Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Report Ranks States, Cities with Most Auto Thefts

Vehicle thefts are on the uptick nationwide, rising from almost 800,000 stolen cars in 2019 to nearly 875,000 in 2020. Some states and cities have been particularly hard hit.

March 14, 2022
Report Ranks States, Cities with Most Auto Thefts

Car thefts in America’s largest cities have increased by 10% since 2020.

2 min to read


Auto thefts have increased by more than 25% in 10 states over the last decade, according to a new report from Quote Wizard.

Vehicle thefts are on the uptick nationwide, rising from almost 800,000 stolen cars in 2019 to nearly 875,000 in 2020. Some states have been particularly hard hit with Alaska, for example, seeing a staggering 98% change in auto thefts over the last decade. That state is followed by New Mexico with a 79% boost in thefts and Colorado with a 58% increase.

Ad Loading...

Car thefts in America’s largest cities have increased by 10% since 2020. According to the FBI, nearly 180,000 cars were stolen during the first nine months of 2021— 30,000 more cars than the 150,000 stolen over the same period in 2020.

When it comes to cities, Milwaukee led the way with a 208% increase in thefts, going from 2,851 stolen vehicles in 2019 to 8,770 in 2020. Two Texas cities came in second and third, with Round Rock experiencing a 161% increase in stolen vehicles followed by El Paso with a 148% boost. Others that rank among the top five for largest increases in stolen cars include Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a 74% increase and Arvada, Colorado, experiencing a 73% uptick.

The sharp increase in car thefts is even more dramatic when you compare it to each city’s population. Nearly 1,500 cars are stolen for every 100,000 people in Milwaukee, Denver, and Tacoma. The average nationwide is 307 stolen cars for every 100,000 residents.

Other cities that ranked among the top five for highest rate of stolen cars include Aurora, Colorado, with 1,035 thefts per 100,000 people and Westminster, Colorado, with 934.

More Safety

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 →
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 →
Ad Loading...
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 →
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 →
Ad Loading...
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.
SponsoredJuly 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 →
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 →
Ad Loading...
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 →