Vehicle theft in America fell sharply in 2025, but the problem remains substantial. The National Insurance Crime Bureau recorded 659,880 stolen vehicles nationwide, a 23.2% decline from 2024.
Even with that improvement, a vehicle was stolen roughly every 48 seconds. NICB’s latest model-level data puts the Hyundai Elantra at the top with 21,732 thefts, followed by the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata.
Parking garages can introduce additional concerns because vehicles may spend extended periods unattended and visibility can vary significantly by facility. The following list uses NICB’s verified 2025 national theft ranking while examining why garage parking deserves extra attention.
1. Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra sits at the top of NICB’s latest national theft ranking, with 21,732 reported thefts in 2025. That was more than any other individual vehicle model in the United States, putting the compact sedan in a category that deserves particular attention from owners who regularly leave their cars unattended.
The figure is also useful because it puts the scale of the problem into perspective. The Elantra accounted for about 3.3% of all 659,880 vehicle thefts reported nationally in 2025.
NICB says Hyundai and Kia vehicles together represented 14% of all vehicle thefts during the year, although thefts involving those brands have declined for three consecutive years as manufacturers implemented software updates and other theft-prevention measures.
Parking garages create a different environment from an open residential driveway. A vehicle may remain unattended for hours while its owner works, shops, attends an event, or travels. NICB specifically advises motorists to park in well-lit areas because increased visibility can deter thieves.
It also recommends locking doors, closing windows, and taking keys with the driver rather than leaving them inside the vehicle.
That advice becomes particularly relevant for a vehicle already appearing at the top of the national theft list. Garage users should also pay attention to the facility itself. Bright lighting, functioning security cameras, controlled entry, and regular foot traffic can make a garage less attractive than an isolated location.
Owners of affected Hyundai vehicles should also check whether their specific vehicle qualifies for available anti-theft improvements. NICB recommends additional layers of protection such as steering-wheel locks, audible alarms, kill switches, and tracking devices.
The Elantra’s ranking does not mean every example is equally vulnerable or that every parking garage is dangerous. It does mean owners have a statistical reason to take basic precautions seriously.
2. Honda Accord
The Honda Accord has spent decades building a reputation as a dependable American-market family sedan, but reliability has not prevented it from becoming a frequent theft target. NICB recorded 17,797 Accord thefts in 2025, making it the second-most stolen individual vehicle model nationwide.
The gap between the Accord and the Elantra is substantial. Yet the Accord’s total was still enough to place it ahead of every other model except the Elantra.
For Accord owners who regularly park in garages, that ranking offers an important reminder. A vehicle’s popularity can sometimes work against its owners because models that are common and widely available may also be more familiar to criminals.
The garage itself does not automatically make an Accord more likely to be stolen. NICB’s published 2025 ranking measures total reported thefts by make and model, not thefts specifically occurring inside parking garages. The distinction matters.
What can reasonably be said is that an unattended vehicle in any parking environment should receive basic protection, and NICB recommends several precautions that apply directly to garage users.
The first step is simple. Lock the car. NICB warns that some criminals move through parking areas checking door handles, which means an unlocked vehicle can become an easy target. Drivers should also close the windows and make sure they take the keys with them.
Garage selection matters, too. A well-lit space near cameras or a staffed entrance provides more visibility than an isolated corner on a poorly monitored level. Those characteristics cannot guarantee protection, but they can reduce the opportunity for a thief to work unnoticed.
An owner looking for another layer can consider a steering-wheel lock, alarm, or tracking device. NICB specifically recommends anti-theft technology as an additional layer rather than relying on one measure alone.
The Accord’s second-place position should therefore be viewed as a reason for awareness, not panic. A locked vehicle, controlled parking environment, and additional security measures can make a meaningful difference.
3. Hyundai Sonata
The Hyundai Sonata ranks third on NICB’s latest national list, with 17,687 thefts reported in 2025. That puts it only 110 thefts behind the Honda Accord, showing just how closely the second and third positions were separated.
