Statistics

From The Archives

The Insurance Information Institute Reports the following Statistics for 2006

  • 2006 Theft Statistics: According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s Uniform Crime Reports, a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States every 26.4 seconds. The odds of a vehicle being stolen were 1 in 207 in 2005 (the latest data available based on registrations from the Federal Highway Administration, thefts from the FBI, and calculated by the Insurance Information Institute). The odds are highest in urban areas. 
  • U.S. motor vehicle thefts fell 3.5 percent in 2006 from 2005, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports. In 2006, 1,192,809 motor vehicles were reported stolen.
  • Western states accounted for the largest share of thefts -36.8 percent, followed by the South at 34.6 percent. The Midwest accounted for 18.5 percent of thefts, and the Northeast for 10.2 percent.
  • Nationwide, the 2006 motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 people was 398.4, down 4.4 percent from 416.8 in 2005. The highest rate was reported in the West, 632.1, down 7.6 percent from 684.5 in 2005. The rate of motor vehicles stolen was 378.1 in the South, down 1.4 percent from 2005; 332.6 in the Midwest, down 2.8 percent; and 222.3 in the Northeast, down 6.6 percent. 
  • Only 12.6 percent of thefts were cleared by arrests in 2006. 
  • Carjackings occur most frequently in urban areas. They account for only 3.0 percent of all motor vehicle thefts. 
  • The average comprehensive insurance premium in the U.S. fell 2.5 percent from 2004 to 2005, the most recent data available, to $143.28, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

NICB’s Top 10 Most Stolen Autos in 2006

1. 1995 Honda Civic
2. 1991 Honda Accord
3. 1989 Toyota Camry
4. 1997 Ford F150 Serues
5. 2005 Dodge Ram P/UP
6. 1994 Chevy 1500 P/UP
7. 1994 Nissan Sentra
8. 1994 Dodge Caravan
9. 1994 Saturn SL
10.1990 Acura Integra

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau. 

Top Ten Auto-Theft Cities 2007

  1. Modesto, CA
  2. Las Vegas, NV
  3. San Diego / Carls-bad/San Marcos CA
  4. Stockton, CA
  5. San Francisco/ Oak-land/Freemont CA
  6. Laredo, TX
  7. Alburquerque, NM
  8. Phoenix/Mesa/ Scottsdale AZ
  9. Yakima, WA
  10. Tuscon AZ

Ranked by the rate of vehicle thefts reported per 100,000 people based on the 2007 U.S. Census Population Estimates. 
Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Top 10 States for Auto Theft
1 California 242,693 
2 Texas 95,429 
3 Florida 76,437 
4 Arizona 54,849 
5 Michigan 50,017 
6 Washington 45,899 
7 Georgia 43,163 
8 Illinois 37,641 
9 Ohio 37,425 
10 New York 32,134

TOP TEN STATES FOR MOTORCYCLE THEFTS, 2005

California 9,110 
Florida 6,324 
Texas 5,755 
North Carolina 3,053 
Ohio 2,573 
Arizona 2,464 
New York 2,195 
Indiana 2,186 
Georgia 2,159 
Pennsylvania 2,021 

Key Stats for 2004

  • 2004 Theft Statistics: Every 26 seconds, a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States. The odds of a vehicle being stolen were 1 in 190 in 2003 (latest data available). The odds are highest in urban areas. 

  • U.S. motor vehicle thefts fell 1.9 percent in 2004 from 2003, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports. In 2004, 1,237,114 motor vehicles were reported stolen.
  • The West was the only region with an increase in motor vehicle thefts from 2003 to 2004, up 3.2 percent. Thefts fell 9.7 percent in the Northeast, 4.4 percent in the Midwest and 2.9 percent in the South.
  • Nationwide, the 2004 motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 people was 421.3, down 2.9 percent from 433.7 in 2003. The highest rate was reported in the West, 664.5, up 1.7 percent, the only region registering an increase. The rate of motor vehicles stolen was 397.8 in the South, down 4.2 percent from 2003; 341.6 in the Midwest, down 4.8 percent; and 262.5 in the Northeast, down 9.9 percent. 
  • Only 13.0 percent of thefts were cleared by arrests in 2004. 
  • Carjackings occur most frequently in urban areas. They account for only 3.0 percent of all motor vehicle thefts. 
  • The most recent data available shows that the average comprehensive insurance premium in the U.S. rose 11.2 percent from 1999 to 2003.


MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT, 
TOP TEN U.S. METROPOLITAN AREAS, 2005

Rank Metropolitan Statistical Area Vehicles stolen Rate (1)
1. ________Modesto, CA ________________7,071 ______1,418.80 
2. ___Las Vegas/Paradise, NV ____________22,465 ______1,360.90 
3. ______Stockton, CA __________________7,586 ______1,167.30 
4. __Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, AZ _________41,000 ______1,103.50 
5. ______Visalia/Porterville, CA____________4,257 ______1,060.20 
6. __Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue, WA _________33,494 ______1,057.60 
7. Sacramento/Arden-Arcade/Roseville, CA__ 20,268 ______1,005.00 
8. San Diego/Carlsbad/San Marcos, CA _____28,845 _______983.90 
9. _____Fresno, CA ,__________________ __8,478 _______978.11 
10. ___Yakima, WA _____________________2,212 ________965.54 

(1) Ranked by the rate of vehicle thefts reported per 100,000 people based on the 2000 Census.

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Thefts By Model: The NICB says that the 1995 Honda Civic was the most stolen vehicle in 2004. Motor vehicle thieves continue to target imports over domestic brands. Many vehicles on the top ten list shown below are 10 to 17 model years old. These cars have been consistent top sellers for many years and some of their parts are interchangeable. Thieves dismantle them for their components. The NICB compiles its list using National Crime Information Center data. It differs from the CCC Information list below because it is based on police reports while the CCC report uses insurance claims.

TOP TEN MOST FREQUENTLY STOLEN PASSENGER VEHICLES, 2004

Rank …Year, …Make, .Model 
1. 1995 ……Honda Civic 
2. 1989 ……Toyota Camry 
3. 1991 ……Honda Accord 
4. 1994 ……Dodge Caravan 
5. 1994 ……Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup 
6. 1997 …..Ford F150 Series 
7. 2003 …..Dodge Ram Pickup 
8. 1990 ……Acura Integra 
9. 1988 …..Toyota Pickup 
10.1991….. Nissan Sentra

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau.

According to CCC Information Services, which counts total losses (stolen and not recovered or completely totalled) of each particular model from more than 350 property/casualty insurers in North America and calculates the theft rate based on registrations, the 1995 Saturn SL was the most frequently stolen vehicle in 2003. Below is CCC’s list of the top 25 vehicles stolen in 2003.

TOP 10 MOST FREQUENTLY STOLEN PASSENGER VEHICLES, 2004

Rank Year, ………….Make, Model
1. 1999………… Acura Integra
2. 2002………… BMW M Roadster 
3. 1998 …………Acura Integra 
4. 1991 ……….GMC V2500 
5. 2002 ……….Audi S4 
6. 1996 ……….Acura Integra
7. 1995 ……….Acura Integra 20
8. 2004 ………Mercury Marauder 
9. 1997 ………Acura Integra 
10. 1992 ………Mercedes-Benz 600 

Source: CCC Information Services, Inc.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT IN THE UNITED STATES, 1995-2004


Year ….Vehicles stolen ….Percent change
1995 ……1,472,441 …………-4.3% 
1996 ……1,394,238 ………..-5.3 
1997…… 1,354,189 ………..-2.9 
1998 ……1,242,781 ……….-8.2 
1999…… 1,152,075 ……….-7.3 
2000 ……1,160,002 ………..0.7 
2001 ……1,228,391 ………..5.9 
2002 ……1,246,646 ……….1.5 
2003…… 1,261,226 ……….1.2 
2004 ……1,237,114 ………-1.9 

Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reports.

Statistics from 2003

  • Every 27 seconds, a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States. 
  • The odds of a vehicle being stolen were 1 in 196 in 2000. 
  • The odds are highest in urban areas. 
  • Only 14.1 percent of thefts were cleared by arrests in 2000.
  • The FBI’s 2002 Uniform Crime Report (UCR—released October 27, 2003) indicates that more than 1.2 million motor vehicle thefts occurred in the United States in 2002, with an estimated value of approximately $8.4 billion.
  • Sixty-five percent (65%) of stolen vehicles were recovered in 2002 in the United States 
  • Carjackings occur most frequently in urban areas. However, nationwide, they account for only 3.5 percent of all motor vehicle thefts.
  • The U.S. average comprehensive insurance premium rose 9.0 percent from 1995 to 1999, the most recent data available. 

