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 50 metro areas where your car is least likely to be stolen. Metropolitan areas are ranked by the number of motor vehicle thefts reported for every 100,000 people.
In every metro area on this list, vehicle theft rates are less than half the national rate of 246 incidents per 100,000 people. The metro areas on this list span the country, though Wisconsin alone is home to eight of them, more than any other state.
Motor vehicle theft — along with larceny and burglary — is one of three criminal offenses that comprise the property crime category. Due in large part to lower than average vehicle theft rates, in nearly every metro area on this list, the overall property crime rate is lower than the national rate of 1,958 incidents per 100,000 people. Here is a look at the city with the fewest property crimes in every state.
Click here to see metro areas where your car is least likely to be stolen
Click here to see our detailed methodology
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50. Janesville-Beloit, WI
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 100.9
> Total vehicle thefts: 165 — 52nd lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,782.9 — 100th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 2,916 — 76th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 163,354
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49. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 99.3
> Total vehicle thefts: 870 — 105th highest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,808.9 — 107th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 15,851 — 55th highest of 276 metros
> Population: 868,707
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48. Binghamton, NY
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 98.8
> Total vehicle thefts: 233 — 79th lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,059.8 — 131st highest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 4,857 — 134th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 238,691
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47. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 98.0
> Total vehicle thefts: 771 — 114th highest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,031.5 — 15th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 8,118 — 95th highest of 276 metros
> Population: 770,577
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46. Jacksonville, NC
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 97.9
> Total vehicle thefts: 195 — 65th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,581.6 — 74th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 3,151 — 84th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 197,938
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45. Eau Claire, WI
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 97.6
> Total vehicle thefts: 166 — 54th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,735.6 — 95th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 2,951 — 77th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 169,304
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44. Rochester, MN
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 97.4
> Total vehicle thefts: 217 — 73rd lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,364.8 — 55th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 3,041 — 78th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 221,921
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43. Staunton, VA
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 95.5
> Total vehicle thefts: 118 — 30th lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,466.4 — 60th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,812 — 35th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 123,120
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42. Dubuque, IA
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 94.3
> Total vehicle thefts: 92 — 17th lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,397.2 — 56th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,363 — 14th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 97,311
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41. Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 94.1
> Total vehicle thefts: 225 — 76th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,216.8 — 35th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 2,910 — 75th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 235,099
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40. Mankato, MN
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 94.0
> Total vehicle thefts: 96 — 21st lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,448.1 — 58th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,479 — 22nd lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 101,927
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39. Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 92.3
> Total vehicle thefts: 391 — 127th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,950.8 — 128th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 8,261 — 94th highest of 276 metros
> Population: 423,163
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38. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 92.1
> Total vehicle thefts: 4,498 — 29th highest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 995.9 — 13th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 48,653 — 16th highest of 276 metros
> Population: 4,873,019
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37. Naples-Marco Island, FL
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 89.7
> Total vehicle thefts: 351 — 115th lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 972.5 — 9th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 3,806 — 108th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 384,902
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36. Winchester, VA-WV
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 89.5
> Total vehicle thefts: 127 — 35th lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,148.2 — 26th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,629 — 27th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 139,125
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35. Laredo, TX
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 89.4
> Total vehicle thefts: 249 — 81st lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,498.2 — 67th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 4,175 — 118th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 276,652
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34. Charlottesville, VA
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 87.6
> Total vehicle thefts: 193 — 62nd lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,292.7 — 44th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 2,849 — 73rd lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 218,358
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33. Bangor, ME
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 84.6
> Total vehicle thefts: 129 — 39th lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,534.7 — 71st lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 2,339 — 55th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 152,148
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32. Port St. Lucie, FL
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 84.3
> Total vehicle thefts: 418 — 131st lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,101.6 — 20th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 5,459 — 134th highest of 276 metros (tied)
> Population: 489,297
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31. Logan, UT-ID
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 82.7
> Total vehicle thefts: 119 — 32nd lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 798.2 — 4th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,148 — 6th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 141,760
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30. Pittsfield, MA
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 82.5
> Total vehicle thefts: 102 — 23rd lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,133.5 — 21st lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,401 — 19th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 124,944
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29. Elmira, NY
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 81.4
> Total vehicle thefts: 67 — 8th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,613.9 — 78th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,329 — 12th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 83,456
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28. Utica-Rome, NY
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 80.8
> Total vehicle thefts: 232 — 78th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,631.2 — 80th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 4,684 — 131st lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 289,990
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27. The Villages, FL
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 80.2
> Total vehicle thefts: 110 — 27th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 705.3 — 2nd lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 967 — 4th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 132,420
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26. Twin Falls, ID
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 79.3
