Ripped-Off Rides: The Most Stolen New And Used Cars In The U.S.
Every year, over 750,000 vehicles are stolen in the U.S and of those that go missing, a mere 42% are recovered. For most of us, we depend on our vehicles for getting to and from work, taking kids to school, and running errands. They are an invaluable tool for our daily lives, and to have our car go missing is not only stressful and disruptive but also feels very personal, as we tend to get attached to our rides. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, these are the most stolen new and used vehicles in the U.S.
NEW - Nissan Altima
In the top spot, with 1,153 cars being stolen yearly, is the Nissan Altima. Because it's common and parts are interchangeable with other models and years, these cars are on the top of the list for car thieves. Even with key-less entry and start system, the Altima has been proven to be hackable. Thieves can intercept, amplify and transmit the signal from the key fob to get into and drive away in the car without much effort.
Theft Prevention Top Tip: Lock your car and take the keys with you; 60,000 cars a year are stolen because the keys are left inside.
NEW - Toyota Camry
With 1,100 vehicles stolen yearly, the Toyota Camry comes in at number two on the "New Cars Stolen" list. Much like the Nissan Altima, the Camry is quite common and the parts are shared with a wide variety of Toyota models, making it a prime target for chop shops. Some cars are also shipped overseas and re-sold with new VIN numbers.
Theft Prevention Top Tip: Never leave your car running and unattended, even if it's just a quick dash inside your home or a store. Unattended, running vehicles are magnets for car thieves.
NEW - Dodge Ram Pickup
Like the Ford F-150, the Ram pickup is hugely popular. Tough, good looking, well-equipped and incredibly configurable, the Ram is a great full-size pickup for work, play, and daily use. It's popularity, like the F-150 and the Sierra might be it's undoing as 835 brand new trucks yearly are reported stolen.
Car Recovery Tip: Consider installing a vehicle immobilizer. Commonly known as a "kill switch," when engaged, they work to cut-off the fuel supply or ignition circuit to ensure the vehicle can't be started.
USED - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado
Like the Ford F-150, the Chevrolet Silverado is an extremely popular pickup truck. Interchangeability of parts is usually the name of the game, with many Silverados ending up in chop shops with parts being sold to service a wide range of vehicles from SUVs to Vans to commercial trucks. A total of 30,058 Silverados were lost with the 2004 model year proving to be the most stolen with 1,970 thefts.
Car Buying Warning: Joy-riders favor high-performance or luxury cars. Most cars that are victims of a joy-ride theft are recovered, but usually with significant damage.
NEW - GMC Sierra
GMC's full-size pickup truck, the Sierra comes in at number 3 on the list with 957 vehicle being reported stolen yearly. It's not entirely surprising that the good-looking and popular truck is a target for thieves. While they have the reputation as being tough, long-lasting, hard-working trucks, they're not impervious to theft.
Theft Prevention Top Tip: Don't leave valuables inside your vehicle, and certainly don't leave valuables or electronics in plain sight. Cellphones, laptops, backpacks, purses are all easy-pickings for thieves.
NEW - Hyundai Elantra
The number four car on our list, the Hyundai Elantra, is the victim of 929 yearly thefts. Hyundai, like Nissan, Toyota, Honda and most major car manufacturers, uses parts that are common across a wide variety of their model range. Engines between cars are shared, running gear and electronics, along with wheels are interchangeable and create big profits for car thieves.
Theft Prevention Top Tip: Most car thieves prefer to work at night. Pay attention to where you park your car at night, and chose a well-lit spot under or near street lamps or in well-lit areas of parking lots and garages.
NEW - Ford Fusion
In 2017, 874 new Ford Fusions were stolen. The handsome mid-size sedan offers a wealth of trim levels and configurations. It's a great driving car and a common choice for commuters. Thieves must be reading the car reviews as well because it's a popular choice for theft.
Car Recovery Tip: Don't leave your vehicle title in the car, many car thieves are able to get away when pulled over because they can produce the title for the vehicle. Don't make it easy for them.
NEW - Ford F-150
The Ford F-150 pickup truck is the number one best selling vehicle in the U.S. with Ford shifting just over 900,000 units last year. It should come as no surprise then, that a vehicle this popular should end up on the list of most stolen vehicles. There were 842 instances of theft for the truck yearly.
Theft Prevention Top Tip: If your vehicle isn't equipped with one, consider installing an anti-theft system. Thieves are reluctant to steal vehicles that will draw attention to the theft or be easy to recover.
NEW - Toyota Corolla
Toyota's veritable and long-lived compact sedan, the Corolla, is the 8th most stolen new vehicle on the list. A total of 832 went missing in 2017, and that's a shame; the little sedan is extremely personable and is a great little daily driver that has reliability in spades.
Theft Prevention Top Tip: Even something as simple as "The Club" can be enough to make a car thief think twice. Given the choice, a thief will always take the easier option, and if they have to work to get a Club off the car, it may be enough of a deal-breaker to keep your car from going missing.
NEW - GMC Savana
GMC's full-size van makes it onto the list in the number nine spot. Available as a blank slate, a passenger transporter or as a conversion van, the Savana is a target with 774 going missing yearly. The contents of the cargo van may prove to be the real draw for thieves, as it's a popular choice for contractors and delivery drivers who keep the vans full of tools, equipment, and supplies.
