A few viral videos changed everything
If you drive a Hyundai or Kia, you’ve probably already heard the warnings. Three years after viral TikTok videos exposed an easy way to steal certain models using nothing but a USB cord, those cars still dominate the list of most stolen vehicles in America.
According to new data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the Hyundai Elantra was the most stolen car in the U.S. in the first half of 2025, with more than 11,000 thefts nationwide. That’s despite major software patches and security updates from Hyundai meant to close the loopholes thieves had been exploiting since 2022. Car thefts overall are down — but not gone. The NICB reports a 23% drop in thefts across all models compared to the first half of 2024. Even so, some regions, like Washington, D.C., and California, continue to see theft rates well above the national average.
1. Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra was stolen 11,329 times in the first half of 2025. Its average annual full-coverage insurance rate is $2,709 — about 23% higher than the national average.
Hyundai
The Elantra is once again America’s most stolen vehicle — a title it’s held since 2023. Early versions without immobilizers were easy targets, and even though Hyundai has since fixed that issue and rolled out free security upgrades, thefts remain stubbornly high. Still, they’re improving: total Elantra thefts are projected to fall nearly 30% year over year by the end of 2025.
2. Hyundai Sonata
The Hyundai Sonata was stolen 9,154 times in the first half of 2025. The model’s average annual full-coverage insurance rate is $2,663, or about 21% above the national average.
Hyundai
Like the Elantra, older Sonatas lacked immobilizers and were swept up in the same viral theft wave. The good news: thefts have been cut nearly in half since 2023. Still, the Sonata remains the most stolen car in five states, including Florida and Massachusetts.
3. Honda Accord
The Honda Accord was stolen 8,531 times during the first six months of 2025. On average, Accord owners pay about $2,418 per year for full-coverage insurance, which is 10% higher than the national average.
Honda
The Accord has been on the top 10 list every year since 2016 — a testament to how common and easy its parts are to resell. Thieves have also been known to target the Accord for its airbags, which can fetch several hundred dollars on resale markets.
4. Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado was stolen 8,006 times in the first half of 2025. The average annual full-coverage insurance rate for the model is $2,241 — about 2% above the national average.
Chevrolet
The Silverado holds the title of most stolen pickup in America. A lawsuit alleges that certain GM keyless-entry systems are vulnerable to “signal cloning,” a technique that allows thieves to mimic your fob signal and drive off without a trace.
5. Honda Civic
The Honda Civic was stolen 6,396 times in the first half of 2025. It costs Civic owners an average of $2,520 per year for full-coverage insurance, which is roughly 14% above the national average.
Honda
Older Civics, especially those built before 2001, didn’t come with immobilizers — making them prime hotwire targets. Like the Accord, they’re also popular for parts theft, particularly airbags.
6. Kia Optima
The Kia Optima was stolen 6,011 times in the first half of 2025. Its average annual insurance rate is $2,155, which is slightly below the national average by about 2%.
Kia
The Kia Optima was one of the original “Kia Challenge” targets on social media. Kia has since issued software patches and provided free steering wheel locks, but older Optimas continue to appear on police theft reports nationwide.
7. Ford F-150
The Ford F-150 was stolen 4,996 times in the first half of 2025. Owners pay an average of $2,271 per year for full-coverage insurance, which is about 3% above the national average.
Ford
Once the most stolen vehicle in America, the F-150 has seen a sharp decline in thefts since Ford introduced a security app that lets drivers immobilize the truck remotely. Some thieves had previously used relay boosters to extend fob signals or hacked the vehicle’s OBD port to program new keys.
8. Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry was stolen 4,986 times during the first half of 2025. The average insurance cost for full coverage is $2,736 per year — roughly 24% higher than the national average, making it the most expensive to insure on this list.
Toyota
The Camry was one of the top five most stolen vehicles in 2020 and 2021, but has fared better over the past few years. Toyota says it’s testing new anti-theft technologies that will roll out to more models soon.
9. Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V was stolen 4,889 times in the first half of 2025. Owners pay an average of $1,935 a year for full-coverage insurance, which is about 12% below the national average.
Honda
The only SUV on this year’s list, the CR-V is both one of the bestselling and most stolen cars in the country. Thieves have reportedly used reprogramming devices to create new key fobs, prompting some owners to add tracking devices like Apple AirTags as a backup.
10. Kia Soul
The Kia Soul was stolen 4,380 times in the first six months of 2025. The average annual insurance rate for the Soul is $2,083 — about 6% below the national average.
Kia
The Soul’s distinctive boxy shape didn’t save it from the viral theft trend. Thankfully, Kia’s software updates and new security systems have helped reduce thefts by about 35% year over year.
Where you live matters, too
Some cars are bigger theft magnets than others, but location plays a huge role. Washington, D.C., leads the nation with 373 vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents, nearly four times the national average. California comes in second at 178 per 100,000, followed by other urban-heavy Western states. On the flip side, New Hampshire has the lowest theft rate — just 20 per 100,000 people — meaning your car is almost 20 times safer there than in D.C.
Insurance rates reflect that risk. Drivers in the five states with the highest theft rates pay about $600 more per year for full coverage than the national average.
Final thoughts
The good news: overall car thefts are falling fast. The bad news: some older Hyundais, Kias, and Hondas remain easy prey, and urban centers continue to see high rates of auto theft. Even if your car isn’t on the list, a few simple steps can help: park in well-lit areas, use a steering wheel lock, and consider adding a tracker or alarm system. As this year’s numbers show, it only takes one vulnerability — or one viral video — for car thieves to strike again.