Gone in 60 Seconds:
The Most Popular (Stolen) Vehicles
You may be
surprised when you discover which vehicles thieves go after the most. If you
think thieves target only expensive, flashy vehicles— think again. Read on to
find out which vehicles experts say are taken most frequently.
Every year, organizations like the National Insurance Crime Bureau, CCC Information Services, and Highway Loss Data Institute release information
about vehicle theft in the U.S. Here are some of the most frequently stolen vehicles, according to their reports.
National Insurance Crime Bureau
The most stolen list from the 2006 National
Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) includes: 1995 Honda
Civic, 1991 Honda Accord, 1989 Toyota Camry, 1997 Ford F-150 Series Pickup,
2005 Dodge Ram Pickup, 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Pickup, 1994 Nissan Sentra, 1994
Dodge Caravan, 1994 Saturn SL, and 1990 Acura Integra.
The NICB’s list is compiled from information gathered by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI). NICB’s Web site also includes information on the most
popular stolen vehicle colors and model years, as well as the top 25 stolen
vehicles in each state.
CCC Information Services
The 2001 BMW M Roadster is the most sought-after
vehicle, according to the insurance technology firm CCC Information Services.
CCC’s Top 10 stolen vehicles for 2005 listed six times the Acura Integra (model
years 1995-1999, 2001). The remaining three vehicles included are: 2004 Mercury Marauder, 2002 Audi S4, and the 2000 Jaguar XJR.
CCC Information Services bases its auto theft list on
reports from a number of property and casualty insurance companies.
Highway Loss Data Institute
The Highway Loss Data Institute on the theft
rate of newer vehicles from model years 2003 to 2005. For the fourth year in a
row, the Cadillac Escalade topped the list, followed by the Mitsubishi Lancer
Evolution. Pickup truck theft is also on the rise, with the Dodge Ram and Ford
F-250/350 ranking 3rd and 4th on the list, respectively. In fact, the rate of
pickup theft was twice that of cars and SUVs.
On the Highway Loss Data Institute’s list of
fewest theft claims were the Ford Taurus, the Pontiac Vibe, and the Buick
LeSabre. For a complete list of the highest and lowest theft claim rates, check
out the Highway
Loss Data Institute's findings.
Car Theft & Your Auto Insurance
You may be wondering what impact these lists
have on your auto insurance premium. Most auto insurance companies, including
Esurance, base auto insurance rates on the industry’s loss history. Commonly
stolen vehicles that have a high-theft risk may be charged a higher auto
insurance rate.
You can help deter car theft a number of ways. Visit the Esurance Auto Insurance Learning Center for more information on how you can help prevent car theft from happening to you.
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