Most Stolen Vehicles in the US According to New Data: Is Yours on the List?

A new report from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) (the research arm behind the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) puts hard numbers on which vehicles are disappearing at the highest rates. And if you drive a crew cab 4WD pickup, you're going to want to pay attention.

This isn't the usual "most stolen cars" list. The HLDI data measure theft frequency relative to the number of each vehicle actually on the road. That changes everything. A vehicle that shows up 1,000 times the average theft rate isn't popular because there are millions of them. It's popular because thieves specifically want it.

Here's what the data shows, why it matters, and what you can actually do about it.

What the HLDI Data Measures (And Why It's Different)

Most stolen vehicle reports (such as those published annually by the National Insurance Crime Bureau) count total thefts. That number is heavily influenced by how common a vehicle is. A Toyota Camry shows up on those lists partly because there are millions of Camrys in service.

The HLDI study standardizes for exposure. It measures claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years, then adjusts for calendar year, model year, geography, vehicle density, deductible, driver demographics, and more. The result shows how likely your specific vehicle is to be stolen, regardless of how many exist.

When a vehicle shows a relative theft frequency of 100 in this data, that's average. A score of 500 means it's stolen five times more often than a typical vehicle. A score of 1,000 means ten times more often.

The report covers 2022–2024 model year vehicles. Over 43 million insured vehicle years of exposure. More than 19,000 whole vehicle theft claims.

Which Trucks Are Getting Stolen the Most?

Pickups have the highest whole vehicle theft frequency of any vehicle type; nearly double the all-vehicle average. The average claim payment when a truck is stolen: $66,984.

Eight of the 20 most-stolen vehicles in the study are pickup trucks. Heavy-duty 4WD crew cabs dominate the top of the list.

Here's how some of the highest-frequency trucks stack up against the all-vehicle average (score of 100):

The GMC Sierra 2500 Crew Cab 4WD sits at more than ten times the all-vehicle average. If you drive one, that number is not abstract.

Large sports cars and certain luxury sedans also rank high. The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 topped the entire report at a relative theft frequency of 3,949. That is nearly 40 times the average. The Acura TLX 4WD came in second at 2,138.

Why Are Heavy-Duty Crew Cabs Such a Target?

Expensive, capable, and in demand on both legal and black markets, heavy-duty trucks check every box a thief is looking for. The vulnerabilities that make them easy to take don't help either.

Three factors are driving this:

1. Key Fob Cloning and Relay Attacks

Thieves use relay devices to intercept and amplify the signal from a key fob sitting inside your home. The truck's security system recognizes what appears to be a legitimate key and unlocks. There is no forced entry, and no broken glass. The whole operation can take under a minute.

This method has been linked to organized theft rings targeting GM and Stellantis trucks across multiple states. In documented cases, vehicles were stolen in batches and moved quickly across state lines or to export markets.

2. OBD-II Port Exploitation

Your truck's diagnostic port (the same one a shop plugs into for emissions testing) can be used to program a blank key fob if a thief gains access to it. This method was directly responsible for spikes in Chevrolet Camaro thefts and has been documented with other GM platforms. GM launched a customer satisfaction program for the Camaro's body control module to address it specifically.

3. High Resale and Export Value

A late-model GMC Sierra HD or Ram 2500 is worth a good amount of money when they are intact and fully functional. Documented cases include vehicles stolen domestically and resold in secondary markets. Organized operations target specific makes and configurations based on demand.

The Surprising Side of the Data: Why EVs Are Almost Never Stolen

Electric vehicles dominate the low end of the HLDI theft chart. The Tesla Model 3 electric 4WD had a relative theft frequency of just one, meaning it's essentially never stolen compared to the average vehicle.

The lowest-theft vehicles from the report:

There are a few reasons EVs are hard targets. GPS tracking is standard on most of them, making recovery significantly more likely. Their charging dependency limits how far and how fast a thief can drive. And relay attacks don't work the same way on platforms that don't use traditional key fobs.

For context: the most-stolen vehicle in this study is 3,949 times more likely to be stolen than the least-stolen.

Does Your Vehicle Have a Known Vulnerability?

Several of the highest-theft vehicles in the HLDI report have documented, publicly known security weaknesses. Knowing whether your vehicle is one of them is the first step.

Chevrolet Camaro (and ZL1)

Thieves documented pulling key codes directly from the OBD-II port to program a blank fob on the spot. GM's response was a body control module update. If you have a Camaro and haven't updated it, that vulnerability may still be present.

GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado HD

Relay attack vulnerabilities and documented electronic exploitation methods have been linked to organized theft operations. In one widely covered case, a thief disabled the horn through the grille to kill the alarm, and was in and gone in under three minutes.