Top Vehicle Thefts by Year, Make, and Model for 2002


1989 Toyota Camry 
1994 Honda Accord 
2000 Honda Civic 
1992 Chevrolet Full Size C/K Pickup 
1997 Ford Full Size Pickup (150/250/350) 
1993 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee 
1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass/Supreme/Ciera 
1994 Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan 
1996 Ford Taurus 
2001 Toyota Corolla 

Source: National Crime Information Center

2002 Top 25 Make and Model Thefts


Toyota Camry 
Honda Accord 
Honda Civic 
Chevrolet Full Size C/K Pickup 
Ford Full Size Pickup (150/250/350) 
Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee 
Oldsmobile Cutlass/Supreme/Ciera 
Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan 
Ford Taurus 
Toyota Corolla 
Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth Colt 
Nissan Sentra 
Chevrolet Caprice 
Ford Explorer 
Chevrolet Cavalier 
Chevrolet Compact SUV (Blazer) 
Plymouth Voyager/Grand Voyager 
Toyota Pickup 
Pontiac Grand Am 
Ford Escort 
Acura Integra 
Dodge Ram Pickup 
Nissan Maxima 
Ford Mustang 
Buick LeSabre 

Source: National Crime Information Center

Most Popular Model Years Stolen in 2002


1995 
1994 
1989 
1990 
1991 
1993 
1992 
1988 
1997 
1996 
2000 
2001 
1999 
1998 
1987 
2002 
1986 
1985 
1984 
1983 
1982 
1981 
2003 

Source: National Crime Information Center

Most Popular Colors Stolen in 2002


White 
Red 
Blue 
Black 
Green 
Gray 
Silver 
Tan 
Brown 
Gold 
Yellow 
Purple 
Orange 
Teal 
Bronze 

Source: National Crime Information Center

The Highway Loss Data Institute conducted a study of auto theft and adjusted for the total number of each vehicle and looked only at 2000 to 2002 model-year vehicles. NICB theft studies have been faulted as misleading because they fail to take into consideration the overall number of cars of a specific model on the road. One reason Accords and Camrys are so frequently stolen is that they are popular vehicles that have been sold in the U.S. for a long time so there are simply more of them available to steal.

Frequency of Theft 
Class/ModelTheft Frequency
(claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years)
Cadillac Escalade 4WD10.3
Dodge Stratus 8.7
Mitsubishi Mirage7.2
Jeep Wrangler 4WD 7.2
Lincoln Navigator 2WD 6.6
Dodge Intrepid 5.8
Lincoln Navigator 4WD 5.7
Dodge Ram 1500 5.6
Ford Expedition 2WD5.6
Chrysler Sebring 5.5
Average for all vehicles 2.6
Overall Average Theft Claims
Class/Model Avgerage. Theft Payment 
per Insured Vehicle Year*
Cadillac Escalade 4WD $167 
Chevrolet Corvette convertible $75 
Lincoln Navigator 4WD $71 
BMW X5 4WD $67 
BMW 3-series convertible $63 
Lincoln Navigator 2WD$62
Lexus LX-series 4WD $61
Chevrolet Corvette $59 
Lexus IS 300$59
Audi A4/S4 Quattro $55 
Average for all vehicles $15

*An “insured vehicle year” represents one vehicle covered by insurance for one year. For example, 4 cars insured for two years would make for eight insured vehicle years.

The amount shown in the bottom table was calculated by dividing the total amount paid in theft claims by the total number of insured vehicle years for each vehicle. Of course, the total number of insured vehicles includes vehicles for which no theft claim was ever filed.

In that way, the number is affected by both the number of vehicles stolen out of the total number of vehicles and the value of each stolen vehicle. The more vehicles are stolen as a portion of the total number insured and the more expensive each vehicle is, the higher the final figure will be.

For more studies by the Highway Loss Data Institute

The ten most commonly stolen vehicles in the United States in 2001:
Rank Make and Model 
1 Toyota Camry
2 Honda Accord
3 Honda Civic
4 Oldsmobile Cutlass/Supreme/Ciera
5 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
6 Chevrolet Full Size C/K Pickup
7 Toyota Corolla
8 Ford Taurus
9 Chevrolet Caprice
10 Ford F150 Pickup

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau