2020 Vehicle Theft Overview
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) reports that $7.4 billion was lost to motor vehicle theft in 2020. The average dollar loss per theft was $9,166. 810,400 vehicles were stolen, the highest annual number of vehicles stolen since 2008, when 959,059 vehicles were stolen. The number of vehicles stolen was up 11.8 percent from 724,872 in 2019. Motor vehicles were stolen at a rate of 246.0 per 100,000 people, the highest rate since 2009, when the rate was 259.2. The rate was up from 220.8 in 2019.
What were the main contributing factors to this increase? The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) attributes the pandemic, economic downturn, loss of juvenile outreach programs and public safety budgetary and resource limitations. Note: The FBI includes the theft or attempted theft of automobiles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, scooters, snowmobiles and other vehicles in its definition of motor vehicle theft.
According to the FBI, vehicle thefts had been trending downward in the 26 years since they peaked at 1.7 million in 1991, falling 56 percent to 724,872 in 2019. The NICB credits law enforcement efforts, along with the creation of specific antitheft programs, technology and insurance company-supported organizations such as the NICB for contributing to the theft reduction.
Smart keys and key fobs are a weakness
Despite the reduction in vehicle thefts over the past two decades, industry observers caution that thieves constantly devise new and sophisticated means of stealing autos. Tactics include acquiring smart keys, which eliminated hot-wiring to steal cars; switching vehicle identification numbers; and using stolen identities to secure loans for expensive vehicles. Also alarming is the finding that there were 229,339 vehicle thefts with keys or fobs left in the vehicles between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2018. According to the NICB, this represents a 56 percent increase in vehicle thefts with keys or fobs in the vehicle from the 147,434 vehicles stolen in this manner between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2015. The 2016 to 2018 vehicles stolen works out to 209 vehicles every day during those three years. The top five states with the most thefts with keys or fobs left in the vehicle during this period were California (31,185), Florida (17,300), Texas (15,511), Ohio (12,596) and Nevada (11,391).
The NICB also reports that thefts of catalytic converters, devices that convert the engine’s environmentally hazardous exhaust into less harmful gasses, have been rising significantly. In 2018, there were 1,298 catalytic converter thefts reported, more than doubling to 3,389 in 2019. By 2020 they grew more than four-fold, soaring to 14,433 thefts, with December leading the way with 2,347 thefts, or roughly 16 percent of the yearly total. Catalytic converter theft repairs could cost thousands of dollars.
Top 10 U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas by Motor Vehicle Theft Rate, 2020:
| Rank | Metropolitan Statistical Area (1) | Vehicles Stolen | Rate (2) |
| 1 | Bakersfield, CA | 8,161 | 905.41 |
| 2 | Yuba City, CA | 1,279 | 724.46 |
| 3 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 21,112 | 705.80 |
| 4 | Odessa, TX | 1,114 | 664.28 |
| 5 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | 30,774 | 655.20 |
| 6 | Albuquerque, NM | 5,835 | 631.75 |
| 7 | Pueblo, CO | 1,023 | 602.39 |
| 8 | Billings, MT | 1,038 | 564.75 |
| 9 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | 692 | 564.64 |
| 10 | Tulsa, OK | 5,553 | 551.76 |
Top 10 States with the Most Number of Motor Vehicle Thefts, 2020:
| Rank | State | Vehicles Stolen |
| 1 | California | 168,323 |
| 2 | Texas | 84,276 |
| 3 | Florida | 38,271 |
| 4 | Colorado | 30,452 |
| 5 | Washington | 27,399 |
| 6 | Georgia | 25,506 |
| 7 | Missouri | 24,189 |
| 8 | Illinois | 21,332 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 21,098 |
| 10 | North Carolina | 20,520 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 15,047 |
Top 10 States with the Fewest Number of Motor Vehicle Thefts, 2020:
| Rank | State | Vehicles Stolen |
| 1 | Vermont | 264 |
| 2 | Maine | 862 |
| 3 | Wyoming | 964 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,044 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,509 |
| 6 | Delaware | 1,665 |
| 7 | Idaho | 1,767 |
| 8 | Alaska | 1,969 |
| 9 | North Dakota | 2,074 |
| 10 | West Virginia | 2,271 |
Top 10 Most Frequently Stolen Vehicles, All Model Years, 2020:
| Rank | Year & Model | Thefts |
| 1 | 2006 Ford Pick-Up (Full Size) | 44,014 |
| 2 | 2004 Chevrolet Pick-Up (Full Size) | 40,968 |
| 3 | 2000 Honda Civic | 34,144 |
| 4 | 1997 Honda Accord | 30,814 |
| 5 | 2019 Toyota Camry | 16,915 |
| 6 | 2020 Nissan Altima | 14,668 |
| 7 | 2005 GMC Pick-Up (Full Size) | 13,016 |
| 8 | 2020 Toyota Corolla | 12,515 |
| 9 | 2000 Honda CR-V | 12,309 |
| 10 | 2001 Dodge Pick-Up (Full Size) | 11,991 |
Top 10 Most Frequently Stolen Vehicles, 2020 Model Year Vehicles, 2020:
| Rank | Model |
| 1 | Nissan Altima |
| 2 | Chevrolet Pick-Up (Full Size) |
| 3 | Toyota Corolla |
| 4 | Chevrolet Malibu |
| 5 | Ram Pick-Up (Full Size) |
| 6 | Toyota Camry |
| 7 | Hyundai Elantra |
| 8 | Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee |
| 9 | Ford Pick-Up (Full Size) |
| 10 | Dodge Charger |
How can I help lower the chance of my car being stolen?
Anything you can do to slow down a thief will make your vehicle a less attractive target. Most thieves go for the low-hanging fruit. Here are several tips to keep your vehicle a little longer.
- Keep your vehicle locked at all times, even while you’re driving it.
- When parked, never leave your keys or key fobs in the vehicle and close all the windows and the sunroof.
- Have your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) etched on each of the windows. Car thieves want to get off cheap. They don’t want to go to the expense of replacing all the glass.
- Never leave your car running and unattended.
- Avoid leaving valuables inside your vehicle where a thief can see them.
- Don’t leave your vehicle title in the car. If multiple drivers use the vehicle, one suggestion is to hide the registration in a secret location in the car that only the owners know.
- Know where you’re going. Avoid known high-crime areas even if the alternate route takes longer.
- Install an anti-theft system in your vehicle if it doesn’t have one. Thieves are less likely to steal vehicles that they know can be recovered quickly. Many insurance carriers offer discounts for the types of systems listed below.
- Thieves prefer to work in the dark. Be cautious at night about where you park your car. Park it in a well-lit area if possible.
- Look around and be aware of your surroundings, especially in garages, parking lots and gas stations.
- On an incline, leave your car in park or in gear with the wheels turned toward the curb or some other obstruction. This makes it harder for thieves to tow your vehicle.
- If confronted by a carjacker, do not resist. Cars can be replaced; you can’t.
Types of Anti-Theft Systems
- A mechanism that locks onto the steering wheel can be a very visible sign that you’ve taken steps to protect your vehicle.
- Ignition cut-off systems that prevent a car from being started.
- Some new cars come with passive alarms that activate automatically when the key is removed from the ignition.
- One system emits a signal that can be tracked by the police.
How can I find the best auto insurance in Oklahoma?
There are two easy ways to get a quote or request more information for auto insurance in Oklahoma:
- Call/Text (405) 605-9891
- Email jp@schererinsurance.com