California loses a car
every four minutes.
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, motor vehicle theft (data as of Sep 15, 2026)
The California Highway Patrol counted 133,372 vehicle thefts in 2025: one every four minutes, worth $1.2 billion. That was down 24.3% from 176,230 in 2024, and California still has more vehicle thefts than any other state.
Southern California accounts for 55.8% of the state's thefts, and Los Angeles County alone for 63.4% of those. Trucks and SUVs make up 43.2% of what's stolen. And clearance is low: the California Department of Justice reports a 6.6% clearance rate for vehicle theft in 2025.
When so few cases end in an arrest, prevention is the only reliable protection. Titan stops the vehicle moving: armed, it won't start or drive away, and the owner is alerted on tamper.
- Washington, DC698.3
- Nevada400.9
- New Mexico334.3
- California317.4
- Washington258.8
- Texas250.9
- Arizona183.3
- Idaho53.8
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, motor vehicle theft (data as of Sep 15, 2026)
What theft looks like in California.
CHP counted 133,372 vehicle thefts in 2025, down 24.3%: one every four minutes, worth $1.2 billion.
Source: California Highway Patrol, 2025 vehicle theft fact sheet
55.8% of California's thefts happened in Southern California, and 63.4% of those in Los Angeles County.
Source: California Highway Patrol, 2025 vehicle theft fact sheet
Trucks and SUVs made up 43.2% of vehicles stolen in California in 2025, and 1,567 stolen vehicles were recovered out of state.
Source: California Highway Patrol, 2025 vehicle theft fact sheet
California's clearance rate for motor vehicle theft was 6.6% in 2025, with 9,489 felony arrests, according to the state Department of Justice.
Is your car a likely target?
Four questions, checked against the most-stolen vehicle list for California and the theft methods we see most.
Most-stolen list: California Highway Patrol, 2025 vehicle theft fact sheet
Answer the four questions to see which known theft risk factors apply to your vehicle. Nothing is stored or sent.
What one theft costs you.
Insurance rarely makes you whole. Put in your own numbers to see the out-of-pocket cost of a single theft.
Starting values are examples. Replace them with your own; check your policy for rental reimbursement and personal-property limits.
Your cost of one theft
Before any premium change at renewal, which varies by insurer and state.
California rules worth knowing.
Taking or driving a vehicle without the owner's consent is a 'wobbler' under Vehicle Code 10851: a misdemeanor or felony depending on the case.
Source: California Vehicle Code 10851
Theft of an automobile is grand theft under Penal Code 487(d)(1), whatever its value.
Source: California Penal Code 487
Since 2023, used catalytic converters may only be bought from licensed businesses or from an owner whose title matches the VIN marked on the part, with fines of $1,000 to $4,000 (Vehicle Code 10852.5, SB 1087).
Source: California Vehicle Code 10852.5
Recyclers buying catalytic converters must record the year, make, model and VIN of the vehicle each one came from (Business and Professions Code 21610).
Source: California B&P Code 21610
A county fee of $1 to $2 on vehicle registrations (Vehicle Code 9250.14) funds county auto theft task forces such as TRAP in Los Angeles and RAID in the Inland Empire.
Source: California Vehicle Code 9250.14
Prevention for every kind of owner.
Dealerships
California dealers carry the Elantras, Sonatas and Silverados on CHP's list. Titan arms every unit after hours.
Titan for dealersDrivers & owners
With a 6.6% clearance rate, the odds of an arrest after a theft are low. Titan keeps the car where you left it.
How drivers get TitanFleets & equipment
Trucks and SUVs are 43.2% of what's stolen in California. Titan protects work trucks, vans and equipment on one platform.
Titan for fleetsRental operators
California rental fleets face fraud and non-returns at scale. Titan stops units moving outside the booking.
Titan for rentalWhere we work in California
Local help in California.
Report a stolen vehicle to local police right away; your insurer will ask for the report number.
- California Highway Patrol, vehicle theft Statewide theft statistics and the most-stolen list.
- LA County TRAP task force Taskforce for Regional Autotheft Prevention, Los Angeles County.
- NICB VINCheck Free check of whether a VIN has been reported stolen or salvaged before you buy.
- NHTSA recall lookup Check a VIN for open recalls, including the Hyundai and Kia anti-theft software update.
Vehicle theft in California: your questions.
How many cars are stolen in California?
CHP counted 133,372 vehicle thefts in 2025, down 24.3% from 2024. That's one every four minutes, with a combined value of $1.2 billion.
What are the most stolen cars in California?
CHP's 2025 list was led by the Hyundai Elantra, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, Honda Accord and Chevrolet Silverado.
Is car theft a felony in California?
It can be. Vehicle Code 10851 is a wobbler, charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, and Penal Code 487(d)(1) treats auto theft as grand theft.
What are TRAP and RAID?
County auto theft task forces funded by a fee on California vehicle registrations: TRAP in Los Angeles County and RAID in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Further reading.
Your Car Can Be Stolen in Under 60 Seconds — Here’s How to Stop It
Car thieves are faster and more sophisticated than ever—many can steal a vehicle in under 60 seconds using high-tech tools and relay attacks. Standard…
GPS Tracking Is Useless If Your Car’s Already Gone
Relying on GPS tracking alone to recover stolen vehicles? Think again. By the time thieves disable the system or move your car to a hidden location, it’s…
The Hidden Price of Auto Theft
Every 32 seconds, a vehicle is stolen in the U.S. While insurance might cover the headline loss, what most drivers don’t realize is how deeply auto theft…
The Dealership Advantage: How Forward-Thinking Dealers Are Ending Vehicle Theft for Good
Car thieves are getting smarter, and unfortunately, many dealership anti-theft systems aren’t keeping up. Outdated security measures leave vehicles…
Why Smart Fleet Operators Choose Prevention Over Recovery
Every minute your vehicle is off the road, your business is losing money. It’s not just about replacing a stolen truck or filing an insurance claim. It’s…
Stop theft in California before it starts.
Titan keeps the vehicle from moving, key or no key, and alerts you when someone tries. Tell us what you protect and we'll take it from there.