Vehicle thefts dropped by 23 percent across the United States in 2025, continuing a historic decline for the second year in a row, according to an April 3 statement from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
This decrease is significant because it follows a previous record drop of 17 percent in 2024, marking some of the lowest levels of vehicle theft seen nationwide in decades. Certain areas experienced even larger reductions: Washington saw a decrease of 39 percent, Colorado was down by 35 percent, and Puerto Rico reported a drop of 34 percent compared to the prior year.
“Coordinated prevention efforts by law enforcement, auto manufacturers, insurance companies, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau are having a major impact on vehicle thefts nationwide,” said NICB president and CEO David J. Glawe. He added that such efforts “remain key to protecting families, businesses, and communities nationwide.”
The surge in vehicle theft began around pandemic shutdowns in 2020 and remained high through recent years as social media trends exposed security vulnerabilities—especially affecting Kia and Hyundai models. Both automakers responded with improved security measures and software updates that helped reduce their share of total thefts from about one-fifth in 2023 to just under one-seventh by last year.
Despite these improvements, car theft remains frequent; one occurs every forty-eight seconds nationally according to NICB data. Urban areas face higher risks—with more than one-third of all incidents happening within ten metropolitan regions—and California alone accounted for over twenty percent of national cases last year.
Rising costs related to stolen vehicles continue to affect insurance rates across many regions. The expense involved with repairing or replacing stolen cars adds pressure on premiums already impacted by fraud and legal system abuse.
Experts recommend drivers take precautions such as locking doors and windows when unattended; hiding valuables; parking near well-lit or secure locations; using anti-theft devices like alarms or steering wheel locks; leveraging tracking technology; checking eligibility for insurance discounts based on installed security features; utilizing vehicle identification numbers (VIN) for protection against resale fraud; and ensuring comprehensive coverage beyond state minimum requirements.
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