> Total vehicle thefts: 90 — 16th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: N/A
> Total property crimes: N/A
> Population: 109,784
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
25. Manchester-Nashua, NH
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 77.7
> Total vehicle thefts: 326 — 109th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,138.0 — 22nd lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 4,772 — 133rd lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 417,025
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24. California-Lexington Park, MD
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 76.3
> Total vehicle thefts: 87 — 15th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,364.5 — 54th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,556 — 25th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 113,510
23. Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 75.6
> Total vehicle thefts: 127 — 35th lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,474.6 — 62nd lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 2,476 — 60th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 166,109
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22. Bloomington, IL
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 75.5
> Total vehicle thefts: 129 — 39th lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: N/A
> Total property crimes: N/A
> Population: 171,517
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21. Wausau-Weston, WI
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 71.1
> Total vehicle thefts: 116 — 29th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 911.2 — 8th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,487 — 23rd lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 163,285
20. Lewiston-Auburn, ME
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 69.9
> Total vehicle thefts: 76 — 10th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,333.5 — 48th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,449 — 21st lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 108,277
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19. Wheeling, WV-OH
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 68.9
> Total vehicle thefts: 95 — 20th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,032.2 — 16th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,423 — 20th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 138,948
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18. Harrisonburg, VA
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 68.4
> Total vehicle thefts: 93 — 19th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 981.9 — 11th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,335 — 13th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 134,964
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17. Appleton, WI
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 66.9
> Total vehicle thefts: 160 — 48th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,170.0 — 32nd lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 2,798 — 71st lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 237,974
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16. Punta Gorda, FL
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 66.7
> Total vehicle thefts: 128 — 37th lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 860.4 — 7th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,651 — 28th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 188,910
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15. Ocean City, NJ
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 65.7
> Total vehicle thefts: 60 — 5th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,031.0 — 134th highest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,856 — 37th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 92,039
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14. El Paso, TX
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 62.9
> Total vehicle thefts: 532 — 145th highest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,148.2 — 27th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 9,708 — 83rd highest of 276 metros
> Population: 843,725
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13. Oshkosh-Neenah, WI
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 62.1
> Total vehicle thefts: 107 — 25th lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,325.0 — 46th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 2,283 — 53rd lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 171,907
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12. Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 58.1
> Total vehicle thefts: 63 — 7th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,613.1 — 77th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,749 — 31st lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 109,834
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11. Green Bay, WI
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 57.6
> Total vehicle thefts: 187 — 58th lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 991.1 — 12th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 3,216 — 88th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 322,906
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10. Coeur d’Alene, ID
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 56.4
> Total vehicle thefts: 96 — 21st lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,061.5 — 19th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,807 — 33rd lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 165,697
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9. Portland-South Portland, ME
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 55.4
> Total vehicle thefts: 301 — 103rd lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,017.5 — 14th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 5,524 — 133rd highest of 276 metros
> Population: 538,500
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8. Sheboygan, WI
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 52.9
> Total vehicle thefts: 61 — 6th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,183.8 — 34th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,364 — 15th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 115,340
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
7. Fond du Lac, WI
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 52.2
> Total vehicle thefts: 54 — 4th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,146.7 — 24th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,187 — 7th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 103,403
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6. Kingston, NY
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 43.8
> Total vehicle thefts: 77 — 11th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,049.4 — 17th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,846 — 36th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 177,573
Source: benedek / Getty Images
5. Ithaca, NY
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 39.4
> Total vehicle thefts: 40 — 3rd lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,894.1 — 120th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,924 — 40th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 102,180
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4. Burlington-South Burlington, VT
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 37.5
> Total vehicle thefts: 83 — 13th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,609.5 — 76th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 3,561 — 101st lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 219,433
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
3. Barnstable Town, MA
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 32.1
> Total vehicle thefts: 68 — 9th lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 817.8 — 5th lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 1,730 — 29th lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 212,990
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2. Glens Falls, NY
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 31.5
> Total vehicle thefts: 39 — 2nd lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 737.5 — 3rd lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 914 — 3rd lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 125,148
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1. Midland, MI
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 31.4
> Total vehicle thefts: 26 — the lowest of 292 metros
> Property crimes per 100K people: 700.3 — the lowest of 276 metros
> Total property crimes: 580 — the lowest of 276 metros
> Population: 83,156
Methodology
To determine the metro area where your car is least likely to be stolen, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed motor vehicle theft figures from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report.
Limited data was available in the 2020 UCR for areas in Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though metro areas in these states were not excluded from analysis. Only metro areas for which the boundaries defined by the FBI match the boundaries as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau were considered.
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 one-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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