Car Recovery Tip: GPS tracking systems are available for all cars and trucks. These systems allow you, and the police, to track the whereabouts of your vehicle via app or computer and give you the best chance to recover the vehicle as quickly as possible.
NEW - Hyundai Sonata
At number ten, the Hyundai Sonata saw 759 instances of thefts in 2017. Like all the vehicles on the list, the Sonata is popular, making it common and a target for thieves. Most car thieves prefer less-exotic more popular models whose parts are interchangeable.
Theft Prevention Tip: Window etching is a technique of etching the VIN number onto the glass of the vehicle. Since the VIN number can be traced, having it etched onto the glass makes the car less attractive to thieves looking to steal a car for parts.
USED - 1998 Honda Civic
When it comes to used cars, the Honda Civic is popular for both buyers and thieves, with 45,062 being reported stolen in 2017. Of all of the Civics that went missing, the 1998 model year proved to be the most popular with thieves with a total of 6,707 stolen.
Theft Prevention Top Tip: If you have aftermarket wheels, or you car is equipped with premium factory wheels, consider installing wheel locks. Available from the manufacturer or as an aftermarket part, wheel locks require a special key to allow removal of the wheels from the car.
USED - 1997 Honda Accord
Like the Civic, the Accord is another model from Honda that is proving increasingly popular with car thieves. The 1997 model year seems to attract the most amount of unwanted attention with 6,301 going missing, and of a total of 43,764 Honda Accords reported stolen yearly.
Helpful Neighbor Tip: Talk to your neighbors. If your car has been tampered with or if your neighbor's car has been tampered with, it's good to have a bunch of people on the look-out. Thieves will often scout an area and return over several nights.
USED - 2006 Ford F-150
The Ford F-150 pickup truck, in all its forms and models years is undeniably popular. Handsome, tough and known to be reliable for many years. Sadly, lasting a long time in your driveway may be a different story as 35,105 used F-150s were reported stolen in 2017. Of the used F-150s out there, the 2006 model year was the most enticing with 3,151 being lost to theft.
Safety Tip: If you are confronted by a carjacker, give the thieves the car. Your vehicle can be replaced but you can't.
USED - 2017 Toyota Camry
For the past 14 years, the Toyota Camry has been America's best-selling car. Despite Toyota being based in Japan, all U.S. model Camrys are designed in Michigan and built in Kentucky. Comfortable, efficient and well-equipped, the Camry also has the distinction of being the fifth most stolen used car in the U.S. with 17,278 vanishing yearly. The 2017 model year was the most popular with thieves as they took 1,100 of them.
Theft Prevention Top Tip: Know the routes to where you're going. Avoid high crime areas and areas that are prone to car thefts. Consider taking longer, alternate routes.
USED - 2016 Nissan Altima
With the Nissan Altima being the most stolen new car in the U.S. it should come as no surprise that older models are also popular targets for theft. The Altima may benefit from being one of the safest cars on the road, earning an IIHS Top Safety Pick award, but that won't benefit the 13,358 owners who reported theirs stolen. The 2016 model year was the most stolen of the used models, with 1,450 cars disappearing.
Theft Prevention Top Tip: Carjacking can occur when thieves bump into the rear of your car and steal it when you exit to inspect the damage. Be sure to leave room to maneuver at traffic lights and if you feel threatened, call the police before exiting your car.
USED - 2016 Toyota Corolla
Toyota's Corolla is one of the best-selling cars of all-time. Over 40 million have been sold since its inception and it continues to be a great, fun to drive economical compact sedan. Car thieves seem to be as equally enamored with the Corolla as 12,337 yearly are pinched. The 2016 model year proved to be the most sought after with 1,012 losing touch with their owners.
Theft Prevention Top Tip: Just like making sure your car is locked, make sure all your windows are rolled up and your sunroof is closed. Open windows offer easy access to the inside of your car.
USED - 2001 Dodge/Ram Pick-up
Dodge pickups may be the sales underdogs when compared to similar offering from Ford and Chevrolet, but they're great trucks and can be bought with the legendary Cummins diesel engine. Examples that have covered over 250,000 miles are commonplace, but unfortunately for 12,004 Dodge pickup truck owners who were victims of theft, they will never get the chance to see that mileage mark for themselves. The 2001 model year is the most popular amongst thieves with 1,242 saying adieu to their rightful owners.
Theft Prevention Top Tip: Look around and be aware of your surrounding, especially in garages and parking lots. If someone is lurking in the lot, park somewhere else.
USED - 2017 GMC Sierra
The GMC Sierra pickup truck is nearly identical to the Chevrolet Silverado and offer very similar package options. The Sierra tends to be more expensive than the Silverado as it typically incorporates more luxury materials, options and has a more comfortable interior. IN total 10,865 Sierras went astray and the 2017 model year was the most desired with 957 being run off with.
Parking Safety Tip: Cars can, and are often stolen by being towed away. Make sure to leave your car in gear or "park" and curb the wheels (wheels turned into the curb). This makes it harder to tow the car away.
USED - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
The Impala is Chevrolet's stalwart full-size sedan. The ninth generation, running from 2006 to 2016 was popular with police and fleet operators and the SS model was available with a V8 engine and 303 hp. It's somewhat ironic that a car used by police should become one of the most stolen cars in America but it's true. The 2008 model year is the most sought out by thieves.
Insurance Tip: Many insurance companies offer discounts if your vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft device or alarm. Check with your insurance company as protecting your vehicle could save you money.
