# Car Thefts Drop 21% Across All 50 States

> Vehicle thefts fell 21% nationwide in first half of 2026, with every state recording a year-over-year decline.
- Title: Car Thefts Drop 21% Across All 50 States · Motor1 | Shortify
- Summary: Vehicle thefts fell 21% nationwide in first half of 2026, with every state recording a year-over-year decline. Vehicle thefts dropped 21% in the first half…
- Keywords: national insurance crime bureau, vehicle thefts, hyundai elantra, honda accord, hyundai sonata, chevrolet silverado, nfl, 2026, first half, year-over-year, cars, Car
- Source: Motor1 — https://motor1.com/news/810913/usa-car-thefts-21-percent-down
- Author: Adrian Padeanu
- Published: 2026-10-06T11:09:27+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: national insurance crime bureau, vehicle thefts, hyundai elantra, honda accord, hyundai sonata, chevrolet silverado, nfl, 2026, first half, year-over-year, cars
## National Theft Decline
Vehicle thefts fell 21 percent during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year.
## All 50 States Decline
Every state recorded a year-over-year decrease in vehicle thefts during the first half of 2026.
## Total Stolen Vehicles
A total of 268,415 vehicles were reported stolen during the first six months of 2026, or roughly one vehicle every minute.
## State Declines
The District of Columbia posted the biggest decline with thefts down 52 percent from the first half of 2025.
## Tennessee and Vermont
Tennessee recorded a 42 percent drop in vehicle thefts, while Vermont and New Hampshire saw declines of 37 percent and 35 percent, respectively.
## California's Numbers
California reported 57,821 stolen vehicles during the first half of 2026, the highest total among all states.
## Chicago's Increase
Chicago recorded a 2 percent increase in vehicle thefts compared with the first half of 2025, the only major metro area with higher thefts.
## 2025 Theft Rankings
The Hyundai Elantra was America's most-stolen vehicle in 2025 with 21,732 reported thefts, followed by the Honda Accord with 17,797.
## Key takeaway

Vehicle thefts dropped 21% in the first half of 2026 across all 50 states, continuing a nationwide decline that began after pandemic-era peaks.