Vehicle Thefts Near 1 Million Mark Across US, Led By 163% Spike in Vermont

Stealing a car may seem like a feat, but a motor vehicle was taken every 31 seconds in the U.S. in 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In fact, such thefts rose 13.7% between 2020 and 2022 — the latest year in which national data is available.

The latest LendingTree study examines vehicle thefts at the national, metro, state and model levels. Along with the states with the highest vehicle theft rates, we also highlight the vehicle models most often stolen — and the impact on auto insurance costs.

Spoiler: In the 10 highest-ranking states for vehicle theft in 2023, auto insurance coverage costs 5.8% more than the national average. Read on for the full findings.

Key findings

• Vehicle thefts rose 13.7% between 2020 and 2022. The U.S. experienced 999,188 vehicle thefts in 2022 (the latest year available nationally), up from 878,484 in 2020.
• By metro across the same period, vehicle thefts more than tripled in Burlington, Vt. The Vermont metro saw a staggering 230.3% increase in vehicle thefts from 2020 (185) to 2022 (611). Five other metros saw vehicle thefts at least double in this period: Kennewick, Wash. (188.6%), Lebanon, Pa. (178.4%), Bremerton, Wash. (136.1%), Ithaca, N.Y. (103.4%), and Williamsport, Pa. (100.0%).
• Vehicle thefts increased in 34 states between 2020 and 2022. Vermont had the largest jump at 163.0%, the only state to more than double. Four other states saw an increase of more than 40.0% in vehicle thefts: Washington (65.8%), Colorado (46.4%), Pennsylvania (44.3%) and Oregon (40.4%).
• In the 10 states with the highest vehicle theft rates in 2023, the average annual cost of auto insurance was 5.8% higher than the national average. This ranges from 50.2% higher in Nevada to 22.1% lower in Washington.
• The difference was significantly larger among the 10 models with the most vehicle thefts in 2023. The average annual cost of auto insurance for those 10 models was 19.0% higher than the national average, paced by the Hyundai Sonata at 30.6%.

Vehicle thefts rose 13.7% between 2020 and 2022

Between 2020, when 878,484 cars were stolen, and 2022, when there were 999,188 such crimes, vehicle thefts rose 13.7%.

Worse, 2022 saw 22.6% more car thefts than 2016, when 815,123 vehicles were stolen.

Vehicle thefts nationally since 2016

Source: LendingTree analysis of National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) data. Note: We excluded Puerto Rico from the national data.

Interestingly, the COVID-19 pandemic era saw a spike in such steals, with thefts increasing 11.2% year over year between 2019 and 2020. While neither of the subsequent year-over-year increases were as high as this one, thefts have increased every year since the pandemic’s start — while they had fallen year over year each time between 2017 and 2019.

“Bad actors know using a stolen car makes it easier for them to get away with other crimes,” says LendingTree auto insurance expert Rob Bhatt, including additional thefts and robberies. “Car theft usually isn’t as high a priority for law enforcement and prosecutors as violent crimes.”

Vehicle thefts more than triple in Burlington, Vt.

While vehicle thefts have been on the rise nationally, some metros are (un)luckier than others in this regard.

Burlington, Vt., residents — in particular — saw such thefts skyrocket between 2020 and 2022. In fact, 185 cars were stolen in the former year and 611 in the latter, a staggering increase of 230.3%. (Note: Our analysis reviews vehicle thefts in the 100 American metros with the largest increases during the studied period.)

Runners-up include Kennewick, Wash., which saw 188.6% more vehicle thefts in 2022 than in 2020, and Lebanon, Pa., where the increase was 178.4%.

It’s worth noting, too, that a high percentage of change doesn’t necessarily translate to a high number of thefts. In Lebanon, Pa., there were 37 vehicle thefts in 2020 and 103 in 2022. However, for a city whose population was only 26,814 at the time of the 2020 census, such figures are still significant.

3 biggest percentage increases in vehicle thefts between 2020 and 2022 (by metro)

Source: LendingTree analysis of NICB data. Note: Our analysis was limited to the 100 metros with the largest percentage increases in vehicle thefts.

To that point, the same metros that saw the largest percentage increases in vehicle thefts between 2020 and 2022 also saw the largest theft rate increases — the number of vehicles stolen per 100,000 residents — over the same period.

For Burlington, Vt., this measure was 221.0%, substantially higher than Kennewick (181.2%) and Lebanon (173.8%).

3 biggest percentage increases in vehicle theft rates between 2020 and 2022 (by metro)

Source: LendingTree analysis of NICB data. Note: Our analysis was limited to the 100 metros with the largest percentage increases in vehicle thefts.

Full rankings

Biggest percentage increases in vehicle thefts between 2020 and 2022 (by metro)

Source: LendingTree analysis of NICB data. Note: Our analysis was limited to the 100 metros with the largest percentage increases in vehicle thefts.

Biggest percentage increases in vehicle theft rates between 2020 and 2022 (by metro)

Source: LendingTree analysis of NICB data. Note: Our analysis was limited to the 100 metros with the largest percentage increases in vehicle thefts.

Vehicle thefts increased in 34 states between 2020 and 2022

Washington state came in second with a relatively tame jump of 65.8%, followed by Colorado at 46.4%. Altogether, five states saw an increase of 40.0% or more, including Pennsylvania (44.3%) and Oregon (40.4%). The same five states top the list of increases in vehicle theft rates per 100,000 residents, in the same order.

While, again, it’s difficult to ascertain why these crimes have risen so precipitously in certain places (and, as we’ll soon see, fallen in others), law enforcement officials mirror Bhatt’s insight that auto thefts are often associated with other crimes, like hit-and-runs and smash-and-grab thefts.

