Kia and Hyundai vehicles were the most stolen cars in America in 2023, breaking the years-long trend of full-size pickups topping the list, according to the latest report issued by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
Kia and Hyundai models were in the first six places in 2023, including the top three, among the NICB’s list of the 10 most stolen vehicles. The Chevy Silverado 1500 came in fourth.
Interestingly, the most commonly stolen vehicle in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island was the same: Honda Accord.
Social media trends showcasing how to steal specific models of Hyundai and Kia vehicles could be fueling the rise in passenger car thefts, particularly because many models were not equipped with immobilizing equipment at the factory. But the NICB report also highlights the use of newer technology to hack into vehicle security systems.
This report follows another NICB trend analysis, which indicated that the U.S. is still experiencing a surge in vehicle theft rates dating back to the start of the pandemic. Vehicle theft claims rose 1% from 2022 to 2023.
“Motor vehicle theft costs owners more than $8 billion each year, with more thefts happening in the summer than any other time of year,” said Mark Schieldrop, senior spokesperson for AAA Northeast. “But by being vigilant and taking preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the chance of your car being stolen.”
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Learn MoreThe 10 Most Stolen Cars in America
Is your car the apple of a robber’s eye?
- Hyundai Elantra
- Hyundai Sonata
- Kia Optima
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- Kia Soul
- Honda Accord
- Honda Civic
- Kia Forte
- Ford F150 Series Pickup
- Kia Sportage
How to Prevent Your Car From Being Stolen
AAA offers the following tips to prevent your car from being stolen:
- Park with your windows up and doors locked. When not at home, be sure your key fob is with you at all times.
- Park in well-lit areas and ideally in an area protected by security cameras.
- Remove all valuables from your car and keep anything that must be in the car out of view. Theft of items left in vehicles is a widespread problem – not just theft of cars themselves.
- Consider a tracking device to locate your car if it does get stolen. According to the NICB, one-third of stolen vehicles that were ultimately recovered were found on the same day as the theft, so it’s important to immediately report the incident to police and then to your insurance company.
- Store key fobs as far away from the vehicle as possible when parked. To prevent a signal boosting attack, consider putting them in a metal container or bag to interrupt the fob signal and prevent tech-savvy thieves from intercepting and boosting it remotely to unlock the nearby parked vehicle.
- Keep your vehicle up to date with software updates and check with your dealer to ensure all eligible safety and security recalls and technical service bulletins have been performed.
- Don’t leave your vehicle running and unattended, even if the vehicle is locked.
If your car is stolen, here’s how to report it.
If you are concerned about car theft, you can also reach out to a AAA Insurance agent to discuss your auto insurance coverage options.
Another hot topic on car owner’s minds is the rise of catalytic converter theft. Learn more about why these car parts are being stolen and how to avoid becoming a victim.
Do you own one of the most stolen cars in America? Let us know in the comments below.
This article has been updated and republished from a previous version.
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From what I have told Kia’s and Hyundai’s that use a FOB rather key start, are not the ones that are stolen. Also, if someone can get my Kia started, it will only travel a few hundred feet and then die, It doesn’t seem that anyone makes this distinction.
We own a 2005 Hyundai Elantra and never have had it broken into or stolen, but I had the belief that no one cared about that low-end vehicle enough to attempt to steal it!
Good to know we bought smart and kept it this many years because it’s still road-worthy, efficient & far less costly than most car options in 2205 or in 2024!
This article and the comments miss the point and, critically, provide no information on how car owners can protect their vehicles.
A few years ago some genius posted on social media the alarmingly simple way to hack into Kias, Hondas via the steering column. Check the statistics on car theft by brand. I expect it will be heavily titled towards those brands. At a recent conference in Essex County, the precinct captain explained that persons as young as 14 were stealing these kinds of cars and taking them to Long Island, NY chop shops for a quick cash payday. The cars were then filtered into the parts market. Prevention: lock the steering wheel.
D. E, NJ
Put an Apple air tag or similar tracking device in a hidden place in the car so you and the police can find it quickly
Yes, Ken I agree. I bought an air tag when I bought my car. I track it everywhere on my phone and when I am home, especially when I use valet parking lots. I like to make sure the attendants are not joy riding in my baby, lol
Both our vehicles are in this list, Chevrolet full sized pick up and the Jeep Grand Cherokee. If they get stolen, we are covered. Then we buy more economic vehicles.
We purchased a 2015 Honda Accord V-6 EX when it was new. So far we haven’t had any trouble in the theft department. Love the car except for the middle of the road gas mileage.
What would be interesting to note is the number of vehicles stolen as a percentage of that vehicle. So, BMW 3-series is best but is that 10 out of 100 or 10 out of 1,000? That makes a difference rather than just the pure number of stolen vehicles. And there are relatively few Teslas compared to a Dodge Charger.
Great points and I would definitely be interested in the replies.
Those are all great points, Allison, thanks so much for reading. The report measured the theft claim frequency per 1,000 insured vehicle years and an
average loss payment per whole vehicle theft (or claim severity), resulting in an average loss payment per insured vehicle year. So, it’s a relative number (like a per-capita data set) and I’m sure plenty of extrapolation was done to arrive at the final numbers. But when it comes to the Tesla, I really think the fact that they’re often garaged (or otherwise often close to a power source overnight) may explain part of why they’re not stolen as often.
Unlocked doors and keys left in ignition
Around here, that’s the most common reason cars are stolen. You’d think people would learn, but the local police have to keep reminding us, at least once a month!
There’s a slogan that goes back to at least the 1960s – “Lock it – pocket the key.” Still good advice.