Car thefts are incredibly common all across the 50 states. California is the state with the most motor vehicle thefts at 202,685 in 2022. Some cars are more attractive to thieves than others.
The top five most stolen cars in the US are the Hyundai Sonata, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Ford F-Series Pickup Trucks, and Chevrolet Silverado.
The reason why the Chevy Silverado is a popular target for thieves is because they have lots of useful components worth selling and they are easier to steal compared to other vehicles.
To prevent car theft, try to always close your windows and lock your doors, don’t leave valuables in your car, and invest in better security systems and tracking devices.
As unfortunate as it sounds, car thefts are incredibly common all across the 50 states — even if there are fewer cases in some states than others. California is the state with the most motor vehicle thefts at 202,685 in 2022.
But what exactly is the most stolen car in the US?
For reasons that will be revealed to you soon enough, some cars are more attractive to thieves than others. You’ve probably caught yourself wondering why bulky pickup trucks are stolen far more frequently than sedans.
If you’re keen on finding an answer to that question, here’s a list of five of the most stolen cars in the US.
Top Five Most Stolen Cars in the US
Hyundai Sonata
All in all, 21,707 Hyundai Sonatas were stolen in the US in 2022. Image credit: Hyundai Newsroom.
Total thefts in 2022: 21,707
Model year most likely to be stolen: 2013
Fifth on the list of most stolen cars in the US is the Hyundai Sonata — an attractive sedan known for its impressive fuel economy and performance, not to mention its sleek appearance. These factors and the lack of adequate anti-theft features made the Hyundai Sonata a popular target for car thieves.
Over 5,000 Hyundai Sonatas were stolen in California, and almost 2,000 were stolen in Illinois. All in all, 21,707 Hyundai Sonatas were stolen in the US in 2022.
Because of its popularity, the Honda Accord is one of the most highly sought-after vehicles for car thieves, who either sell the vehicles or break them down into parts and sell them to chop shops. Image credit: Honda Newsroom.
Total thefts in 2022: 27,089
Model year most likely to be stolen: 1997
Next is the Honda Accord, another commonly used sedan beloved for its attractive exterior, reliable performance, and excellent fuel economy. Because of its popularity, the Honda Accord is one of the most highly sought-after vehicles for car thieves, who either sell the vehicles or break them down into parts and sell them to chop shops.
Almost 8,000 Honda Accords were stolen in California, closely followed by Texas with 1,400 reported thefts in 2022 alone. In fact, out of all 50 states, the Honda Accord was the number one most stolen car in seven of them.
Honda Civic
Since it’s such an attractive and popular vehicle and because of the sheer demand for Honda Civic replacement parts, car thieves have singled out Honda Civics as the sedan worth stealing the most in the US. Image credit: Honda Newsroom.
Total thefts in 2022: 27,113
Model year most likely to be stolen: 2000
The Honda Civic is a top-notch sedan with performance as good as its design. Since it’s such an attractive and popular vehicle and because of the sheer demand for Honda Civic replacement parts, car thieves have singled out Honda Civics as the sedan worth stealing the most in the US.
There were over 10,000 reported Honda Civic thefts in California, closely followed by Washington with over 3,000 reported thefts — all of which happened in 2022 alone.
Ford F-Series Pickup Trucks
Ford F-Series pickups are beloved for their impressive maximum weight capacity and towing ability, not to mention how they’re able to carry a lot of passengers and cargo simultaneously. Image credit: Ford Media Center.
Total thefts in 2022: 48,175
Model year most likely to be stolen: 2006
Unlike the Sonata, the Accord, or the Civic, the second most stolen vehicle in the US isn’t a sedan. Ford F-Series trucks take this spot on our list. These pickups are beloved for their impressive maximum weight capacity and towing ability, not to mention how they’re able to carry a lot of passengers and cargo simultaneously.
Almost 9,000 Ford pickup trucks were stolen in California closely followed by Washington with over 4,000. Ultimately, a total of 48,175 Ford pickup trucks were stolen in 2022. Out of all 50 states, Ford pickup trucks were the most commonly stolen vehicles in 18 of them.
Chevrolet Silverado
The most stolen car in the US is none other than the Chevrolet Silverado series pickup truck. Image credit: Chevrolet Pressroom.
Total thefts in 2022: 49,903
Model year most likely to be stolen: 2004
Finally, the most stolen car in the US is none other than the Chevrolet Silverado series pickup truck. These vehicles are known for being configurable, for their towing and carrying capacity, and for suitability for off-road driving, but that’s not the real reason car thieves keep stealing them.
Over 15,000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks were stolen in 2022 in the state of California alone, closely followed by over 10,000 reported thefts in Texas. These two states alone account for over 50% of the total cases of stolen Chevrolet Silverado pickups in the US, making it the most stolen vehicle across all 50 states. Out of all states, the Chevrolet Silverado pickup was the most stolen car in 19 of them.
Why Do Car Thieves Steal So Many Chevrolet Silverado Pickup Trucks?
So why exactly are so many people stealing Silverado trucks?
The reason why this Chevy is so highly sought-after is because of two key factors: the first is that these trucks have lots of useful components worth selling, and the second is that these vehicles may be easier for them to steal.
In terms of components, the one most commonly stolen is the catalytic converter. Catalytic converters don’t just sell for a high price — they’re also easy to disconnect and remove from a vehicle.
As for how thieves can get away with stealing such massive vehicles so consistently, some owners place the blame on OnStar, the vehicle’s built-in security system. This application is allegedly easy to hack, making it easier for thieves to disable the vehicle’s anti-theft features.
Ultimately, these two factors combined make Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks the perfect targets for grand theft auto.
Taking Care of Your Vehicle: 5 Tips on How to Prevent Car Theft
If you want to know how to protect your vehicle from potential car thieves, follow these simple steps. Bear in mind that no vehicle is truly safe from thieves — especially ones that have high-end components and functioning parts like catalytic converters.
Always Close Your Windows and Lock Your Doors
One common mistake people often make is to leave their vehicles unattended with the car doors unlocked or the windows open. A competent thief can hotwire your vehicle and start the ignition system without a key. Leaving the doors unlocked gives thieves an easy opening.
Don’t Leave Valuables in Your Car
The odds of your vehicle being stolen increase exponentially if there are expensive items in your car. Valuables like electronic devices, clothing, and bags are all prime targets for thieves who wouldn’t mind getting a little something on the side after stealing your vehicle.
Invest in Better Security Systems and Tracking Devices
Some vehicles have poor security systems whereas some have none at all. Installing a powerful and reliable security system as soon as you get the chance is a good idea. Systems like vehicle immobilizers can disable vehicles even after they’ve been hotwired, preventing thieves from getting away. Similarly, tracking devices can help you find your vehicle even after it’s been stolen.
It’s important to keep any spare keys you have safe and secure and as far away from the vehicle as possible. Never keep your spare keys inside the vehicle itself. Also, make sure that your car keys are on your person while you’re out and about.
Park in Well-Lit Areas
Thieves are less likely to target your vehicle if you park it in a well-lit area since surveillance cameras are more likely to pick up their activity. The odds of there being witnesses in bright areas also increase exponentially as passersby might be able to catch thieves in the act.
Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, including research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. Lisa has written for Car Bibles and The Drive.
The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.
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