Motor vehicle theft, one of the most serious offenses tracked by the FBI, is on the rise in the United States. There were a total of 810,400 motor vehicle thefts nationwide in 2020, the most in over a decade.
Motor vehicle theft can be either the theft or attempted theft of a vehicle, such as a car, truck, ATV, or motorcycle. Some experts attribute the rising rates of vehicle theft to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to vehicles sitting unattended and unused for longer than usual. Additionally, vehicle theft is often committed for monetary gain, and the pandemic sent unemployment soaring and left many Americans struggling financially.
While motorists nationwide now face a greater risk of vehicle theft than they have in many years, in some parts of the country, car owners are far less likely to be victims of car theft than in others. Here is a look at the 10 most stolen cars in America.
Using data from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the city where your car is least likely to be stolen in every state. Cities — defined as places with populations greater than 25,000 — are ranked by the number of motor vehicle thefts reported for every 100,000 people.
It is important to note that in four states, there is only one eligible city with available data. In each of these cases, which are noted, the city listed ranks as having the lowest motor vehicle theft rate by default only. In Hawaii, there are no qualifying cities with available crime data.
Though each of the cities on this list ranks as having the lowest motor vehicle theft rate in its respective state, vehicle theft rates in these places vary considerably, from 3 incidents per 100,000 people to 321 per 100,000. Still, in the vast majority of the cities on this list, motor vehicle theft rates are lower than the statewide rate as well as the national rate of 246 per 100,000.
Motor vehicle theft, along with larceny and burglary, is one of three criminal offenses that make up the property crime category. Due in large part to lower than average vehicle theft rates, in most cities on this list, the overall property crime rate is lower than the comparable statewide rate. Here is a look at the city with the fewest property crimes in every state.
Click here to see the city where your car is least likely to be stolen in every state
Click here to see our detailed methodology
Alabama: Enterprise
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 168.0 (Alabama: 222.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 48 (Alabama: 10,926)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,502.7 (Alabama: 2,136.8)
> Total property crimes: 715 (Alabama: 105,161)
> Population: 27,947
*Because Enterprise is the only eligible city in Alabama, it is the city where your car is least likely to be stolen by default.
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Alaska: Juneau
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 144.1 (Alaska: 269.3)
> Total vehicle thefts: 46 (Alaska: 1,969)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,963.2 (Alaska: 2,260.5)
> Total property crimes: 946 (Alaska: 16,528)
> Population: 32,227
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Arizona: Florence
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 21.8 (Arizona: 241.7)
> Total vehicle thefts: 6 (Arizona: 17,937)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 264.8 (Arizona: 2,227.7)
> Total property crimes: 73 (Arizona: 165,323)
> Population: 26,420
Arkansas: Bella Vista
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 13.7 (Arkansas: 261.8)
> Total vehicle thefts: 4 (Arkansas: 7,933)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 583.4 (Arkansas: 2,613.4)
> Total property crimes: 170 (Arkansas: 79,200)
> Population: 28,539
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California: Danville
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 20.1 (California: 427.6)
> Total vehicle thefts: 9 (California: 168,323)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 533.5 (California: 2,138.9)
> Total property crimes: 239 (California: 842,054)
> Population: 44,605
Source: ivanastar / iStock via Getty Images
Colorado: Castle Rock
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 142.0 (Colorado: 524.3)
> Total vehicle thefts: 101 (Colorado: 30,452)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,662.7 (Colorado: 2,833.8)
> Total property crimes: 1,183 (Colorado: 164,582)
> Population: 62,417
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Connecticut: Wallingford
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 56.5 (Connecticut: 236.8)
> Total vehicle thefts: 25 (Connecticut: 8,422)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 705.3 (Connecticut: 1,565.1)
> Total property crimes: 312 (Connecticut: 55,670)
> Population: 44,596
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Delaware: Newark
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 133.3 (Delaware: 168.7)
> Total vehicle thefts: 45 (Delaware: 1,665)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,884.3 (Delaware: 1,961.4)
> Total property crimes: 636 (Delaware: 19,355)
> Population: 33,448
Source: Serenethos / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Florida: North Port
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 29.0 (Florida: 176.1)
> Total vehicle thefts: 21 (Florida: 38,271)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,026.4 (Florida: 1,769.4)
> Total property crimes: 743 (Florida: 384,556)
> Population: 66,410
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Georgia: Milton
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 12.4 (Georgia: 238.2)
> Total vehicle thefts: 5 (Georgia: 25,506)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 512.8 (Georgia: 2,007.4)
> Total property crimes: 207 (Georgia: 214,988)
> Population: 38,759
Source: Adam-Springer / Getty Images
Hawaii: No eligible cities
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: N/A (Hawaii: 379.8)
> Total vehicle thefts: N/A (Hawaii: 5,344)
> Property crimes per 100K people: N/A (Hawaii: 2,411.4)
> Total property crimes: N/A (Hawaii: 33,928)
> Population: N/A
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Source: Bret-Barton / Getty Images
Idaho: Rexburg
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 16.7 (Idaho: 96.7)
> Total vehicle thefts: 5 (Idaho: 1,767)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 338.2 (Idaho: 1,111.9)
> Total property crimes: 101 (Idaho: 20,313)
> Population: 28,414
Source: Alex Potemkin / E+ via Getty Images
Illinois: Vernon Hills
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 18.7 (Illinois: 169.5)
> Total vehicle thefts: 5 (Illinois: 21,332)
> Property crimes per 100K people: N/A (Illinois: 1,559.4)
> Total property crimes: N/A (Illinois: 196,287)
> Population: 26,343
Indiana: Westfield
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 30.8 (Indiana: 228.5)
> Total vehicle thefts: 14 (Indiana: 15,435)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 747.8 (Indiana: 1,783.2)
> Total property crimes: 340 (Indiana: 120,453)
> Population: 39,610
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Iowa: Ankeny
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 81.1 (Iowa: 197.1)
> Total vehicle thefts: 57 (Iowa: 6,235)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,146.5 (Iowa: 1,698.2)
> Total property crimes: 806 (Iowa: 53,725)
> Population: 61,938
Source: TriggerPhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Kansas: Leawood
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 134.1 (Kansas: 248.1)
> Total vehicle thefts: 47 (Kansas: 7,229)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,628.9 (Kansas: 2,199.1)
> Total property crimes: 571 (Kansas: 64,077)
> Population: 34,670
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Source: Courtesy of The City of Independence, Kentucky via Facebook
Kentucky: Independence
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 58.7 (Kentucky: 256.8)
> Total vehicle thefts: 17 (Kentucky: 11,497)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 448.9 (Kentucky: 1,779.5)
> Total property crimes: 130 (Kentucky: 79,673)
> Population: 27,683
Source: Brad Schinkel / iStock via Getty Images
Louisiana: Slidell
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 115.7 (Louisiana: 266.9)
> Total vehicle thefts: 32 (Louisiana: 12,400)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,173.2 (Louisiana: 2,884.4)
> Total property crimes: 878 (Louisiana: 133,989)
> Population: 27,822
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Maine: Portland
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 87.6 (Maine: 63.8)
> Total vehicle thefts: 58 (Maine: 862)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,725.8 (Maine: 1,156.2)
> Total property crimes: 1,143 (Maine: 15,610)
> Population: 66,595
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Maryland: Bowie
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 67.8 (Maryland: 172.9)
> Total vehicle thefts: 40 (Maryland: 10,469)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 928.7 (Maryland: 1,609.8)
> Total property crimes: 548 (Maryland: 97,487)
> Population: 58,481
*Because Bowie is the only eligible city in Maryland, it is the city where your car is least likely to be stolen by default.
