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NADA Issue Alert

Issue Alert: National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month

Published

What’s new: The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) is observing Vehicle Theft Prevention Month this July. NHTSA is calling attention to vehicle theft as a nationwide issue and urging vehicle owners to take preventive steps to keep their vehicles safe.

Why it matters: Vehicle theft is a multi-billion-dollar industry in the United States, disrupting millions of vehicle owners’ lives, stripping them of their security and mobility, and costing them more than $8 billion annually. Passenger cars make up most of the stolen vehicles, and the summer months have the highest reported occurrences of vehicle theft. In 2024, 850,708 vehicles were stolen — representing a 17% decrease in vehicle theft totals from the previous year. Estimates show that approximately one vehicle is stolen every 37 seconds.

In 2024, these states had the most vehicle thefts, as provided by the National Insurance Crime Bureau:

  1. California
  2. Texas
  3. Florida
  4. Illinois
  5. Washington
  6. New York
  7. Colorado
  8. North Carolina
  9. Ohio
  10. Missouri


Common tactics for vehicle theft include the alteration of VIN plates and VIN scan bars to create “new” lien-free titles. These vehicles may be sold online to innocent consumers or car dealers. 

What’s next: Dealers should consider the following steps to prevent vehicle theft from their dealerships and to respond appropriately if theft has occurred:

  • Inspect the multiple locations of the VIN on a vehicle for any discrepancies.
  • Scan the VIN on the vehicle door to ensure it specifically matches the vehicle.
  • Run a CarFax report to learn more about the vehicle’s history.• Ask the seller questions about the vehicle’s prior ownership and the reasons for selling the vehicle.
  • Close and lock all windows and doors when the vehicle is parked.
  • Do not leave keys in the vehicle.
  • Do not leave the area while the vehicle is running.
  • Report any suspicious activity to local authorities. 


Go deeper: For more information on vehicle theft, visit: