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Miami Herald
10-08-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
America's Most-Stolen Vehicle Proves Thieves Love the Camaro ZL1's Horsepower
The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1-the most powerful version of Chevy's discontinued muscle car-is America's most-stolen vehicle, according to a new report from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), a research arm of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Relative to its numbers on the road, the ZL1 had a theft rate 39 times the average for all vehicles surveyed. All-wheel drive variants of the Acura TLX were the second-most prone to theft, according to the report, followed by the standard Camaro, the GMC Sierra 2500 (in crew-cab, four-wheel drive form), and the front-wheel drive TLX. Those rankings are based on whole-vehicle theft claims filed with insurance companies for the 2022-2024 model years. "Muscle cars have often topped this list, as thieves are attracted to vehicles with high horsepower," Matt Moore, chief insurance operations officer at the HLDI and IIHS, said in a statement. "This also helps explain why the more expensive, more powerful ZL1 is stolen so much more often than the standard Camaro." If its high horsepower makes the Camaro ZL1 a more likely target for thieves, a software vulnerability might make it easier to successfully steal, according to the HLDI. The organization cited media reports that thieves can clone the key fob for newer Camaros using diagnostic ports. Chevy standardized a keyless pushbutton ignition for the sixth-generation Camaro, which was sold from model years 2016 to 2024, but the HLDI noticed a sharp increase in theft claims for these cars beginning in 2023, peaking in March 2024 with 18.3 claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years (a measurement of one vehicle insured for one year), compared with about 1.3 claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years for the previous 2010-2015 model. General Motors launched a service campaign in March 2025 aimed at reducing theft risk for 2020-2024 Camaro models, in the form of a free software update performed by dealerships. A similar campaign helped tame a rash of thefts of Hyundai and Kia models that began in 2021, according to a previous HLDI report. Meanwhile, Tesla monopolized the podium for least-stolen vehicles. The dual-motor Model 3 had the lowest incidence of whole-vehicle theft claims, followed by the Model Y and single-motor Model 3. the fourth and fifth least-stolen vehicles-the Toyota RAV4 Prime and Tesla Model S, respectively-also had charge ports. That's not a coincidence. Across multiple studies, the HLDI has found that EVs are more likely to be garaged or parked near buildings for charging, making them less attractive to thieves. Plug-in hybrids like the RAV4 Prime are also likely to parked at a charger overnight (assuming owners are using them correctly, that is). Including the all-plug-in top five, the top 20 least-stolen vehicles included eight all-electric models and two plug-in hybrids, all of which had whole-vehicle theft claim rates that were more than 85% lower than average. It's another potential advantage to buying an EV, albeit one we really don't want to have to think about. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
08-08-2025
- Automotive
- UPI
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 ranked most stolen car in United States
The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is the most frequently stolen car in the United States. Photo by Mauricio Duenas Castaneda/EPA Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has become the most frequently stolen car in the United States, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute, or HLDI. The HLDI's analysis shows that in relation to the number of Camaro ZL1s on the roads, it has a whole-vehicle theft rate 39 times the average compared to all other vehicles. The regular Camaro has also become a top target for thieves, with a whole-vehicle theft rate 13 times the average of all vehicles. The targeting of Camaros is a recent development, according to HLDI, which reports it hasn't historically appeared near the top of its vehicle theft claim frequency rankings. However, its two latest reports for 2025 rank the ZL1 two-door, Camaro two-door and Camaro convertible among the 10 2022-24 passenger vehicles with the highest theft and whole vehicle theft claim occurrences. "Muscle cars have often topped this list, as thieves are attracted to vehicles with high horsepower," said Matt Moore, chief insurance operations officer at HLDI and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in a press release. "That also helps explain why the more expensive, more powerful ZL1 is stolen so much more often than the standard Camaro." Aside from the horsepower, Camaros also have a technical issue that allows thieves to clone the key code for newer models by accessing the car's on-board ports. General Motors launched a service campaign in March for 2020-24 Camaro models, under which owners can bring their vehicles to dealerships for a free software update that should reduce the theft risk. In the other direction, the 20 least-stolen vehicles include eight electric vehicles and two plug-in hybrids, which all have whole-vehicle theft claim incidences that are more than 85% lower than the all-vehicle average. HDLI studies have shown electric vehicles are not as attractive to thieves because they're more likely to be in a garage or parked near buildings to facilitate charging.
The Hill
08-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Hill
The 20 most-stolen cars in America, according to insurance data
(NEXSTAR) – Sports cars and SUVs made by Chevrolet, Acura and GMC are among some of the most-stolen vehicles in America, according to a new report. The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), a supporting organization of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), has released the findings of its latest research into whole-vehicle theft claims among 2022-24 model years, revealing which cars thieves tend to target through 2024. The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was determined to be the most frequently stolen — by a lot. The theft rate of the ZL1 was 39 times higher than that of the average car, according to the HDLI. 'Muscle cars have often topped this list, as thieves are attracted to vehicles with high horsepower,' Matt Moore, the IILS-HLDI chief insurance operations officer, explained in a release issued Thursday. 'That also helps explain why the more expensive, more powerful ZL1 is stolen so much more often than the standard Camaro.' Aside from being a more desirable car in general, the HLDI says a 'glitch' allowed thieves to electronically clone a Camaro's key fob signal by accessing one of the car's ports. But officials have previously warned that certain devices can clone a key fob signal simply by being nearby. 'These devices are about the size of a cell phone and are a programming tool that picks up the signal of a key fob nearby which the device then clones,' the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) told Camaro owners in 2024, when announcing the arrest of an alleged car thief. At the time, LAPD detectives advised keeping key fobs in protected cases, or even wrapping them in foil. The HLDI says some Camaro owners are also eligible for a software upgrade which can fix the issue. Other cars from newer model years that were identified as the most-stolen in America include the Acura TLX 4WD, which is 21 times more likely to be reported as a whole-vehicle theft than the average car, and the regular Chevrolet Camaro model, which is 12 times more likely. The 20 most-stolen cars in the U.S. (model years 2022–24) Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Acura TLX 4WD Chevrolet Camaro GMC Sierra 2500 crew cab 4WD Acura TLX 2WD GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD Chevrolet Silverado 3500 crew cab 4WD Dodge Durango 4WD Land Rover Range Rover 4WD Ram 1500 crew cab short-wheelbase 4WD Chevrolet Silverado 2500 crew cab 4WD Ram 3500 crew cab long-wheelbase 4WD Honda CR-V hybrid 4WD GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab 2WD Dodge Durango 2WD GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab 4WD BMW X7 4WD Mercedes-Benz S-Class long-wheelbase 4WD Jeep Gladiator crew cab convertible 4WD Cadillac Escalade ESV 4WD To come to its findings, analysts with the HLDI studied each model's frequency of whole-vehicle thefts, which the organization determines by 'comparing the dollar amounts of theft claims with what insurers pay for the same vehicles when they're totaled in a crash.' The organization writes that insurance claims regarding theft usually don't indicate whether the whole car or parts was stolen. Meanwhile, earlier this year, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) identified its own list of the most-stolen vehicles in 2024, albeit among any model year. Their findings identified the top five as the Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Sonata, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Honda Accord, and Kia Optima. To determine its lists, the NICB has historically used information submitted by law enforcement agencies to the NICB. More information from the HLDI's report, including some of the least-stolen car models, can be found at the organization's website.
Forbes
07-08-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Pickup Trucks And SUVs Are The Most-Stolen Rides On The Road, Data Shows, With EVs Being The Least Taken
While older vehicles are most prone to be the targets of car thieves for their components – especially catalytic converters with precious metals that bring a tidy sum with recyclers – it's a different story with newer models. Burly pickup trucks and SUVs dominate the upper strata of the list of what's called 'whole thefts.' Rather than being stripped of their parts, this term refers to vehicles that are driven off intact by thieves, either for joy-riding or title washing and illicit resale either here or abroad. Yet according to a just-released report compiled by the insurance-industry-supported Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), the most-stolen model from the 2022-2024 model years is the Chevrolet Camaro sports car in its red-hot ZL1 trim. Though the Camaro has since been dropped from Chevy's lineup, the high-performance ZL1 remains coveted for its potent 650-horsepower supercharged V8 engine. One of two Camaros on the most-stolen list, HLDI says that particular version suffers a whole-vehicle theft rate that's 39 times the average for all models sold in the U.S. 'Muscle cars have often topped this list, as thieves are attracted to vehicles with high horsepower,' says Matt Moore, chief insurance operations officer at HLDI and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 'That also helps explain why the more expensive, more powerful ZL1 is stolen so much more often than the standard Camaro.' The report attributes surging Camaro thefts in recent years to a technical glitch that enables crooks to clone the key codes for newer models via the vehicles' onboard diagnostic system. Earlier this year Chevrolet issued a service campaign that entitles affected Camaro owners to a software update that is said to fix the problem. At the other end of the ledger, HLDI's least-stolen list for 2022-2024 models is dominated by electric and plug-in hybrid-electric cars, led by the all-wheel-drive version of the Tesla Model 3. The electrified rides on the least-stolen list each have claim frequencies that are 85% lower than average. The report says this is most likely because EVs are typically garaged or parked overnight in well-lit and secure areas for charging. The HLDI report brings good news for Hyundai and Kia owners following a spike in whole thefts among models that lacked electronic engine immobilizers. HLDI notes that a 2023 software update resulted in 52% lower claims among affected models that received the revision. Unfortunately only around 40% of owners subject to the service campaign have yet to bring their models in for the update as of the end of 2024, so Kia and Hyundai thefts still tend to run higher than average. We're counting down HLDI's lists of the most and least whole vehicle thefts from 2022-2024 below, also noting each model's relative claim frequency with 100 being average. The full report with theft data for all makes and models can be found here. Most-Stolen 2022-2024 Models Least Stolen 2022-2024 Models
The Drive
07-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
This Vehicle Is 39 Times More Likely To Be Stolen Than All Other Cars
The latest car news, reviews, and features. The top 20 most-likely-to-be-stolen cars in America list has just been updated by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) which keeps track of these things. This new report is based on the ratio of theft claims to the total examples on the road, not total theft volume. There are a few surprises on the list. The number-one car makes sense, but, would not have been my guess for the most-popular vehicle among thieves by such a huge margin. The Chevrolet Camaro, specifically the top-tier ZL1, is now the most-stolen car in the US per capita, so to speak. Non-ZL1 Camaros are third. 'Relative to its numbers on the roads, the Camaro ZL1 had a whole-vehicle theft rate 39 times the average for all vehicles. The frequency of whole-vehicle theft claims for the standard Camaro was 13 times as high as the average,' the HLDI details in newly released research. The Camaro was officially killed at the end of the 2024 model year, but it's still a somewhat common car. The sixth and final generation came out in 2016, which is a pretty long run for any model. The ZL1, which packs a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 claiming 650 horsepower, is decidedly more exotic and apparently statistically far more likely to be stolen than anything else. The standard sixth-gen Camaro (blue) got a little weird-looking toward the end, but the ZL1 (white) was always badass. Maybe that's the real reason it's a theft-favorite. These are 2019 model-year cars. Chevrolet The HLDI's research indicates that sixth-gen Camaros are particularly easy to steal (hey—don't get any ideas) because 'thieves are able to clone the key code for newer Camaros by accessing the on-board ports that technicians use to retrieve diagnostic codes and monitor data about fuel economy, emissions and other aspects of performance.' It's enough of a concern that an entire research paper about Camaro thefts has been published, detailing the history of these cars disappearing over the last few years. You can look at that right here: Chevrolet Camaro Theft Analysis by HLDIDownload hldi_bulletin_42-10-CAMARO It seems that there was a spike in sixth-gen Camaro thefts in 2023, which continued into last year. The HLDI reports that the 2016 model year represented a significantly higher risk for theft than previous ones. The Institute indicates that the push-button start system, which was also introduced with the 2016 model year, may be part of the reason for this increase in theft-loss. 'That analysis showed that theft claim frequencies — both whole-vehicle and smaller claims — for Camaro variants were relatively stable from 2020 through 2022 but rose sharply in 2023 and continued to climb through much of 2024. It also indicated a clear break in the pattern beginning with model year 2016, which was when a keyless, push-button start system was introduced,' the IIHS reported. 'Claim frequency for the newer models [2016+] peaked in March 2024 at 18.3 claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years, compared with about 1.3 claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years for 2010-15 models. (One insured vehicle year equals one vehicle insured for one year, two vehicles insured for six months, and so forth.)' Looks like Kias and Hyundais have finally recieved the right updates to get them off thieves' radar—as you may recall, those vehicles were experiencing major issues with theft as they were so easy to steal you could get one started with a USB cable a few years ago. I'm not terribly surprised that the Camaro ZL1 is attractive to thieves. Cars are typically either stolen for joyrides, export, or parts-stripping and the uber-Camaro is enticing for any of those reasons. But number one? I would have expected a Hellcat of some kind. In fact, the absense of Chargers and Challengers on this list is a little surprising to me, since they're often cited as the most-stolen car by volume. But I guess there are just so many of them out there that they're able to maintain a favorable stolen-to-not-stolen ratio. Remember, this list ranks the cars by how many are stolen relative to how many are on the road, not how many are stolen in total. Still, I'd keep a very close eye on your Camaro, Acura TLX, or GM pickup truck after reading this. Make and Model Vehicle Type Relative Theft Claim Frequency Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Large sports car 3,949 Acura TLX 4WD Large luxury car 2,138 Chevrolet Camaro Large sports car 1,287 GMC Sierra 2500 crew cab 4WD Very large pickup 1,023 Acura TLX 2WD Large luxury car 805 GMC Sierra 3500 crew cab 4WD Very large pickup 742 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 crew cab 4WD Very large pickup 662 Dodge Durango 4WD Large SUV 592 Land Rover Range Rover 4WD Large luxury SUV 540 Ram 1500 crew cab short-wheelbase 4WD Large pickup 524 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 crew cab 4WD Very large pickup 402 Ram 3500 crew cab long-wheelbase 4WD Very large pickup 387 Honda CR-V hybrid 4WD Small SUV 340 GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab 2WD Large pickup 324 Dodge Durango 2WD Large SUV 300 GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab 4WD Large pickup 292 BMW X7 4WD Large luxury SUV 277 Mercedes-Benz S-Class long-wheelbase 4WD Very large luxury car 267 Jeep Gladiator crew cab convertible 4WD Small pickup 264 Cadillac Escalade ESV 4WD Large luxury SUV 260 Got a tip? 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