Is Your Car on the Most-Stolen List?

Car theft is down nationwide — but certain makes and models are still being targeted at alarming rates, including the most stolen vehicle in Florida. Here's what Collier County drivers need to know.

There's genuinely good news on the car theft front. After years of skyrocketing theft rates fueled by viral social media videos showing how to steal certain vehicles with a USB cord, that wave appears to be receding. Forty-nine states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico all reported fewer stolen cars in the first half of 2025 than the year before.

But here's the catch — the remaining theft problem is becoming more concentrated around a smaller group of vehicles: mostly extremely common sedans and pickups that are easy to resell, easy to part out, or easier to steal than newer models. If you drive one of those vehicles, your risk hasn't dropped nearly as much as the overall numbers suggest.

And Florida — with its dense population, high tourism traffic, and year-round activity — remains a state where car theft is very much a real concern for drivers in Naples and across Collier County.

🏆 Florida's Most-Stolen Vehicle Might Surprise You

The Sunshine State has its own most-wanted list — and it's dominated by two familiar brands.

The Hyundai Sonata has been the most stolen vehicle in Florida so far in 2025 — a title that stems from a well-documented security vulnerability in older models. Hyundais and Kias built between 2011 and 2019 lacked engine immobilizers, making them easy targets. Even though manufacturers have since addressed the issue and rolled out free security upgrades, the Sonata remains the most stolen car in five states including Florida.

Nationally, the Hyundai Elantra has held the title of America's most stolen vehicle since 2023, with more than 11,000 thefts in the first half of 2025 alone — despite major software patches meant to close the vulnerabilities thieves had been exploiting.

📉 What's Driving Theft Trends — And What's Changing

The good news is that the biggest theft wave in recent memory is finally receding — but not evenly.

The surge in Hyundai and Kia thefts that began in 2022 was largely the result of a viral social media trend that exposed a security gap in vehicles lacking engine immobilizers. Manufacturers moved quickly to issue software patches and free security upgrades, and those efforts are showing real results. Total Elantra thefts are projected to fall nearly 30% year over year by the end of 2025, and Sonata thefts have been cut nearly in half since 2023.

Florida was also among the states seeing some of the biggest drops in vehicle theft in 2025 — a trend that reflects both improved vehicle security technology and more aggressive law enforcement efforts statewide.

For drivers of other commonly targeted vehicles like the Honda CR-V and Chevrolet Silverado, the threat tends to be less about a specific security flaw and more about desirability. Parts like wheels, airbags, headlights, infotainment systems, and catalytic converters are always in demand for high-volume models — making them attractive to thieves even when the vehicles aren't easy to start.

🔒 How to Protect Your Vehicle Right Now

Simple habits make a big difference — and most of these cost nothing.

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