay for a new car. Of course, the value of your car will change over time, so using a trusted source like KBB to track your car’s value can be useful.

“If you have an older car with a low resale value, this may not add up to very much money,” Bhatt says. “However, if your car is worth more than a few thousand dollars, comprehensive and collision are usually worth the money. Comprehensive usually only covers your car at its stock value. A few companies offer an endorsement that covers custom parts and accessories you may have added to your vehicle. Although these endorsements often have limits of $2,000 or so, this gives you a little extra protection for the time and effort you’ve taken to customize your car.”

There is, however, a key caveat to this coverage rule for stolen cars that you may not have thought of. It’s the items inside your car — and comprehensive doesn’t cover that. So if you were to leave a valuable possession, like a laptop or phone, in your car, you wouldn’t get reimbursed for that via your car insurance company. However, as Bhatt notes, other policies, like a home or rental insurance policy will often still cover it.

Methodology

LendingTree researchers analyzed National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) data on reported stolen vehicles nationally and by metro, state and vehicle type. Our metro and state data mainly highlights the 2019-to-2021 period.

To calculate the vehicles with the biggest percentage change in thefts, we compared the 10 most stolen vehicles in each state in 2022 to the 10 most stolen cars in each state in 2021. Researchers then calculated the percentage change in vehicle thefts for each model that appeared in the top 10 in both years for a particular state.

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On this page

Key findings
Vehicle thefts jump 17.4% between 2019 and 2021
Utica, N.Y., leads metros where vehicle thefts spike
Auto thefts climb by at least 75.0% in Colorado, Wisconsin
Which vehicles are most commonly stolen?
Does auto insurance cover theft?
Methodology