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10 Worst Cities for Auto Thefts

Find out which U.S. cities see the highest rates of car theft.

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By Susan Meyer
Updated December 17, 2025
Reviewed By Beth Swanson
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Susan Meyer

Senior Editorial Manager

Susan is a licensed insurance agent and has worked as a writer and editor for over 10 years across a number of industries. She has worked at The Zebr…

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
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Beth Swanson

Insurance Analyst

Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. A licensed insurance agent, she specializes in creating clear, accessible content t…

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • Associate in Insurance (AINS)
  • Professional Risk Consultant (PRC)
  • Associate in Insurance Services (AIS)
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  1. 10 Worst Cities for Auto Theft
  2. Cities with the Least Auto Thefts
  3. Methodology

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Car Thefts Are on the Decline

Auto theft has been steadily on the rise in the U.S. for decades, with especially sharp increases since the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] The good news is that 2024 finally saw a downward shift, with a 17% drop in thefts nationwide — the largest decrease in four decades.[2]

While the national outlook is positive, many cities still have high rates of car theft. And despite an overall trend of decreasing crime, some areas are experiencing faster relief than others. To identify the worst cities in America for auto theft, we analyzed two data points for the 50 most populous metro areas.

  • Motor vehicle theft/100,000 people: We took FBI data from 2024 to calculate the rate of motor vehicle theft per 100,000 residents in each city.The flourish
  • Annual increase in theft: We looked at the rate of change between thefts in 2023 and 2024. Most cities saw a decrease, while others still have rising crime. 

Wondering where auto theft risk is the highest? Here are the cities where you're most likely to have your vehicle stolen.

Worst cities for auto theft mapped

Source: The Zebra

10 Worst U.S. Cities for Auto Theft

#1: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee tops out our list as the worst city for auto theft. It has one of the highest annual theft rates of around 380 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents. On top of that, it's one of just a handful of cities where auto theft increased between 2023 and 2024.

Milwaukee by the numbers

  • Theft rate/100k: 380.83
  • Annual change in theft: 5.6%

#2: Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City is another hot spot for car theft, with an annual rate of nearly 394 cars stolen per 100k each year. The good news? The city finally saw a slight decline in 2024. It's a modest change, however, at just 2.4%.

Kansas City by the numbers

  • Theft rate/100k: 393.81
  • Annual change in theft: -2.4%

#3: Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis experienced a slight drop in car thefts between 2023 and 2024. But at 1.4%, the update is one of the smallest improvements in the country. Additionally, the city has the eighth highest theft rate at 305 stolen vehicles for every 100,000 residents.

Indianapolis by the numbers

  • Theft rate/100k: 305.54
  • Annual change in theft: -1.4%

#4: Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte has seen a more noticeable shift in car thefts than the previous cities on our list, coming in at a 6% decrease. The downside is that the city still has one of the highest rates in the country: 264 vehicle thefts per 100,000 people.

Charlotte by the numbers

  • Theft rate/100k: 264.07
  • Annual change in theft: -6.0%

#5: Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville's auto crime is also on the decline with a 7.7% change between 2023 and 2024. It's not as dramatic as many areas of the country, but it's the right trajectory, especially considering the vehicle theft rate is 235 per 100k.

Nashville by the numbers

  • Theft rate/100k: 235.43
  • Annual change in theft: -7.7%

#6: Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville is one of the few cities like Milwaukee that had an increase in car theft over a one-year period. It rose 4.7%, bringing the theft rate to 197 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents.

Jacksonville by the numbers

  • Theft rate/100k: 197.04
  • Annual change in theft: 4.7%

#7: San Jose, California

San Jose stands out as the first West Coast city on our list. On a positive note, the city had a substantial 16% drop in auto thefts between 2023 and 2024. But that still leaves the 2024 rate at nearly 308 cars stolen for every 100k.

San Jose by the numbers

  • Theft rate/100k: 307.54
  • Annual change in theft: -16.1%

#8: Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is the most populous city in our top 10. In the Windy City, auto thefts dropped over 14% in 2024. That said, cars are still stolen at a rate of 240/100k, placing Chicago in the top 15 for the category.

Chicago by the numbers

  • Theft rate/100k: 240.86
  • Annual change in theft: -14.4%

#9: Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville holds the distinction of having one of the largest decreases in auto theft year-over-year. The bad news? The theft rate in Louisville is still one of the highest in the country at nearly 395 cars per 100k.

Louisville by the numbers

  • Theft rate/100k: 394.69
  • Annual change in theft: -18.7%

#10: Columbus, Ohio (tied)

Columbus is tied for 10th place largely due to its high theft rate of nearly 270 cars stolen per 100,000 people. The city has had a 16% decrease in crime, however, which is better than most cities on our list.

Columbus by the numbers

  • Theft rate/100k: 268.99
  • Annual change in theft: -16.6%

#10: Raleigh, North Carolina (tied)

Raleigh's auto theft rate of 150 stolen cars per 100k is actually quite low; in fact, it's the lowest in our top 10. But the city also saw the second-highest jump in thefts in 2024 at a whopping 23.4%.

Raleigh by the numbers

  • Theft rate/100k: 150.77
  • Annual change in theft: 23.4%

The 10 U.S. Cities with the Lowest Auto Theft

Where is it safer to own a car? These 10 cities have lower theft rates per capita, along with the biggest recent drops in crime.

  1. Birmingham, Alabama
  2. Los Angeles, California
  3. Virginia Beach, Virginia
  4. Atlanta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida (tied)
  5. Riverside, California
  6. Providence, Rhode Island and St. Louis, Missouri (tied)
  7. Sacramento, California
  8. Washington, DC
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Does car insurance protect against vehicle theft?

If you have comprehensive coverage on your policy, you are protected against auto theft. Learn how it all works in our guide to auto insurance and theft. 

Methodology

The Zebra used two data points to analyze the top 50 MSAs (metropolitan statistical areas) by population related to auto theft. 

  • Motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 people in 2024 (FBI Crime Data Explorer)
  • Annual change in motor vehicle theft rates from 2023 to 2024 (FBI Crime Data Explorer)[3]

New Orleans and Orlando were removed from the ranking due to lack of FBI data.

Sources

  1. Vehicle Thefts Skyrocket in Much of the U.S. [NICB]

  2. Vehicle Thefts in United States Fell 17% in 2024. [NICB]

  3. Crime Data Explorer. [FBI]