More importantly for owners, the Sonata’s position confirms that the Hyundai theft problem remains significant even though national Hyundai and Kia thefts have fallen substantially from their peak.
NICB reports that thefts involving Hyundai and Kia vehicles declined for the third consecutive year in 2025. Together, the two manufacturers accounted for 14% of all vehicle thefts, down from 16% in 2024 and 21% in 2023. NICB credits software updates and other theft-prevention measures with helping drive that decline.
For a Sonata owner using a parking garage, the most important point is that the NICB ranking represents total U.S. thefts, not a separate garage-only ranking. Parking in a garage does not automatically make the vehicle more vulnerable. However, an unattended car still needs basic protection, particularly when it remains parked for many hours.
NICB recommends parking in well-lit areas, closing and locking windows and doors, and never leaving keys inside the vehicle. Those recommendations are especially practical in garages where drivers may be tempted to assume that a concrete structure automatically provides security.
Garage users should also look for controlled entrances, functioning cameras, and reasonable pedestrian activity. If a facility offers multiple levels, choosing a space near an entrance, attendant station, or heavily traveled area can provide greater visibility than an isolated corner.
The Sonata itself is a substantial midsize sedan. For 2025, Hyundai offered a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, while the available turbocharged N Line engine produced 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft. The sedan measures 193.3 inches long and 73.2 inches wide.
4. Chevrolet Silverado 1500
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 occupies fourth place in NICB’s 2025 theft ranking, with 16,764 reported thefts. That number is significant because the Silverado is not a small sedan that disappears into a crowded parking area. It is one of America’s most recognizable full-size pickups, and its popularity means there are a large number of examples on U.S. roads.
The Silverado’s ranking also demonstrates why vehicle theft cannot be viewed only through the lens of one particular theft method.
NICB’s published figure represents reported thefts across the United States and does not establish that Silverado 1500s are disproportionately stolen from parking garages. That distinction is important when considering the original garage angle.
Still, a garage can become a tempting location for any frequently targeted vehicle when it offers long periods without the owner present. An employee may leave a truck parked for eight or more hours, while a commuter using an airport or transit garage might leave it for several days. Security therefore depends heavily on the facility as well as the vehicle.
NICB recommends several simple ways to reduce the risk of theft. Drivers should remove the keys, lock the doors and windows, choose well-lit parking areas, and consider adding anti-theft devices. Steering wheel locks, audible alarms, kill switches, and tracking systems can provide additional protection.
Pickup owners should also avoid leaving valuable tools, equipment, or personal belongings in plain sight inside the cab or truck bed. Even when thieves are not targeting the vehicle itself, visible valuables can make a parked pickup more appealing.
The Silverado 1500 is offered with multiple engines. A commonly available 2.7-liter TurboMax four-cylinder produces 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, giving the truck substantial pulling capability without requiring a larger engine.
Exact dimensions vary by cab and bed configuration, so the specifications below represent a common Crew Cab configuration rather than every Silverado variant.
5. Honda Civic
The Honda Civic remains one of America’s most recognizable compact cars, and NICB’s latest data shows that its popularity also comes with a significant theft exposure. In 2025, 12,725 Honda Civics were reported stolen nationwide, placing the model fifth on NICB’s list of the country’s most frequently stolen vehicles.
That was a substantial number even during a year when national vehicle thefts dropped to their lowest level in several decades.
The Civic’s fifth-place ranking should not be interpreted as evidence that a particular Civic is more likely to disappear from a parking garage than from another location. NICB’s 2025 figures are national model totals, not a garage-specific ranking.
Still, the statistics provide a useful reason for owners to take extra precautions whenever the car will be left unattended.
Parking garages can create long periods when nobody is near the vehicle. An employee might leave a Civic in the same space for an entire work shift, while someone using an airport garage could leave it for several days.
NICB recommends choosing well-lit parking spaces because greater visibility can discourage thieves. It also advises drivers to lock the vehicle, close the windows, and take their keys with them.
The type of garage matters, too. A facility with working surveillance cameras, controlled entrances, attendants, and regular traffic offers a different security environment from a dark, isolated structure. Drivers should not assume that simply being indoors makes a vehicle secure.
