Car Thefts in the U.S. Exceeded 1 Million in 2022 (PDF)
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), 1,001,967 vehicles were stolen in the U.S. last year, a 7% increase over 2021. The estimated loss value of vehicle theft losses reached $8.9 billion.
Insurance companies reportedly curtailed coverage for some makes and models due to the problem.
During 2022, monthly theft numbers reached an unprecedented level, surpassing 75,000 cases and setting new records almost every month. This means that for the first time since 2008, more than 1 million vehicles have been stolen in the United States, according to NICB estimates.
We are seeing a number of vehicle thefts that have not been seen for nearly 15 years, and criminals are easily able to carry out these crimes due to the low regard for property theft. The NICB argues that we need to act promptly to counteract this problem by investing in local laws, supporting police and community prosecution programs, and implementing prevention projects that focus on the high rate of youth involved in car theft.
NICB data shows that vehicle thefts have been on the rise since 2019 when 803,000 vehicles were stolen. In 2020, the number of stolen vehicles reached 888,011, and 937,976 in 2021.
| Vehicle Theft by State | ||||
| Rank | State | 2022 | 2021 | Year-on-year increase |
| 1 | California | 202,685 | 201,034 | 1% |
| 2 | Texas | 105,015 | 95,082 | 10% |
| 3 | Washington | 46,939 | 35,921 | 31% |
| 4 | Florida | 45,973 | 43,250 | 6% |
| 5 | Colorado | 42,237 | 38,570 | 10% |
| 6 | Illinois | 38,649 | 28,677 | 35% |
| 7 | Ohio | 29,913 | 28,107 | 6% |
| 8 | Missouri | 29,345 | 26,630 | 10% |
| 9 | New York | 28,292 | 23,088 | 23% |
| 10 | Georgia | 26,529 | 26,238 | 1% |
One of the best and simplest steps you can take to protect your car is to practice good personal safety hygiene. Do not leave your vehicle running unattended. Take your keys with you and, above all, make sure your car insurance policy is up to date.
