NICB's Hot Wheels: America's Top Ten Most Stolen Vehicle Makes
2019 NICB Hot Wheels
Top 10 Thefts by Vehicle Name and Model
Top 10 Thefts By Make In Each State
DES PLAINES, Ill. October 13, 2020 — Car thieves have a new favorite target: the Ford Full Size Pickup. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s latest “Hot Wheels” report, which includes crime data from across the country, Ford Full Size Pickups were the most stolen vehicle in 2019, supplanting the Honda Civic as the top target of theft.
The report examines vehicle theft data submitted by law enforcement to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and determines the vehicle make, model, and model year most reported stolen in 2019.
The most stolen vehicles in the nation during 2019 are:
| RANK | VEHICLE | THEFTS | MOST FREQUENT VEHICLE YEAR STOLEN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford Pickup (Full Size) | 38,938 | 2006 |
| 2 | Honda Civic | 33,220 | 2000 |
| 3 | Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size) | 32,583 | 2004 |
| 4 | Honda Accord | 30,745 | 1997 |
| 5 | Toyota Camry | 15,656 | 2007 |
| 6 | Nissan Altima | 13,355 | 2015 |
| 7 | Toyota Corolla | 12,137 | 2018 |
| 8 | Dodge Pickup (Full Size) | 11,292 | 2001 |
| 9 | GMC Pickup (Full Size) | 11,164 | 2018 |
| 10 | Honda CR-V | 10,094 | 2001 |
While the Ford full size pickup models are a treasured target by thieves, the 2000 Honda Civic had the most thefts by model year in 2019 followed by the 1997 Honda Accord. The top 10 model makes and years swiped in 2019 are:
| RANK | VEHICLE | THEFTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000 Honda Civic | 4,731 |
| 2 | 1997 Honda Accord | 3,563 |
| 3 | 2006 Ford Pickup (Full Size) | 3,061 |
| 4 | 2004 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size) | 2,099 |
| 5 | 2019 Ram Pickup (Full Size) | 1,547 |
| 6 | 2001 Honda CR-V | 1,394 |
| 7 | 2015 Nissan Altima | 1,349 |
| 8 | 2001 Dodge Pickup (Full Size) | 1,174 |
| 9 | 2019 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee | 1,110 |
| 10 | 2018 GMC Pickup (Full Size) | 1,101 |
In 2019, the top three model years stolen are 2018 which ranked first with 47,859 thefts, 2019 was second with 45,118 thefts, and 2017 model years had 39,425 reported thefts.
As thefts remain high, NICB recommends drivers follow these four layers of protection to guard against vehicle theft:
1. Common Sense — the common sense approach to protection is the easiest and most cost-effective way to thwart would-be thieves. You should always:
- Remove your keys from the ignition
- Lock your doors/close your windows
- Park in a well-lit area
2. Warning Device — the second layer of protection is a visible or audible device which alerts thieves that your vehicle is protected. Popular devices include:
- Audible alarms
- Steering column collars
- Steering wheel/brake pedal lock
- Brake locks
- Wheel locks
- Theft deterrent decals
- Identification markers in or on vehicle
- VIN etching
- Micro dot marking
3. Immobilizing Device — the third layer of protection is a device which prevents thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some electronic devices have computer chips in ignition keys. Other devices inhibit the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden switch or button is activated. Some examples are:
- Smart keys
- Fuse cut-offs
- Kill switches
- Starter, ignition, and fuel pump disablers
- Wireless ignition authentication
4. Tracking Device — the final layer of protection is a tracking device which emits a signal to police or a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. Some systems employ “telematics” which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved, the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.