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You may think that it’s unlikely your car will ever be stolen, but a car theft happens approximately every 40.9 seconds, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Some cars are targeted by thieves more often than others. Check out the table below to see which cars are the top 10 most stolen in America, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB). Read on to see how you can prevent car theft so you’re less likely to fall victim to grand theft auto and to find out if car theft is covered by your auto insurance.
Top 10 most stolen cars in America in 2017
| Rank | Vehicle type | # of thefts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda Civic | 45,062 |
| 2 | Honda Accord | 43,764 |
| 3 | Ford Pickup (full size) | 35,105 |
| 4 | Chevrolet Pickup (full size) | 30,058 |
| 5 | Toyota Camry | 17,278 |
| 6 | Nissan Altima | 13,358 |
| 7 | Toyota Corolla | 12,337 |
| 8 | Dodge Pickup (full size) | 12,004 |
| 9 | GMC Pickup (full size) | 10,865 |
| 10 | Chevrolet Impala | 9,487 |
Top cities with highest car theft rates
There are also certain metropolitan areas in the United States that experience higher car theft rates than others. The NCIB’s Hot Spots report named the areas with the top car thefts in 2017, the most recent data available. Using theft data from the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) for all metropolitan statistical areas, NCIB determined which areas had the highest rate of car theft per capita. Metropolitan statistical areas are assigned by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and are often made up of a larger area than just the city by which it’s named.
Below you can find a table reporting the data. Please note the ranking of car theft rates is determined by a population-based survey so metropolitan statistical areas with less thefts in total may rank higher if they have a smaller population.
Top 10 metropolitan areas with highest car theft rates in 2017
| Rank | Metropolitan area | # of thefts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | 9,989 |
| 2 | Anchorage, AK | 3,274 |
| 3 | Pueblo, CO | 1,353 |
| 4 | Redding, CA | 1,352 |
| 5 | St. Joseph, MO | 952 |
| 6 | Bakersfield, CA | 6,560 |
| 7 | Modesto, CA | 3,870 |
| 8 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | 4,575 |
| 9 | Yuba City, CA | 1,050 |
| 10 | Springfield, MO | 2,686 |
How to prevent car theft
While thieves may go to all ends to steal your car, there are a few ways you can make sure you’re protecting it as best as you can. You should always make sure your car is locked at all times and never leave the keys in your car while it’s parked. Additionally, be sure to close all windows when it’s parked to prevent easy access for someone to hotwire your car.
When parking your car for the night, it’s a good idea to make sure it’s in a secure area that’s well lit if possible. Car thieves may choose to commit their criminal acts at night when less people are around to avoid the potential of getting caught. A secure garage is often the safest place to store your vehicle.
Often times, thieves will steal a vehicle so they can sell its parts. A simple way to make your car less valuable to thieves is to get your windows etched with your vehicles vehicle identification number (VIN). Every car has a different VIN, and it serves as your car’s fingerprint. Etching your VIN on your windows makes it less valuable to thieves because people will often not purchase parts that have a VIN number on them. This will also increase your chances of authorities recovering your vehicle. In some cases, you may even receive a discount on your car insurance for having windows with your car’s VIN etched in them.
Lastly, you should take additional security measures by installing anti-theft devices in your car. You can install an alarm in your car that will go off if any of its sensors are triggered during an attempted grand theft auto. This will not only alert you of theft, but it may also scare off the thief. There are many different locks you can purchase for your car, such as a hood lock, steering wheel lock or tire lock. Additionally, you can install an electronic tracking device to your car so it would be able to be located after it has been stolen, which can help recover your car.
Does car insurance cover vehicle theft?
If your car has been stolen, you may be in luck to receive compensation if you have comprehensive coverage included on your car insurance policy. Comprehensive coverage is an optional add-on, but it covers non-collision involved damage or loss including theft or vandalism. Whether your car is stolen or damaged by a break-in, your comprehensive coverage may cover it, less your deductible. However, it won’t cover personal items that have been stolen from your car, such as a phone or wallet. Those items may be covered by your homeowners or renters insurance policy.
You should check with your car insurance company to determine if you have comprehensive coverage on your policy and if you’d be covered by a car theft, especially if your car is on the list of top 10 most stolen cars in America.
Are you a victim of carjacking? Whether you had a good or poor experience with your insurance company after a car theft, write a review on Clearsurance to help other drivers like you learn from your experience.
The content on this site is offered only as a public service to the web community and does not constitute solicitation or provision of legal advice. This site should not be used as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an insurance company or an attorney licensed or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. You should always consult a suitably qualified attorney regarding any specific legal problem or matter. The comments and opinions expressed on this site are of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the insurance company or any individual attorney.