The year’s most stolen cars have been uncovered again by the Highway Loss Data Institute – with three Dodge muscle cars and two Kias both making the top ten.
The study, conducted each year by the Virginia-based agency, analyzes the frequency of motorist theft claims by car brand and then assigns each a number per 100 insured drivers.
Using this methodology, the institute found that theft claims for the Charger SRT Hellcat – a two-door muscle car that typically costs about $32,000 – are more than 60 times more common than the 100 average, at 6,128 claims per year.
The runner-up, the more rugged Dodge Charger HEMI, meanwhile, was stolen more than 20 times as often as the above average, the report found, while a mid-size luxury Infiniti earned the dubious distinction of being the third most seized car.
The top five was completed by Land Rover’s iconic Dodge Challenger and Range Rover, which were stolen at rates of around seven to six times the 100 limit.
The year’s most stolen cars have been uncovered again by the Highway Loss Data Institute. The study, conducted each year by the Virginia-based agency, analyzes the frequency of driver theft claims by car brand and assigns each a number per 100 drivers.
Using this methodology, the institute found that theft claims for the Charger SRT Hellcat – a two-door muscle car that typically costs around $32,000 – are more than 60 times more common than the 100 average, with 6,128 claims per year.
Elsewhere in the top ten were two other SUVs from KIA, as well as the sports version of the same Land Rover and Honda’s own best-selling SUV.
In tenth place was the BMW .
The challenge – which surfaced last year and prompts young teens to steal certain cars off the street using a USB cable – only affected makes and models from the years 2010-2021, while the Highway Loss research exclusively looked at cars from the period 2020 to 2022.
In addition to placing four Kia brands in the top 20, the phenomenon has led to an 85 percent increase in car thefts of Hyundais and Kias from the previous year, and contributed to a spike recently confirmed by the FBI in car theft in 2022.
The increase, released Monday in the agency’s annual crime report, was quantified at 20 percent, consisting of about 721,852 car thefts last year, compared to 601,453 the year before.
The FBI’s crime statistics further showed how violent incidents are in the midst of an unforeseen dip after a surge during the pandemic — though car theft rates remain stubbornly high.
Nevertheless, the Charger and Challenger models – known for their big, powerful engines – have been a common choice for years for thieves looking for a quick joyride or cash: both are in the top five most stolen list since model year 2011.
More than a decade later, the frequency of theft claims for the oft-staged neckbreakers has increased at an astonishing rate – likely due to their recent prevalence in TV and film, and because they are a common choice of frequent online influencers. .
The runner-up, the more rugged Dodge Charger HEMI, meanwhile, was stolen more than 20 times as often as the above average, the report found, while a mid-size luxury Infiniti earned the dubious distinction of being the third most seized car.
The top five was completed by Land Rover’s iconic Dodge Challenger and Range Rover, which were stolen at rates of around seven to six times the 100 limit.
| Fashion model | Claim frequency (avg=100) |
|---|---|
| Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Dodge Charger HEMI Infiniti Q50 Avoid challenger Land Rover Range Rover 4WD Kia Sportage Land Rover Range Rover Sport 4WD Kia Sportage 4WD Honda CR-V 4WD BMW X6 4WD | 6,128 2,197 878 766 611 479 460 415 409 361 |
The presence of the Kias so high on the list, as mentioned, can also be explained by trends caused by the internet, and the fact that they use a mechanical key and not a key fob and push button to start – features that are almost always are seen in the country’s least stolen cars, which were also revealed by the institute.
That said, luxury vehicles still reigned supreme as the most stolen vehicles, with the usual suspects of BMW, Infiniti and Land Rover once again appearing at the top of the rankings.
Also in the running for most stolen were three full-size pickups with powerful engines – Ford’s F-250 and 3-50 and the Ram 3500 4WD – and the proven CRV, Honda’s best-selling SUV that has been on highways since the beginning. 2000s.
The vehicle’s four-wheel drive models were stolen at a rate four times the national average, the report found, while the regular version ranked 20th after being stolen at a rate more than two and a half times higher was high as the 100 average.
Other popular options, such as Honda’s mid-size Accord, also appeared in the top 20, with the sedan taking 16th place – a claim frequency of just over 300.
Dodge Charger HEMI: This souped-up version of the classic muscle car also proved irresistible to thieves
Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is on display at the 108th annual Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. The Hellcat version is one of the most likely stolen
Another unflashy midsize option in the Nissan Maxima finished in 19th place: putting a pin in a sample set that was as remote as it was revealing.
It shines a light on the impact on cars affected by the relatively recent wave of thefts, according to HLDI Senior Vice President Matt Moore – who went on to warn owners of the most stolen brand, the 2020-22 Hellcat. beware
“If you own a Hellcat, you better check your driveway,” he said
“These numbers are unbelievable.”