Vehicle thefts are declining in the U.S., yet there’s still one vehicle stolen, on average, every 48 seconds, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Depending on the car and the location, the odds can be even greater. Popular vehicles in big cities are most vulnerable. And driving one of the most stolen vehicles listed below increases the risk even more.
However, the personal violation a victim feels when their vehicle is stolen can be compounded by the stress of realizing that their insurance policy falls short in covering the financial loss.
Read more: Cheapest car insurance companies of 2026
The most stolen vehicles in the U.S.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau compiles an annual list of the most stolen vehicles in America. In 2025, those vehicles and the number of thefts reported were:
-
Hyundai Elantra (21,732)
-
Honda Accord (17,797)
-
Hyundai Sonata (17,687)
-
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (16,764)
-
Honda Civic (12,725)
-
Kia Optima (11,521)
-
Ford F150 (10,102)
-
Toyota Camry (9,833)
-
Honda CR-V (9,809)
-
Nissan Altima (8,445)
What auto insurance may cover
“Many drivers assume that their insurance will cover everything for them after a theft of their vehicle has occurred. However, there are many additional costs that can occur after the main claim has been settled,” Luke Oswald, an automotive specialist with Wheels Away, a national car buying service, told Yahoo Finance. “It is recommended to check with your insurance provider whether you have a comprehensive insurance policy or not, as liability insurance does not cover theft of a vehicle.”
If you financed or leased your vehicle, your lender typically requires you to carry comprehensive and collision coverage, so many people are covered, Maya Afilalo, insurance industry analyst at AutoInsurance.com, added.
What auto insurance may not fully cover
Oswald notes that some insurance companies pay policyholders the market value of their insured stolen vehicle at the time of the loss. “That can be significantly less than expected, especially if the vehicle has dropped in value greatly,” he said.
The declining value is called depreciation. Car insurance companies determine a car’s value based on factors like mileage, year, make and model, and accident history.
“You can find your car’s current actual cash value using resources like Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds,” Afilalo said. “And if you feel your payout is too low, you can try to negotiate with your insurance company. If you decide to hire a private appraiser, you’ll have to pay out of pocket, which typically costs $200 to $300.”
Of course, the payout will also be less than your deductible, Afilalo said.
If you’ve reduced your insurance policy to liability-only coverage, perhaps because you drive an older or lower-value car that’s paid off, your policy won’t cover theft.
Other insurance coverages to consider
If you depend on your vehicle for work transportation, having a backup following a theft can be critical. That’s where car rental coverage comes in, an addition to your vehicle policy with an extra cost.
Then there’s the matter of additional losses.
“A typical car insurance policy won’t cover any personal items that were in the car at the time it was stolen, like phones, laptops, or other valuables,” Afilalo said. “To get those covered, you’ll have to file a claim through your renters or homeowners insurance, which typically includes a deductible.”
Aftermarket parts are another insurance consideration.
“If you upgraded your vehicle with something like custom rims, typically those are not covered unless you have an aftermarket parts add-on coverage or endorsement,” Afilalo said.
What to know if your stolen vehicle is recovered
If your stolen vehicle is recovered by law enforcement, there may be repairs to be made — and your troubles may not end there.
“A vehicle theft record is permanent and will be with a car for the rest of its life,” Oswald said. “Even though any repairs may have been paid for by your insurance, long after your insurance claim has been settled, the theft of your car can affect the resale value of a car.”
