After four consecutive years of increasing auto theft, the U.S. saw a significant decline in 2024, with vehicle thefts plummeting 17% compared to 2023 -- the largest annual drop in four decades, according to new data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
The total number of vehicles stolen in 2024 dropped to 850,708, down from 1,020,729 in 2023, a decrease of more than 170,000 thefts. This marked the first time since 2021 that vehicle thefts fell below the 1 million mark.
“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 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.”
The data highlights substantial regional improvements, with Washington, Nevada and Oregon leading the nation in year-over-year theft reduction. Washington experienced the largest drop at 32%, followed by Nevada (31%) and Oregon (30%). Nebraska and Colorado also saw notable declines of 29% and 26%, respectively.
Despite these improvements, the District of Columbia continued to report the highest vehicle theft rate in the country -- 842.4 thefts per 100,000 residents -- more than triple the national average of 250.2. Although D.C. experienced an 18% decline in total thefts, it retained its top spot in per capita theft rate.
Colorado, which previously led the nation in theft rates for four consecutive years, saw a major reduction in 2024, dropping to fourth place.
California, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada followed D.C. in having the highest theft rates per 100,000 people.
Maine was the only state to record an increase in auto thefts in 2024, with a modest 2% uptick.
In terms of individual vehicle models, two Hyundai sedans topped the list of most stolen vehicles in 2024. The Hyundai Elantra led with 31,712 thefts, followed by the Hyundai Sonata (26,720), Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (21,666), Honda Accord (18,539) and Kia Optima (17,493).
NICB continues to advise vehicle owners to take precautionary steps to reduce theft risk, including never leaving keys in the vehicle, locking all doors and windows, parking in well-lit areas and hiding valuables. Prompt reporting to law enforcement and insurers is also critical in increasing the likelihood of vehicle recovery.
For more information on vehicle theft prevention and reporting fraud, visit the website.