NICB also recommends additional layers such as steering-wheel locks, audible alarms, kill switches, and tracking devices. These measures can increase the difficulty of stealing the vehicle or improve the chances of recovering it if theft occurs.
For 2025, the Civic offered several powertrains depending on trim, including a 2.0-liter four-cylinder in non-hybrid versions. Exact dimensions and specifications vary by configuration.
6. Kia Optima
The Kia Optima ranks sixth on NICB’s 2025 national theft list, with 11,521 reported thefts. One important detail should be noted right away. Kia discontinued the Optima nameplate in the United States after the 2020 model year and replaced it with the Kia K5.
Therefore, NICB’s 2025 theft count reflects older Optima vehicles that remained on American roads, rather than a currently sold new model.
That distinction makes the Optima’s position particularly interesting. A vehicle does not need to be new or currently produced to remain a significant theft target. Older examples can continue circulating in large numbers, and their presence in the used-car market means thousands of owners may still rely on them for daily transportation.
NICB says Hyundai and Kia vehicles together accounted for 14% of all U.S. vehicle thefts in 2025, although thefts involving the two manufacturers declined for the third consecutive year. NICB attributes part of that improvement to software updates and other theft-prevention measures introduced in response to the theft trend.
For an Optima owner using a parking garage, basic security is therefore especially important. NICB recommends parking in a well-lit area, locking every door, closing the windows, and taking the keys. It also recommends considering steering-wheel locks, alarms, kill switches, and tracking devices as additional protection.
A garage can also tempt drivers into becoming careless. Someone may assume that an access-controlled building means the car does not need to be locked or that valuables can safely remain inside.
Neither assumption is wise. Security systems can fail, access can be shared, and criminals can enter facilities without being immediately noticed.
The Optima’s continued appearance near the top of the theft ranking is therefore a useful reminder that age does not eliminate theft risk. Owners should treat security as part of routine vehicle care, particularly when the car spends long stretches unattended.
7. Ford F-150
The Ford F-150 remains one of America’s most commonly stolen vehicles, with 10,102 thefts reported in 2025, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. That placed the full-size pickup seventh among all individual make and model combinations in NICB’s latest national ranking.
The number is considerably lower than the figures recorded by the three leading models, but it still represents more than 10,000 owners who reported their trucks stolen during a single year.
The F-150’s position is particularly interesting because full-size pickups have historically been major targets for vehicle thieves. NICB previously reported that full-size pickups accounted for more than 25% of all vehicle thefts in 2022.
The 2025 ranking shows that trucks remain a meaningful part of the national theft picture even as total thefts have fallen dramatically.
For someone parking an F-150 in a garage, the truck’s physical size can actually make parking strategy important. A large pickup may occupy more space and can be difficult to position in older structures, but the owner should prioritize a well-lit location with functioning security cameras and regular traffic.
NICB recommends parking in well-lit areas, removing keys, closing windows, and locking the vehicle whenever it is unattended.
A garage should not be treated as an automatic security barrier. Access systems can be compromised, cameras can have blind spots, and an unattended vehicle can remain in one place for hours.
Owners who routinely leave an F-150 overnight or throughout a work shift can add another layer with a steering-wheel lock, alarm, tracking system, or other anti-theft device.
The F-150 also comes in an enormous range of configurations, so its exact dimensions and powertrain depend on cab, bed, and engine selection. The commonly available 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 produces 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque.
8. Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry has an unusual position in America’s vehicle-theft landscape. It is widely regarded as a practical family sedan, yet NICB recorded 9,833 Camry thefts in 2025, placing it eighth in the national ranking. That means the Camry was stolen more frequently than several models that receive considerably more attention in discussions about vehicle theft.
The number also illustrates why theft prevention should not be based entirely on reputation. A vehicle does not have to look exotic, expensive, or particularly powerful to attract thieves. The Camry has been sold in the United States for decades and has a substantial population of vehicles on American roads, giving criminals a large pool of potential targets.
