Ranked: U.S. States With the Highest Vehicle Theft Rates
Key Takeaways
- Approximately one vehicle is stolen every 48 seconds in the U.S.
- California recorded the nation’s highest vehicle theft rate in 2025, at 348 thefts per 100,000 residents.
- New Hampshire had the lowest vehicle theft rate, at just 40 thefts per 100,000 residents.
More than 650,000 vehicles were reported stolen across the U.S. in 2025, despite a sharp decline from the record highs seen in recent years.
This graphic ranks all 50 states by vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents, showing how theft risk varies across the country.
The data for this visualization comes from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and the U.S. Census Bureau. Theft rates were calculated using 2025 vehicle theft totals and Census Bureau Vintage 2025 state population estimates.
California Leads the Nation
California topped the 2025 ranking with 348 vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents, nearly nine times New Hampshire’s rate of 40 per 100,000.
| Rank | State | Car Thefts per 100k people (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 348 |
| 2 | Nevada | 318 |
| 3 | New Mexico | 318 |
| 4 | Missouri | 280 |
| 5 | Colorado | 280 |
| 6 | Maryland | 273 |
| 7 | Texas | 240 |
| 8 | Alaska | 232 |
| 9 | Washington | 228 |
| 10 | Illinois | 223 |
| 11 | Oregon | 208 |
| 12 | Kansas | 201 |
| 13 | Tennessee | 188 |
| 14 | Louisiana | 188 |
| 15 | North Carolina | 185 |
| 16 | South Carolina | 184 |
| 17 | Ohio | 174 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | 172 |
| 19 | Michigan | 171 |
| 20 | Arizona | 169 |
| 21 | Nebraska | 168 |
| 22 | Minnesota | 165 |
| 23 | Connecticut | 161 |
| 24 | Indiana | 160 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | 158 |
| 26 | Delaware | 156 |
| 27 | Georgia | 154 |
| 28 | Mississippi | 153 |
| 29 | Kentucky | 151 |
| 30 | South Dakota | 149 |
| 31 | New Jersey | 149 |
| 32 | Alabama | 145 |
| 33 | Arkansas | 144 |
| 34 | Montana | 125 |
| 35 | New York | 121 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | 118 |
| 37 | North Dakota | 118 |
| 38 | Florida | 117 |
| 39 | Vermont | 113 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 110 |
| 41 | Virginia | 108 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | 107 |
| 43 | Iowa | 102 |
| 44 | Utah | 90 |
| 45 | Massachusetts | 90 |
| 46 | West Virginia | 82 |
| 47 | Wyoming | 73 |
| 48 | Maine | 61 |
| 49 | Idaho | 54 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | 40 |
Nevada and New Mexico followed closely behind, each reporting 318 thefts per 100,000 people.
Several Western states, including Colorado, Washington, and Oregon, also ranked near the top.
High Theft Rates Extend Beyond the West
High vehicle theft rates were not limited to Western states. Missouri tied Colorado at 280 thefts per 100,000 residents, while Maryland ranked just behind at 273.
Texas, Illinois, Kansas, Tennessee, and Louisiana also placed among the states with relatively high theft rates.
Where Vehicle Theft Is Least Common
At the opposite end of the ranking, New Hampshire recorded just 40 vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents.
Idaho, Maine, Wyoming, and West Virginia also reported comparatively low rates.
Population density may be one factor behind these differences, alongside local economic conditions, law enforcement resources, and vehicle security measures.
America’s Most-Stolen Vehicle
Geography is only part of the picture. The Hyundai Elantra was the most-stolen vehicle model in the U.S. in 2025, with 21,732 reported thefts, followed by the Honda Accord with 17,797.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Mapped: U.S. Financial Crimes by State on Voronoi.
