The latest findings from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reveal the top cars stolen within the U.S. in 2024.
The data covers theft totals by vehicle make and model, year-over-year theft trends from 2020 to 2024, and state-by-state theft rates per 100,000 residents. Rankings for vehicle models are based on total theft counts reported to law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Top 5 Vehicle Makes and Models Most Stolen in 2024
Hyundai completely dominates America’s most-stolen list. The Elantra leads with 31,712 thefts, while the Sonata isn’t far behind at 26,720. Together, these two models account for more than 58,000 vehicles stolen in 2024.
“Hyundai and Kia vehicles from certain model years became notorious after social media challenges showed how easy they were to steal,” says Bryan Solis, Head of Sales at 5 Star Car Title Loans. “Many of these cars lack immobilizers and can be started with just a USB cable. It’s a perfect storm of widespread ownership and weak security.”
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 rounds out the top three with 21,666 thefts. America’s bestselling pickup truck makes an attractive target for thieves who know they can quickly strip valuable parts or sell the entire vehicle.
“Pickup trucks like the Silverado are goldmines for thieves,” Solis adds. “The parts market is huge, and these vehicles hold their value well. A stolen Silverado can be chopped up and sold for parts worth more than the whole truck.”
The Honda Accord (18,539 thefts) and Kia Optima (17,493 thefts) complete the top five. Both models share similar vulnerabilities to their Korean counterparts, with older security systems that haven’t kept pace with modern theft techniques.
“The Honda Accord has been a theft favorite for decades because of its reliability and widespread parts compatibility,” notes Solis. “As for the Kia Optima, it falls into the same category as other Korean models – popular enough to blend in, but easy enough to steal that it’s worth the risk.”
NICB said vehicle theft exploded across the country, jumping 28% from 2019 to 2023. Some models get targeted because they’re everywhere. Others because their security systems are outdated. And some because their parts are worth serious money on the black market.
The theft trend tells a story of crime that peaked and then dropped dramatically. Thefts climbed steadily from 880,595 in 2020 to over 1 million in both 2022 and 2023. But 2024 saw a significant decline to 850,708 thefts.
“The drop in 2024 likely reflects better law enforcement responses and manufacturers finally addressing security flaws,” Solis explains. “When stealing certain cars became as easy as following a TikTok tutorial, everyone was forced to take action.”