NICB’s national ranking does not identify how many of those 9,833 Camrys were stolen from parking garages. That distinction is important. The available NICB figure covers reported thefts throughout the country, so it should not be presented as evidence that garages are the primary location for Camry thefts.
What the statistic does show is that Camry owners have a legitimate reason to take theft prevention seriously.
Parking garage users can start with the simplest measures. NICB recommends taking the keys with you, locking all doors and windows, and choosing well-lit parking areas. Owners can also consider additional security layers such as steering-wheel locks, alarms, kill switches, and tracking devices.
The Camry’s latest generation is hybrid-only in the United States, using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor system. Depending on configuration, Toyota rates the front-wheel-drive version at 225 combined horsepower, while all-wheel-drive versions produce 232 combined horsepower.
For owners who regularly use a garage, the Camry’s ranking offers a simple lesson. Familiarity should never be mistaken for protection. Even a common vehicle can become an attractive target when it is left unattended.
9. Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V nearly made the upper half of NICB’s 2025 theft ranking, with 9,809 reported thefts nationwide. That placed it ninth among individual vehicle models, only 24 thefts behind the Toyota Camry.
The figure is notable because the CR-V is one of America’s most popular SUVs, giving thieves a large population of potential targets even though national vehicle theft declined substantially in 2025.
There is an important limitation to the statistic. NICB’s 9,809 figure represents reported CR-V thefts across the United States. It does not identify how many occurred inside parking garages.
The garage angle is therefore about applying sensible theft-prevention practices to a vehicle that already appears prominently in national theft statistics, rather than claiming that garages are responsible for the CR-V’s ranking.
That distinction matters because a garage can range from a highly controlled facility with attendants and surveillance to a largely unattended structure with dark corners and limited monitoring. The location itself does not determine whether a vehicle will be stolen.
NICB recommends taking the keys with you, locking the vehicle, closing the windows, and choosing well-lit parking areas. It also recommends additional security layers such as steering-wheel locks, audible alarms, kill switches, and tracking devices.
For someone leaving a CR-V in a garage during a full work shift, those simple precautions can be more important than assuming the building provides complete protection. Drivers should also avoid leaving valuables visible inside the cabin because an attempted theft of personal property can create a separate problem even when the vehicle itself remains secure.
The current U.S.-market CR-V uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder in its gasoline configuration, while hybrid versions use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain. Specifications below represent the 1.5-liter turbo model.
10. Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima completes NICB’s 2025 top-ten list with 8,445 reported thefts. While that number is considerably below the 21,732 thefts recorded for the Hyundai Elantra, it still puts the Altima among the most frequently stolen individual vehicle models in America.
The Altima’s presence on the list also highlights an important fact about vehicle theft. The most frequently stolen models do not come from a single category. NICB’s 2025 ranking includes compact and midsize sedans, a full-size pickup, and an SUV. What these vehicles have in common is their widespread presence on American roads.
For parking-garage users, the Altima’s tenth-place ranking should therefore be treated as a warning about complacency rather than evidence of a specific garage vulnerability. NICB does not publish the 8,445 thefts as a garage-only statistic. Its national data records reported vehicle thefts across locations.
Still, parking habits can make a difference. NICB recommends parking in well-lit areas and taking the keys with you rather than leaving them in the vehicle. Doors and windows should be locked, and additional anti-theft equipment can provide another layer of protection.
A driver who parks an Altima in a garage every weekday might also want to choose a space close to a pedestrian entrance or other regularly monitored area rather than an isolated section. Cameras, controlled access, and attendants can provide additional deterrence, although none should be treated as a guarantee against theft.
The final lesson from the NICB ranking is surprisingly simple. Vehicle theft fell 23.2% in 2025, with 659,880 vehicles reported stolen nationwide, yet hundreds of thousands of owners still experienced the disruption and financial consequences of theft.
The Altima’s place at number ten means its owners should not assume that an ordinary-looking sedan is invisible to thieves. A locked vehicle, sensible parking choice, and an additional security layer can make an unattended car a less convenient target.
