CarInsurance.com Insights
- Comprehensive coverage is the only standard car insurance that pays for a stolen vehicle — liability won’t.
- U.S. vehicle thefts hit a decade’s low of 659,880 in 2025, down 23% from 2024.
- California has the highest theft rate of any state (178 per 100,000); Washington, D.C., is the highest overall at 373 — nearly four times the national average.
- The Hyundai Elantra is the most-stolen vehicle in America.
- A theft payout equals your car’s actual cash value (ACV) minus your comprehensive deductible.
Vehicle theft is trending down sharply, but it remains common enough to matter for your coverage decisions. A total of 659,880 vehicles were reported stolen nationwide in 2025, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) — a 23% decline from 2024 and the lowest figure in several decades. Even so, that works out to roughly one stolen vehicle every 48 seconds.
“Vehicle theft is a common and costly problem, but there’s a lot we can do to protect against it,” says Sophie Shulman, NHTSA deputy administrator. “That’s why we’re reminding drivers to take these precautions and use good judgment every time you park and exit your vehicle.”
Having your car stolen is stressful, but comprehensive insurance will cover the loss. Full coverage policies include theft protection, as well as coverage for vandalism and physical damage.
Read on to learn which type of car insurance covers theft, how common theft still is, how to file a claim and how much you can expect from your insurer.
How common is car theft in 2026?
Car theft is far less common than it was at its 2023 peak, but it hasn’t disappeared. After thefts surged through the pandemic and topped 1 million in 2023, the NICB recorded a 17% drop in 2024 and a further 23% drop in 2025. The 2025 total of 659,880 is the lowest the country has seen in decades and signals the end of the pandemic-fueled surge.
U.S. vehicle thefts, 2023–2025
| Year | Vehicles stolen | Year-over-year change | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,020,729 | Peak | All-time high; end of pandemic-era surge. |
| 2024 | 850,708 | -17% | Largest annual drop in 40 years; first sub-1M since 2021. |
| 2025 | 659,880 | -23% | Lowest in several decades; ~1 theft every 48 seconds. |
Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau
The decline isn’t evenly spread. Theft remains concentrated in large metros — California reported nearly 137,000 thefts in 2025, with the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area alone logging 53,911. Washington, D.C., carries the highest per-capita theft rate in the country.
On the other hand, Washington State, Colorado and Puerto Rico posted the steepest year-over-year declines, at 39%, 35% and 34%, respectively.
Certain models are still targeted far more than others. Hyundai and Kia vehicles made up 14% of all 2025 thefts — down from 16% in 2024 and 21% in 2023, as free anti-theft software updates took hold — but the Hyundai Elantra remained the single most-stolen vehicle in the U.S.
Most stolen vehicles in 2025
| Rank | Vehicle | 2025 thefts | Why it’s targeted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyundai Elantra | 21,732 | Older models without engine immobilizers; free software fix available. |
| 2 | Honda Accord | 17,797 | Ubiquity plus parts and catalytic-converter demand. |
| 3 | Hyundai Sonata | 17,687 | Same immobilizer gap; still No. 1 in five states. |
| 4 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 16,764 | Full-size pickup demand and parts value. |
| 5 | Honda Civic | 12,725 | Older Civics are frequently stripped for parts. |
Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau
Which states have the most vehicle thefts?
California reported the most vehicle thefts of any state in 2025, with 136,988 stolen vehicles — which is more than 20% of the nation’s total. California was followed by Texas at 75,269 and Illinois at 28,327.
Raw theft totals closely track population, so the most populous states tend to top the list. A high total in a big state can still mean a lower risk for you as an individual driver than a smaller state with far fewer cars on the road.
See which states have the most vehicle thefts in the table below.
Top 10 states by total vehicle thefts
| Rank | State | 2025 Total Thefts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 136,988 |
| 2 | Texas | 75,269 |
| 3 | Illinois | 28,327 |
| 4 | Florida | 27,142 |
| 5 | New York | 24,206 |
| 6 | Ohio | 20,628 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 20,568 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 20,395 |
| 9 | Washington | 18,039 |
| 10 | Missouri | 17,496 |
Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau
Volume only tells part of the story. Theft rate — stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents — is the better gauge of your personal risk because it adjusts for how many cars are on the road. By that measure California still leads, at 178.01 per 100,000 in the first half of 2025, even after a 26% year-over-year drop. Nevada and New Mexico follow at roughly 167 each, with activity concentrated in the Las Vegas, Reno and Albuquerque metros. Where you park is one of the biggest factors in your theft risk, which is also why comprehensive premiums tend to run higher in these states.
Washington, D.C., isn’t a state, so it sits outside the ranking — but its rate of 373.09 per 100,000 is the highest of any U.S. jurisdiction, nearly four times the national average of 97.33. Colorado, which led the nation for four straight years, fell to fourth in 2025 after Denver-area arrests of organized theft crews. Alaska was the only state to post an increase, up 26% and driven by the Anchorage metro.
Which type of car insurance covers theft?
A full coverage policy made up of liability, comprehensive and collision coverage protects you if your car is stolen. A liability-only policy does not. Here are the coverages that apply when a vehicle is stolen.
Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance is the only standard car insurance that covers vehicle theft, and you get it with a full coverage policy. Full coverage also includes collision, liability and medical payments coverage. Comprehensive covers non-collision losses such as theft or fire, along with hitting an animal or damage from a fallen tree during a storm.
