These states have the highest car theft rates
Vehicle thefts in the United States decreased by 23% during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with 334,114 vehicles reported stolen, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). After years of a pandemic-fueled surge in thefts that peaked in 2023, stolen vehicle figures are now trending towards pre-pandemic levels. However, despite this encouraging national trend, certain states and regions continue to experience disproportionately high vehicle theft rates per capita. The national average theft rate fell from 126.62 per 100,000 residents in the first half of 2024 to 97.33 in the first half of 2025.
District of Columbia
Washington, D.C. retains the top vehicle theft rate in the country at 373.09 thefts per 100,000 residents, experiencing vehicle thefts at nearly four times the national average.
California
California recorded a theft rate of 178.01 per 100,000 residents, making it the second-highest state for vehicle theft despite experiencing a 26% decrease compared to the previous year.
Nevada
Nevada posted a theft rate of 167.68 per 100,000 residents, maintaining its position as one of the highest vehicle theft states in the nation.
New Mexico
New Mexico reported a theft rate of 167.54 per 100,000 residents, placing it fourth highest nationally despite a 26% decrease in thefts compared to 2024.
Colorado
Colorado experienced a theft rate of 149.04 per 100,000 residents while simultaneously achieving a 31% decrease in vehicle thefts, demonstrating significant progress.
Missouri
Missouri recorded a theft rate of 142.17 per 100,000 residents, ranking sixth highest in the nation for per capita vehicle theft.
Maryland
Maryland posted a theft rate of 136.48 per 100,000 residents, placing it seventh among states with the highest vehicle theft rates.
Texas
Texas reported a theft rate of 123.83 per 100,000 residents, exceeding the national average despite the state’s large geographic area and population.
Alaska
Alaska was the only state to report an increase in thefts, with a 26% rise largely driven by theft trends in the Anchorage metropolitan area, resulting in a theft rate of 117.41 per 100,000 residents.
Washington
Washington recorded a theft rate of 115.20 per 100,000 residents while simultaneously achieving a remarkable 42% decrease in vehicle thefts compared to the previous year.
States with the largest decreases in vehicle thefts
While some states continue to struggle with high vehicle theft rates, many others have achieved remarkable decreases that demonstrate the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts, manufacturer security improvements, and public awareness campaigns. Overall, 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico reported fewer thefts in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico led the nation with a 43% decrease in vehicle thefts compared to the previous year.
Washington State
Washington State achieved a 42% decrease in vehicle thefts, demonstrating remarkable progress in combating auto crime.
North Dakota
North Dakota recorded a 32% decrease in vehicle thefts during the first half of 2025.
Louisiana
Louisiana also achieved a 32% decrease in vehicle thefts, matching North Dakota’s impressive reduction.
Colorado
Colorado recorded a 31% decrease in vehicle thefts while still maintaining one of the highest per capita theft rates.
Florida
Florida saw a 30% decrease in vehicle thefts, showing significant improvement from previous years.
Tennessee
Tennessee experienced a 29% decrease in vehicle thefts compared to 2024.
California, Connecticut, Georgia, New Mexico, Oregon, Virginia
California, Connecticut, Georgia, New Mexico, Oregon, and Virginia all reported 26% decreases in vehicle thefts during the first half of 2025.
Factors influencing vehicle theft rates
Urbanization plays a significant role, as higher population density areas tend to have higher theft rates. Vehicle popularity significantly impacts theft statistics, with the Hyundai Elantra (11,329 thefts), Hyundai Sonata (9,154 thefts), and the Honda Accord (8,531 thefts) being targeted most frequently. David J. Glawe, President and CEO of NICB, stated that “the significant declines we are seeing in 2025 demonstrate the effectiveness of collaborative efforts by law enforcement, automakers, insurers, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.”
Regional focus: Chicago, Illinois
Illinois experienced a significant increase in vehicle thefts in 2023, with a 38% rise representing the largest increase of any state. While Illinois has seen improvements, residents in the Chicago metropolitan area should remain vigilant and adopt preventive measures given the state’s recent history of elevated theft rates.
Preventive measures for vehicle owners
The NICB recommends always locking doors and windows, using anti-theft devices including steering wheel locks and GPS tracking systems, parking in well-lit areas, avoiding leaving valuables visible, and never leaving vehicles running while unattended.
Conclusion
While national vehicle theft rates are declining significantly, Washington, D.C., California, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Missouri, Maryland, Texas, Alaska, and Washington continue to experience the highest rates. Vehicle owners in these high-risk states should remain proactive in implementing preventive measures to protect their property.
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