Ram 1500 and Dodge Durango

Fob cloning operations specifically targeting Stellantis products have been documented across multiple states. In some cases, blank fobs were cloned, and trucks were resold for as little as $3,500. One Durango theft method involved carefully removing the windshield from the outside to access the vehicle without triggering sensors.

Land Rover Range Rover

A relay attack vulnerability affected models from 2018 to 2022. Land Rover invested $20 million in software updates and worked directly with owners. The 2022–2024 models that appear in this HLDI data fall under Land Rover's "resilient to theft" era, yet still rank in the top 10.

The common thread: electronic vulnerabilities are the primary attack surface. Mechanical security is no longer the weak link.

What Can You Actually Do to Protect Your Vehicle?

The most effective theft deterrents layer passive immobilization with physical and electronic tools. No single method is foolproof. Multiple layers make your vehicle a harder target than the one parked next to it.

Key Fob Security

Faraday pouches and signal-blocking wallets cost under $20 and prevent relay attacks entirely when your keys are stored in them at home. It's a low-effort fix for one of the most common modern theft methods.

OBD-II Port Locks

A physical lock on your OBD port is inexpensive and specifically prevents the fob-programming method used in documented GM thefts. Most truck owners have never heard of these. Now you have.

GPS Tracking

Aftermarket trackers with real-time alerts let you know immediately if your vehicle moves without authorization. Some also allow remote engine disable in conjunction with an app. Recovery rates for GPS-tracked vehicles are significantly higher than for untracked vehicles.

Parking Habits

Cameras, well-lit areas, and enclosed garages make your vehicle a worse target. Organized theft operations typically scout for easy, unmonitored opportunities. Eliminate the easy part.

Electronic Immobilization

This is where the Pedal Commander® throttle response controller comes in. It is an aftermarket performance upgrade, but it perfectly doubles as a seamless kill switch for the electronic throttle pedal.

The built-in Anti-Theft feature allows you to disable the gas pedal completely. Your vehicle starts, but it cannot move forward because there is no throttle response. Pedal Commander®’s Anti-Theft feature can be unlocked after a simple calibration process and a budget-friendly subscription. The Anti-Theft can be activated directly from the free mobile app.

Pedal Commander®’s Anti-Theft is free to try for the first 14 days, and then costs $0.99 a month, or $9.99 a year. That is seriously cheap insurance against vehicle theft!

Find Your Vehicle and Check Compatibility

Frequently Asked Questions About Vehicle Theft

What is the most stolen truck in America right now?

According to the 2025 HLDI report, the GMC Sierra 2500 Crew Cab 4WD has the highest theft frequency of any pickup truck, at 1,023 times the all-vehicle average. The GMC Sierra 3500 Crew Cab 4WD and Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Crew Cab 4WD rank second and third among trucks. Among all vehicles, including cars, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 tops the entire list at 3,949 times the average. The HLDI data covers 2022–2024 model year vehicles.

How do thieves steal trucks without a key?

Two methods dominate. The first is a relay attack, where thieves use devices that intercept and amplify the signal from your key fob (even from inside your home) and transmit it to the truck. The vehicle's security system reads it as a legitimate signal and unlocks. The second method involves plugging into the OBD-II diagnostic port to program a blank key fob directly. Both methods can be completed in under three minutes and leave no physical evidence of forced entry. Faraday pouches for your keys and OBD port locks are the most direct countermeasures for each.

Does Pedal Commander®'s Anti-Theft feature actually prevent theft?

The feature works by disabling the gas pedal signal entirely when activated. A thief can start the vehicle and attempt to drive away, but without throttle response, the vehicle won't accelerate. However, Pedal Commander®’s Anti-Theft feature is an extra security measure and does not guarantee a complete prevention of vehicle theft. 

How much does Pedal Commander®'s Anti-Theft feature cost?

Anti-Theft is a subscription-based feature in the Pedal Commander® app. You get a 14-day free trial to test it out, then it's $0.99 a month or $9.99 a year. No additional hardware required. It works through the unit you already have installed. At under $10 a year, it's one of the lowest-cost layers you can add to a vehicle that thieves are actively targeting.

Which trucks are the hardest to steal?

According to the HLDI data, small pickup trucks with standard configurations have significantly lower theft rates than heavy-duty 4WD crew cabs. The Ford Maverick hybrid crew cab had a relative theft frequency of just 16, one of the lowest in the pickup segment. Ford's F-150 Lightning electric crew cab also came in well below the pickup average at 41. Among all vehicles, electric and plug-in hybrid models consistently rank at the low end of the theft chart, with Tesla models occupying four of the top five safest spots.

Source: Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), Whole Vehicle Theft Losses Report WT-24, May 2025. Data covers 2022–2024 model year passenger vehicles with a minimum of 20,000 insured vehicle years of exposure or 100 paid whole vehicle theft claims.