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

A shot of a Volvo electric vehicle with a man charging it in front of a residence.
SponsoredAugust 1, 2026

Top 50 Executive Fleets

It is that time of year again! Time for the 2026 list of the Top 50 Executive Fleets, presented by Automotive Fleet and Volvo as part of its annual Fleet 500. Download now to see this year's list of companies!

Read More →
Promotional graphic for a Utilimarc guide titled How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48% featuring a call-to-action to download the guide.
SponsoredJuly 17, 2026

How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48%

Fleet leaders don't need more data, they need clearer visibility into what the data is saying. This case study explores how one utility replaced speeding-event counts with a single metric — miles driven in violation — to strengthen safety and significantly reduce speeding violations.

Read More →
Smiling commercial truck driver gives a thumbs-up from inside a tractor cab during Operation Safe Driver Week 2026, highlighting fleet safety, responsible driving and enforcement awareness.
Safetyby Judie NuskeyJuly 16, 2026

Operation Safe Driver Week: Why the Industry's Oldest Safety Campaign Still Matters to Fleets

A look at how a 2007 enforcement initiative became one of the most consequential weeks on the fleet safety calendar, and what it means for your drivers in 2026.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Nexar and nauto logos
Safetyby StaffJuly 13, 2026

Nexar-Nauto Merger Aims to Give Fleets Better Safety Intelligence Through Larger Driving Dataset

Stefan Heck tells Automotive Fleet that combining more than 10 billion miles of driving history with Nexar's AI models will give fleets deeper insights into driver risk and roadway conditions than either company could provide independently.

Read More →
A black square with white color font text
SponsoredJuly 2, 2026

From Silos to Solutions: Relationship Management for Safer Fleets

From telematics adoption and driver accountability to policy consistency and risk mitigation, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build a safer fleet culture without slowing business down.

Read More →
IIHS HLDI text overlaid on the trunks of pick up trucks.
Safetyby Chris BrownJuly 2, 2026

IIHS Launches First Commercial Vehicle Safety Evaluations

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has begun evaluating heavy-duty pickups and cargo vans for driver protection. Which models earned top marks?

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A blue and white Automotive Fleet podcast logo
SafetyJuly 1, 2026

Reducing Risk by Eliminating Phone Use Behind the Wheel

Hosted with the cofounder of Lifesaver Mobile, this episode addresses phone use behind the wheel and how to design a driving environment that actually helps prevents accidents.

Read More →
Two people sit across from each other at a desk during a business meeting. One person, wearing a white shirt, has their hands folded while the other gestures with a pen toward documents clipped to a clipboard. Additional paperwork and a calculator are visible on the table, suggesting a discussion involving contracts, finances, or administrative paperwork. Sunlight filters through window blinds in the background, creating a professional office setting.
TelematicsJuly 1, 2026

Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-Time Prevention (Part 2 of 2)

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

Read More →
An Automotive Fleet podcast thumbnail
SafetyJune 26, 2026

How 5-Second Telematics Data Is Changing Fleet Safety

This episode connects with Steve Santostasi of Ford Pro and covers how a few seconds of data can make a difference in fleet safety.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Technician inspecting a vehicle engine during maintenance as fleets prepare for summer heat, focusing on battery health, cooling systems, and preventing downtime.
Maintenanceby Faith HowellJune 18, 2026

The Two Biggest Summer Downtime Threats for Fleets

A conversation with a maintenance expert reveals the two most common summer maintenance pains and how to prevent them.

Read More →