By Lewis Nibbelin, Analysis Author, Triple-I
Automobile thefts dropped 23 p.c nationwide in 2025, marking the second consecutive yr of historic declines, in keeping with the newest evaluation from the Nationwide Insurance coverage Crime Bureau (NICB).
At 659,880 thefts, final yr’s drop constructed on the momentum of a 17 p.c decline in 2024, beforehand the biggest lower in complete thefts in 4 a long time. A number of jurisdictions skilled even better year-over-year decreases, with car theft down by 39 p.c in Washington, 35 p.c in Colorado, and 34 p.c in Puerto Rico.
“Coordinated prevention efforts by regulation enforcement, auto producers, insurance coverage firms, and the Nationwide Insurance coverage Crime Bureau are having a significant affect on car thefts nationwide,” stated NICB president and CEO David J. Glawe, including that such efforts “stay key to defending households, companies, and communities nationwide.”
Automobile thefts surged in 2020 to about one car stolen each 36 seconds, fueled partially by shutdowns in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ranges remained elevated into 2023, which recorded greater than a million thefts as social media traits highlighting car safety system vulnerabilities gained traction.
Many traits focused Kia and Hyundai fashions, comprising six of the ten most stolen automobiles that yr. In response, each producers started implementing stronger prevention measures and software program updates, decreasing their share of complete thefts from 21 p.c in 2023 to 14 p.c in 2025.
Regardless of general progress, car theft throughout the U.S. nonetheless happens each 48 seconds, the NICB reported. City communities are at better danger, with greater than one-third of thefts concentrated within the high ten metro areas in 2025. Accordingly, California – residence to 3 of the highest ten areas – recorded the best variety of car thefts in 2025, contributing greater than 20 p.c of the nation’s complete.
Past the direct monetary value of dropping these property, theft of automobiles or automobile parts add upward stress on auto insurance coverage charges, notably inside areas recognized to be high-risk. The price to restore and change stolen automobiles can also be rising, compounding a market already impacted by mounting fraud and authorized system abuse throughout the nation.
Whereas systemic enhancements have helped enhance theft charges, car homeowners should take steps to assist mitigate their very own danger. Triple-I recommends the next precautions:
- Maintain doorways locked and home windows shut anytime a car is left unattended.
- Cover valuables within the trunk to stop creating a further goal on the car.
- Park in safe, extremely trafficked, and well-lit areas. In public parking areas, keep as shut as potential to protect cubicles or retailer entrances. Maintain private garages locked.
- Contemplate anti-theft units reminiscent of audible alarms and steering wheel locks. Many new automobiles embody monitoring units, which can assist find a stolen car, however these are additionally obtainable for buy and set up in older automobiles. Examine with an insurance coverage skilled to learn the way anti-theft units can qualify policyholders for premium reductions.
- Exploit car identification (VIN) numbers. Plenty of regulation enforcement businesses and insurance coverage databases can use a VIN quantity to make it tougher for automobile thieves to promote a stolen automobile or its components.
Staying protected by ample insurance coverage protection can also be important. Policyholders with auto insurance policies that meet state-required minimums might lack protection for car theft or harm from theft, which is often supplied by non-obligatory complete insurance coverage.