(NEXSTAR) – Vehicle thefts have dropped substantially, according to new nationwide data. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports the theft of cars and trucks declined in 2025 to the lowest levels seen in decades.
Of course, that’s little consolation if you’re one of the 659,880 vehicle owners who had your car stolen last year. The NICB says that’s equivalent to a vehicle being stolen every 48 seconds.
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Vehicle theft is most common in California. Two of the Golden State’s metro areas – the Bay Area and the Bakersfield area – lead the nation in most vehicle thefts per capita. Memphis, Tennessee, used to rank in first place, but moved to the third spot in 2025.
Some vehicles are also more likely to be targeted than others. For the third year in a row, the most frequently stolen vehicle was the Hyundai Elantra, according to NICB data…