Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Highest Vehicle Theft Days Ranked

On an average day in 2017, there were some 2,228 vehicle thefts in the U.S., but on New Year's Day there was a whopping 2,469, according to new data on annual holiday vehicle thefts released by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

October 31, 2018
Highest Vehicle Theft Days Ranked

The National Insurance Crime Bureau has identified the top vehicle theft days throughout the year, including holidays.

Graphic courtesy of NICB.

2 min to read


On an average day in 2017, there were some 2,228 vehicle thefts in the U.S., but on New Year's Day there was a whopping 2,469, according to new data on annual holiday vehicle thefts released by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

New Year's Day ranked number one for the most holiday thefts in 2017 followed by President's Day with 2,312 reported stolen vehicles, and Halloween with 2,297. Memorial Day (2,290 thefts) and Labor Day (2,180) also ranked among the top five holidays for stolen vehicles.

Ad Loading...

Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve had the lowest number of vehicle thefts of the holidays with 1,548, 1,682, and 1,737 thefts respectively. Auto thieves may have a soft spot for Christmas, as Christmas Day was also the day with the least number of thefts of any day in 2017.

While thieves are clearly undeterred by the majority of holidays, the three days in 2017 with the highest overall number of thefts were the ordinary days of Sept. 1, Feb. 1, and July 17.

The data shows that a total of 22,770 vehicles were stolen on the 11 holidays covered in the report.

The report also evaluated holiday thefts by state. California took the top spot with a whopping 5,142 holiday vehicle thefts in 2017. Texas ranked second with 1,988 holidays thefts. Florida, Washington, and Georgia also made the top five list with 1,396, 819, and 812 holiday vehicle thefts respectively.

While California experienced the most thefts on President’s Day, Texas, Florida, Washington, and Georgia followed the national trend and experienced the most thefts on New Year's Day.

Ad Loading...

NICB gathered the data for the report from the National Crime Information Center’s stolen vehicle file. Read the entire report here.

More Safety

Ambulance and damaged car at a crash scene on a rainy roadway, illustrating workplace transportation risks and the growing focus on road safety management for fleets.
SafetyJune 16, 2026

Managing Road Risk at Scale: Why Fleet Safety Needs a Data-Driven Framework

Insights from the FIA Road and Driver Safety Indexes reveal how to manage road risk on a larger scale.

Read More →
Close-up of a Jeep Wrangler front grille and headlight with text noting Stellantis’ recall of 1.3 million Jeep vehicles worldwide over a potential fire risk tied to power steering wiring.
Safetyby StaffJune 10, 2026

Stellantis Recalls 1.3 Million Jeep Vehicles Worldwide Over Fire Risk

Stellantis is recalling more than 1.3 million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models worldwide over a fire risk linked to power steering pump wiring.

Read More →
Road signs pointing to “Safe” and “Risky” beside a glowing AI network graphic, illustrating the role of artificial intelligence in driver safety, coaching, training, and risk management.
SafetyJune 10, 2026

Coaching Is Not Training, Even When AI Is Doing It

AI-powered safety platforms can detect risky behaviors and deliver immediate feedback. But effective driver development still requires a foundation of training followed by coaching that reinforces those skills.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Driver resting in a vehicle seat, illustrating the dangers of fatigue and the importance of driver wellness, rest, and alertness for safe fleet and roadway operations.
Safetyby Judie NuskeyJune 9, 2026

How Emotions Behind the Wheel Can Affect Fleet Safety

During National Safety Month, fleets are encouraged to look beyond distracted driving and recognize how stress, fatigue, and emotional well-being influence driver performance and crash risk.

Read More →
A blue and red Automotive Fleet graphic calling for nominations for the fleet safety award.
Safetyby Faith HowellJune 4, 2026

Nominations Open for 2026 Fleet Safety Award

Nominations have officially opened for the 2026 Fleet Safety Award Winner.

Read More →
wheel geotab image
SponsoredJune 1, 2026

Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter

Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A person holding a clipboard and writing on an inspection checklist beside the wheel of a large white vehicle, likely conducting a fleet or safety inspection.
SponsoredJune 1, 2026

Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-time Prevention

Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Learn more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab.

Read More →
A Fleet Forward Conference graphic representing the safety symposium.
Safetyby Chris BrownMay 29, 2026

NAFA Fleet Safety Symposium to Collocate With 2026 Fleet Forward Conference

The daylong certificate program will precede the Fleet Forward Conference at the Gaylord National Harbor in Maryland.

Read More →
A person with hands on the steering wheel driving
Safetyby Judie NuskeyMay 15, 2026

The Distractions You Can’t Turn Off: What Drivers Face Outside the Vehicle

Fleet drivers face constant visual, cognitive, and environmental interruptions the moment they hit the road. From roadside chaos to mental fatigue and digital overload, today’s biggest driving risks often come from outside the vehicle itself.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Hail covers the windshield and hood of a black vehicle with text overlay about FLASH Weather AI’s new hail prediction model.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseMay 13, 2026

FLASH Weather AI Launches First Deep-Learning Hail Prediction Model With High-Resolution Forecasting

FLASH Weather AI has launched a first-of-its-kind hail prediction model capable of forecasting hail size and arrival time at 1-kilometer resolution up to 55 minutes ahead, giving fleets and insurers critical time to prepare for severe storms.

Read More →