It’s also true that cars are often stripped and sold for parts, which can help criminals earn money to sustain drug addictions, repay illicit debts and more.

3 biggest percentage increases in vehicle thefts between 2020 and 2022 (by state)

Source: LendingTree analysis of NICB data.

Conversely, Utah led the way with the largest decrease in vehicle thefts between 2020 and 2022, at 24.6%, followed by West Virginia (21.5%) and Oklahoma (18.8%).

3 biggest percentage decreases in vehicle thefts between 2020 and 2022 (by state)

Source: LendingTree analysis of NICB data.

Full rankings

Biggest percentage increases/decreases in vehicle thefts between 2020 and 2022 (by state)

Source: LendingTree analysis of NICB data.

Biggest percentage increases/decreases in vehicle theft rates between 2020 and 2022 (by state)

Source: LendingTree analysis of NICB data.

Higher vehicle theft rates, higher insurance costs

“Car insurance rates are generally higher in states where it costs the insurance companies more to do business,” says Bhatt, also a licensed insurance agent. Replacing stolen cars can cost auto insurers a lot of money, so it’s not so surprising that areas with higher theft rates see higher insurance costs.

In fact, the 10 states with the highest vehicle theft rates in 2023 saw an average annual cost of auto insurance 5.8% higher than the national average.

Of course, these figures range significantly by state. In Nevada, the annual cost of coverage is a whopping 50.2% higher than the national average, while it’s 22.1% lower than average in Washington. The trend isn’t one-for-one, as Nevada ranks third in vehicle theft rates even though its insurance cost towers highest above the average, and Washington ranks fourth — not last, as its below-average insurance costs may suggest.

10 states with highest vehicle theft rates, 2023

Source: LendingTree analysis of NICB and Quadrant Information Services data. Note: Only the 10 states with the highest vehicle theft rates in 2023 were available.

Again, it can be difficult to know why certain states experience proportionately higher car theft rates — though District of Columbia law enforcement officials mention that certain models of Hyundai and Kia are frequently targeted. (These models, whose years range from 2011 to 2022, can be stolen using a USB cable if you know what you’re doing, and were the unfortunate focus of a viral social media car theft “challenge” started by a group called the Kia Boyz.)

It can also be hard to parse the entire picture when it comes to car insurance prices. Along with the risk of theft, insurers include dozens of other factors in their calculations, including driver age, sex and marital status. State-specific data also has an effect, Bhatt points out. “An area’s crash rates, as well as an area’s medical and car repair costs, are also factors because this affects how much insurance companies have to pay to settle car accident claims,” he says.

That means a state’s average insurance cost is the product of a vast equation including components like overall population demographics and fluctuating local prices. (Still, one might guess that Nevada’s status as the home state of “Sin City” might play a part in its higher-than-average prices.)

Auto insurance costs high among models with most vehicle thefts

As alluded to above, different vehicle models have substantially different theft rates — in part because some are substantially easier to steal than others. Those trends, in turn, power differences in insurance coverage costs.

Case in point: Hyundai Sonatas cost an average of 30.6% more to insure for a year than the national average — the highest on our list. Kia Optimas come in second at 28.6% higher than average, followed by Hyundai Elantras at 25.0% higher. All three models were targeted by the Kia Boyz challenge — as were a total of six of the 10 models with the most vehicle thefts. During the height of the meme’s virality, some of America’s largest auto insurers refused to cover these models.

Overall, the cost of auto insurance for vehicles on this list is 19.0% higher than average.

10 models with the most vehicle thefts, 2023

Source: LendingTree analysis of NICB and Quadrant Information Services data. Notes: Only the 10 models with the most vehicle thefts in 2023 were available. Rates are based on an analysis of quotes for drivers in Illinois.

Does auto insurance cover theft?

As Bhatt puts it, “Car insurance only covers car theft if your policy includes comprehensive coverage.” And while your state laws likely have liability insurance coverage requirements, full auto insurance coverage is generally not required.

That means you have to go out of your way to protect yourself and ensure your insurance coverage is robust enough to protect your net worth (and your ability to get around) in the event your car is, in fact, stolen. That is, you have to go out of your way if you own your car free and clear.

“If you have a car loan,” explains Bhatt, “your lender will make you get comprehensive coverage, along with collision coverage, to protect its financial interest in your vehicle.” For your peace of mind, it might be worth keeping that coverage even once you make your final payment.

Methodology

LendingTree researchers analyzed National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) data on vehicle thefts nationally and by metro, state and model. Our national, metro and state data mainly highlights the 2020-to-2022 period. We utilized some 2023 data, but it was only available for the 10 states with the highest vehicle theft rates and 10 models with the most vehicle thefts.

Additionally, auto insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services was analyzed. These rates reflect the average of premiums available for a full-coverage policy for a 30-year-old male driver with a clean record and good credit. Full-coverage policies include the following coverages, limits and deductibles:

• Bodily injury liability: $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident
• Property damage liability: $100,000
• Collision: $500 deductible
• Comprehensive: $500 deductible
• Uninsured motorist: Minimum limits where required
• Personal injury protection: Minimum limits where required

To get average auto insurance rates for the 10 models with the most vehicle thefts in 2023, each model’s base model was used. (Note: The Kia Optima — Kia’s midsize sedan line — experienced a name change to the Kia K5 in 2021.) The base models included (all 2023):

• Hyundai Elantra SE
• Hyundai Sonata SE
• Kia K5 LXS
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500 WT
• Kia Soul LX
• Honda Accord EX
• Honda Civic EX
• Kia Forte LX
• Ford F-150 XL
• Kia Sportage LX