Gap insurance
If you lease or finance your vehicle, gap insurance is a smart buy. This endorsement helps pay the difference between your car’s value and your remaining loan balance if the vehicle is totaled or stolen. You usually need a full coverage policy to add gap insurance. Note that gap insurance won’t pay for a new car — if your vehicle is stolen, it only helps cover your outstanding loan.
New car replacement insurance
New-car replacement is an optional coverage many insurers offer. If your car is stolen or totaled, you receive money to replace it with a similar make and model, with the payout adjusted for depreciation. The catch is eligibility — some insurers offer it only to original owners or to drivers with a one- or two-year-old car.
Sophie’s Tip
If you drive one of the most-targeted models — or park in a high-theft metro like Los Angeles or D.C. — comprehensive coverage earns its premium. It’s usually the cheapest part of a full coverage policy, and it’s the only coverage that pays out if your car is stolen. Owners of 2011-22 Hyundai and Kia models without push-button start should also get the free dealer anti-theft software update.
Speak with a friendly agent and get your quote in minutes!
Are stolen personal items covered?
No. Car insurance policies don’t cover stolen personal items unless your carrier offers a special endorsement. You’d file a claim through your renters or homeowners insurance to cover stolen belongings.
How do you file a car theft claim?
A stolen-car claim works much like a regular accident or physical-damage claim, except it may require extra documentation.
Call your insurance company immediately and notify the police. The claim representative will walk you through the process and tell you what information to provide. Have a copy of the police report handy — your insurer will want to verify the date and location of the theft. If you didn’t call the police right away, the insurer might deny the claim.
Once the claim is settled, you’ll receive your payout, which you can put toward a replacement vehicle similar to the one you had.
How much will your insurance company pay after a theft claim?
The maximum comprehensive payout is generally your vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV) minus your comprehensive deductible. Insurers calculate ACV using the replacement cost of your car minus depreciation, factoring in mileage, accident history, make, model, year and overall condition. Your deductible is what you pay before the insurer pays out.
Your car was found after you filed the claim — now what?
Recovering a stolen car can complicate the claim. The outcome depends on whether you’ve already received the payout, whether you’ve bought a replacement and what condition the car is in when it turns up.
If your car is recovered in poor condition, your insurer would likely pay for the damage — but if repair costs exceed the ACV, they may declare it a total loss and issue a payout. If the claim is already settled and you’re driving a new car, the insurer may take ownership of the recovered vehicle.
If you received the payout but haven’t bought a replacement, you may be able to return the money and keep your old car once it’s repaired. This is handled on a case-by-case basis, so ask your carrier what happens if your car is found when you first file the claim.
Frequently Asked Questions: Car theft
Are car thefts going down?
Yes. U.S. vehicle thefts fell 17% in 2024 and another 23% in 2025, reaching 659,880 — the lowest in decades, per the NICB. Coordinated efforts by law enforcement, automakers and insurers, plus anti-theft software updates for Hyundai and Kia models, drove the decline. Theft still remains concentrated in large metros like Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
Does gap insurance cover stolen cars?
Gap insurance pays the difference between what you owe on your vehicle and what it’s worth. It won’t provide a separate payout you can use to replace your car, as comprehensive insurance would.
Does theft insurance cover aftermarket parts?
In most cases, no. Auto theft insurance usually won’t cover aftermarket or custom parts. If your car is stolen weeks after you install a new stereo system, for example, your insurer is unlikely to adjust the payout to reflect the upgrade unless you added a specific endorsement.
How can you prevent vehicle theft?
There are several proven steps, recommended by the NICB and NHTSA:
- Park in well-lit, high-traffic areas.
- Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
- Hide valuables out of view.
- Don’t leave your keys in the vehicle.
- Never leave a running vehicle unattended.
- If your vehicle has an immobilizer, use your key fob to lock it.
- Don’t leave keys in the car while you fill up at the gas station.
- Add an anti-theft device — steering wheel lock, kill switch or GPS tracker — if your car doesn’t have one.
Speed matters as much as prevention. Reporting a theft within the first hour is the single best predictor of recovery. Roughly 34% of reported stolen vehicles are recovered the same day and 45% within two days, and factory telematics systems with theft tracking — standard on most vehicles built since 2020 — have pushed recovery rates above 85%.
About one in five stolen cars over the past two decades were taken with the keys left inside, so pulling your key is the easiest prevention step of all.
Where to go next
- Confirm your policy includes comprehensive coverage — it’s the only coverage that pays for a stolen car.
- If you finance or lease, check whether gap or new car replacement coverage makes sense for your loan balance.
- Owners of 2011-2022 Hyundai or Kia models without push-button start should schedule the free dealer anti-theft software update.
- Add a layered anti-theft setup — a visible deterrent and a tracker — if you park in a high-theft metro area
Not sure what full coverage costs in your area? Use the CarInsurance.com ZIP Code Calculator to estimate your comprehensive and full coverage premium before your next renewal.
Resources and Methodology
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute. “Auto Theft.” Accessed June 2026.
- National Insurance Crime Bureau. “U.S. Vehicle Thefts Experience Historic Decline.” Accessed June 2026.
- National Insurance Crime Bureau. “Nationwide Decline in Vehicle Thefts Continues Through First Half of 2025.” Accessed June 2026.
- NHTSA. “Consumer Alert: NHTSA Reminds Drivers to Safeguard Their Vehicles.” Accessed June 2026.
- WorldAtlas. “States With The Highest Vehicle Theft Rate.” Accessed June 2026.
Still have a question? Ask our experts
Get advice from an experienced insurance professional. Our experts will help you navigate your insurance questions with clarity and confidence.
Browse all FAQs
