How Hyundai And Kia Sparked America's Largest Drop In Car Thefts In 40 Years

• The number of car thefts dropped 17% last year to fall back to pre-pandemic levels.
• 850,708 vehicles were stolen in the United States last year and California was a hot spot.
• The most stolen vehicle was the Hyundai Elantra and it was closely followed by the Sonata.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau has revealed car thefts have fallen to pre-pandemic levels after a surge driven by lax security on Hyundai and Kia vehicles. This made national news and prompted some insurers to drop or deny coverage.

However, the companies have addressed the problem and this appears to be making a significant impact as car thefts dropped 17% last year to 850,708 units. That's the largest annual decrease in the last 40 years and the decline was so steep that the number of thefts fell below 2020 levels.

More: Hyundai And Kia Offer New Ignition Cylinder Protector To Help Prevent Thefts

Maine was the only state to experience an increase in vehicle thefts as the rate climbed 2%. Numbers fell everywhere else with huge declines in Washington (-32%), Nevada (-31%), Oregon (-30%), Nebraska (-29%), and Colorado (-26%).

That's good news, but theft is still a problem especially in Washington DC. The city had 842.4 thefts per 100,000 residents, which is more than three times the national average of 250.2 thefts.

U.S. Vehicle Thefts

The U.S. capital was followed by the state of California, which had 463.21 thefts per 100,000 residents. Rounding out the top five spots were New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada.

As for the most stolen vehicles, no drum roll is needed as Hyundai took the top two spots. The Elantra walked away with the dubious honor as 31,712 thefts were reported in 2024. The Hyundai Sonata wasn't far behind with 26,720 thefts and Kia also made a fifth place showing thanks to 17,493 stolen Optima sedans.

Most Stolen Vehicles In 2024

This should serve as yet another reminder for Hyundai and Kia owners to get their vehicles updated. As a refresher, the software upgrade prevents vehicles from being started without their keys. While many customers have taken the company up on the offer, roughly four million Hyundai vehicles in the United States weren't equipped with push-button ignitions or immobilizing anti-theft devices.

In general, one of the simplest things you can do to prevent theft is not leaving keys in your vehicle. That's common sense, but a stunning 57,096 vehicles were stolen in 2015 with the keys still in them.

Other things you can do to deter thieves is park in a garage or a well-lit area. People should also lock their doors, close windows, and remove valuables.

Highest Vehicle Theft Rate Per 100,000 People