Massachusetts: Franklin Town
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 2.9 (Massachusetts: 99.2)
> Total vehicle thefts: 1 (Massachusetts: 6,835)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 93.3 (Massachusetts: 1,053.2)
> Total property crimes: 32 (Massachusetts: 72,602)
> Population: 33,256
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Michigan: Independence charter
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 13.4 (Michigan: 184.5)
> Total vehicle thefts: 5 (Michigan: 18,385)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 340.5 (Michigan: 1,360.9)
> Total property crimes: 127 (Michigan: 135,633)
> Population: 36,745
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Minnesota: Chaska
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 58.5 (Minnesota: 250.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 16 (Minnesota: 14,146)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 943.2 (Minnesota: 2,124.9)
> Total property crimes: 258 (Minnesota: 120,212)
> Population: 26,371
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Mississippi: Oxford
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 45.0 (Mississippi: 205.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 13 (Mississippi: 6,083)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,109.7 (Mississippi: 2,101.6)
> Total property crimes: 609 (Mississippi: 62,351)
> Population: 26,962
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Missouri: Wentzville
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 108.2 (Missouri: 393.2)
> Total vehicle thefts: 47 (Missouri: 24,189)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,298.1 (Missouri: 2,531.0)
> Total property crimes: 564 (Missouri: 155,698)
> Population: 38,841
Source: DianeBentleyRaymond / Getty Images
Montana: Bozeman
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 95.2 (Montana: 247.6)
> Total vehicle thefts: 49 (Montana: 2,676)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,354.5 (Montana: 2,120.8)
> Total property crimes: 697 (Montana: 22,917)
> Population: 46,746
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Nebraska: Kearney
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 137.4 (Nebraska: 260.5)
> Total vehicle thefts: 47 (Nebraska: 5,048)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,982.4 (Nebraska: 1,909.2)
> Total property crimes: 678 (Nebraska: 36,991)
> Population: 33,464
Source: LPETTET / Getty Images
Nevada: Henderson
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 165.8 (Nevada: 336.4)
> Total vehicle thefts: 544 (Nevada: 10,556)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,426.3 (Nevada: 1,926.6)
> Total property crimes: 4,679 (Nevada: 60,462)
> Population: 300,116
Source: mountinez / Getty Images
New Hampshire: Dover
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 43.1 (New Hampshire: 76.4)
> Total vehicle thefts: 14 (New Hampshire: 1,044)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 969.8 (New Hampshire: 1,098.9)
> Total property crimes: 315 (New Hampshire: 15,014)
> Population: 31,577
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New Jersey: Cliffside Park
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 3.8 (New Jersey: 115.7)
> Total vehicle thefts: 1 (New Jersey: 10,278)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 329.5 (New Jersey: 1,158.2)
> Total property crimes: 87 (New Jersey: 102,875)
> Population: 25,126
Source: KaraGrubis / iStock via Getty Images
New Mexico: Farmington
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 321.3 (New Mexico: 427.6)
> Total vehicle thefts: 142 (New Mexico: 9,006)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,274.4 (New Mexico: 2,841.9)
> Total property crimes: 1,447 (New Mexico: 59,859)
> Population: 45,258
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New York: Haverstraw
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 8.1 (New York: 101.7)
> Total vehicle thefts: 3 (New York: 19,656)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 607.5 (New York: 1,410.7)
> Total property crimes: 225 (New York: 272,788)
> Population: 37,114
North Carolina: Holly Springs
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 15.2 (North Carolina: 193.6)
> Total vehicle thefts: 6 (North Carolina: 20,520)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 934.3 (North Carolina: 2,226.5)
> Total property crimes: 370 (North Carolina: 236,026)
> Population: 34,874
North Dakota: West Fargo
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 163.4 (North Dakota: 271.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 63 (North Dakota: 2,074)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,893.1 (North Dakota: 2,124.1)
> Total property crimes: 730 (North Dakota: 16,256)
> Population: 35,397
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Ohio: Upper Arlington
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 19.7 (Ohio: 171.7)
> Total vehicle thefts: 7 (Ohio: 20,077)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 945.0 (Ohio: 1,850.3)
> Total property crimes: 336 (Ohio: 216,363)
> Population: 35,299
Oklahoma: Yukon
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 87.0 (Oklahoma: 378.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 25 (Oklahoma: 15,047)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,028.9 (Oklahoma: 2,705.6)
> Total property crimes: 583 (Oklahoma: 107,705)
> Population: 26,943
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Oregon: West Linn
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 78.0 (Oregon: 391.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 21 (Oregon: 16,585)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,166.6 (Oregon: 2,659.0)
> Total property crimes: 314 (Oregon: 112,782)
> Population: 26,656
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Pennsylvania: Harrisburg*
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 251.8 (Pennsylvania: 121.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 124 (Pennsylvania: 15,474)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,778.9 (Pennsylvania: 1,644.1)
> Total property crimes: 876 (Pennsylvania: 210,167)
> Population: 49,209
*Because Harrisburg is the only eligible city in Pennsylvania, it is the city where your car is least likely to be stolen by default.
Source: danlogan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Rhode Island: Cumberland
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 31.1 (Rhode Island: 142.7)
> Total vehicle thefts: 11 (Rhode Island: 1,509)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 613.7 (Rhode Island: 1,245.5)
> Total property crimes: 217 (Rhode Island: 13,166)
> Population: 34,846
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Source: PeterPhoto / Getty Images
South Carolina: Mount Pleasant
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 146.8 (South Carolina: 282.1)
> Total vehicle thefts: 139 (South Carolina: 14,718)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,327.3 (South Carolina: 2,721.1)
> Total property crimes: 1,257 (South Carolina: 141,987)
> Population: 86,982
South Dakota: Aberdeen
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 164.9 (South Dakota: 259.3)
> Total vehicle thefts: 47 (South Dakota: 2,315)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,337.3 (South Dakota: 1,956.7)
> Total property crimes: 666 (South Dakota: 17,468)
> Population: 28,225
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Tennessee: Spring Hill
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 30.6 (Tennessee: 306.4)
> Total vehicle thefts: 14 (Tennessee: 21,098)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 850.0 (Tennessee: 2,492.8)
> Total property crimes: 389 (Tennessee: 171,675)
> Population: 39,711
Source: Iheartdfw / Wikimedia Commons
Texas: Colleyville
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 14.5 (Texas: 287.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 4 (Texas: 84,276)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 557.9 (Texas: 2,245.0)
> Total property crimes: 154 (Texas: 659,160)
> Population: 26,462
Source: prosphotos / Getty Images
Utah: Saratoga Springs
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 33.7 (Utah: 316.6)
> Total vehicle thefts: 12 (Utah: 10,288)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 763.6 (Utah: 2,464.4)
> Total property crimes: 272 (Utah: 80,091)
> Population: 29,161
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Vermont: Burlington
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 39.7 (Vermont: 42.4)
> Total vehicle thefts: 17 (Vermont: 264)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,407.7 (Vermont: 1,217.0)
> Total property crimes: 1,032 (Vermont: 7,586)
> Population: 42,545
*Because Burlington is the only eligible city in Vermont, it is the city where your car is least likely to be stolen by default.
Source: BigFishDesign / Getty Images
Virginia: Blacksburg
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 33.8 (Virginia: 126.3)
> Total vehicle thefts: 15 (Virginia: 10,853)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 697.9 (Virginia: 1,456.4)
> Total property crimes: 310 (Virginia: 125,114)
> Population: 44,303
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Source: hermosawave / iStock via Getty Images
Washington: Mercer Island
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 45.7 (Washington: 356.1)
> Total vehicle thefts: 12 (Washington: 27,399)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,522.8 (Washington: 2,732.4)
> Total property crimes: 400 (Washington: 210,223)
> Population: 25,675
Source: BackyardProduction / Getty Images
West Virginia: Morgantown
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 104.0 (West Virginia: 127.2)
> Total vehicle thefts: 32 (West Virginia: 2,271)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,066.6 (West Virginia: 1,399.4)
> Total property crimes: 636 (West Virginia: 24,976)
> Population: 30,712
Wisconsin: New Berlin
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 22.7 (Wisconsin: 161.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 9 (Wisconsin: 9,393)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,151.0 (Wisconsin: 1,485.7)
> Total property crimes: 457 (Wisconsin: 86,654)
> Population: 39,718
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Wyoming: Gillette
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 105.9 (Wyoming: 165.5)
> Total vehicle thefts: 34 (Wyoming: 964)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,922.5 (Wyoming: 1,610.6)
> Total property crimes: 617 (Wyoming: 9,379)
> Population: 32,857
Methodology
To determine the city where your car is least likely to be stolen in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed motor vehicle theft figures from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report.
We included cities that have more than 25,000 people based on five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. Limited data was available in the 2020 UCR for areas in Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though cities in these states were not excluded from analysis.
Data for property crime — a category that includes larceny-theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft — also came from the 2020 FBI UCR. Population figures are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. However, these estimates were not used to calculate crime rates. Crime rates per 100,000 people were calculated using population figures provided by the FBI in the 2020 UCR.
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