The 5 Most Stolen Cars and Trucks in America

Roughly 800,000 to one million cars are stolen in America every single year. Many of the same models are on the list every year but it’s not just because they’re the most popular vehicles.

It’s primarily because they have parts that don’t change much from year to year – and most cars are stolen for the parts, not to drive around, explained Geoff Keah, a special investigator for eSurance. So, thieves who steal a 1994 model, for example, could sell the parts to use in models for 1995, 1996, etc


1. 1994 Honda Accord

Trade-In Value: $975
Original Price in 1994: $15,430
New Car Value (2011): $20,200

And the winner of the Most Stolen Vehicle contest is … the Honda Accord! The model year is 1994, the year that NAFTA was established, skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed in the knee with a pipe and O.J. Simpson took the entire nation on a high-speed chase.

The Accord is loved by both drivers and thieves and is universally stolen all over America. Drivers love it for its quality and refinement. It handles well, rates high on safety and maintenance and has a roomy interior. Thieves, of course, love them for their parts, which don’t change much from year to year, and for their lack of anti-theft technology.


2. 1995 Honda Civic

Trade-In Value: $1,100
Original Price in 1995: $11,970
New Car Value (2011): $17,400

The Civic gets great reviews and is one of the best-selling compact cars. People love them for their great fuel efficiency, reliability, repair history and resale value, according to Kelley Blue Book. It’s also pretty roomy inside, despite being a compact. Thieves love them for their parts. Cars like the Camry and Civic make the most-stolen list just about every year though the model year generally goes up one.

3. 1991 Toyota Camry

Trade-In Value: $700
Original Price in 1991: $14,513
New Car Value (2011): $19,900

The top three cars are all popular sedans, including the 1991 Toyota Camry. What makes them attractive to thieves is that these makes and models are easy to steal and the parts don’t change much from year to year. The Camry is known for its quality and reliability and great resale value. As a result, it’s a popular target for thieves all across America, from Delaware to Florida, Kansas, California and Hawaii.

4. 1997 Ford F-150 Pickup

Trade-In Value: $1,200
Original Price in 1997: $17,480
New Car Value (2011): $22,600

Ford has been making its best-selling F-series pickup trucks since 1948 and for most of that time the F-150 has not only been the best-selling truck in America but the best-selling vehicle in America. That means there will always be a market for parts — and for thieves, who love those older models. 1997, incidentally, marked Ford’s first redesign of the F-150 since 1980. It was also the model where Ford introduced the rounded nose, a risky move given the F-150's popularity. To give buyers time to adjust to the change, Ford began selling the 1997s in January 1996, right alongside the 1996 models.


5. 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup

Trade-In Value: $5,050
Original Price in 2004: $22,295
New Car Value (2011): $20,100

Pickup trucks like the Ram are stolen for valuable parts such as the wheels and tailgates, Keah said. Tailgates can often get mangled in an accident and the new ones are expensive to replace since they often have cameras for backing up in them. (A tailgate with a camera can set you back $1,000 to $1,500.) Plus, the older ones are easy to steal, he said.