Dive Brief:
- The high-performance Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat and Dodge Charger HEMI are the two most frequently stolen vehicles in the U.S. for model years 2020-2022, according to the latest Highway Loss Data Institute Insurance Report.
- Theft claims for the Charger SRT Hellcat were over 60 times higher than the average for all 2020-22 vehicles. The Charger V8 HEMI models were over 20 times greater than average.
- Four Hyundai and Kia vehicles were among the top 20 most stolen 2020-2022 model-year passenger vehicles in the U.S.
Dive Insight:
The HLDI said Dodge Challenger and Charger models equipped with high-output V8 engines have been among the top five most-stolen vehicles since model year 2011 but noted that claim frequency for the two muscle cars “has increased at a stunning rate.”
“If you own a Hellcat, you better check your driveway,” HLDI Senior Vice President Matt Moore said in a press release. “These numbers are unbelievable.”
The HLDI Insurance Report covers whole vehicle thefts but does not include parts or items taken from a vehicle. Nearly 40 insurance companies, including Allstate, Progressive and State Farm, provided vehicle theft data for the study.
There were 25 theft claims for every 1,000 2020-22 Charger SRT Hellcat models, up from roughly 18 for the 2019-21 model years. The most stolen 2017-19 model, the Infiniti Q60 SUV, had only two thefts per 1,000 insured vehicle years.
The HLDI report helps consumers to compare the relative theft risk of each vehicle, as opposed to the total number of motor vehicle thefts, which generally includes more popular models.
The Infiniti Q50 sedan was third on the list of the most stolen vehicles. The luxury sedan has been on the list since the 2014 model year, but it's unclear why there are so many thefts, the HLDI said.
The Dodge Challenger is fourth on the list.
Four of the seven least stolen vehicles are versions of the Tesla Model 3 and Y.
EVs might get stolen less frequently because they are often charged overnight in well-lit, more secure areas, according to the HLDI. But Tesla vehicles also feature a unique “Pin to Drive” feature that allows owners to set a four-digit code to secure the vehicle, which must be entered before it can be driven.
The data also showed that the theft of Hyundai and Kia models has risen significantly over the past several years. Many of those vehicles lack electronic immobilizers, which car thieves popularized in a viral YouTube video.
On Aug. 24, the City of Chicago filed a lawsuit against Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation, including their subsidiaries Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, for “their failure to include industry-standard engine immobilizers in multiple models of their vehicles, resulting in a steep rise in vehicle thefts, reckless driving, property damage, and a wide array of related violent crimes.”
The city said thefts of affected Hyundai and Kia models jumped from roughly 500 in the first half of 2022 to over 8,350 in the second half of 2022 since viral videos made would-be thieves aware of the lack of electronic immobilizers in many of the automakers’ vehicles.
Hyundai and Kia vehicles account for more than 50% of all vehicle thefts in Chicago, according to the mayor’s office.
Other notable 2020-22 models targeted by car thieves include variations of BMW’s X6 and X7 SUVs and three heavy-duty pickups, including the Ford F-250, Ford F-350 and Dodge Ram 3500.
Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the time period during which Hyundai and Kia thefts increased in Chicago. Thefts of affected Hyundai and Kia models jumped from roughly 500 in the first half of 2022 to over 8,350 in the second half of 2022.
