Texas ranks 2nd for car theft.
Pickups top the list.
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, motor vehicle theft (data as of Sep 15, 2026)
Texas is a target by sheer volume. NICB ranked it 2nd among states for vehicle thefts in 2025, and FBI data shows 78,862 thefts statewide, down from 103,804 in 2024 and 124,903 in 2023. That is a rate of 251 per 100,000 residents, still above the U.S. rate of 200.
Pickups lead. The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra topped NICB's 2024 Texas list and the state's August 2026 report. State-funded taskforces see criminal groups programming working key fobs for trucks and high-end vehicles, and one broke up a ring taking stolen GM pickups, Camaros and Corvettes into Mexico on Mexican plates.
A truck that has crossed the border or been given a new identity rarely comes back the way it left. Titan stops the theft before that point: when it's armed, the vehicle won't start or move, even with a programmed key, and the owner gets the tamper alert right away.
- 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 Texas.
The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority counted 78,677 vehicle thefts in Texas in 2025, the second straight yearly decline, plus 140,437 burglaries of vehicles and thefts of parts.
Texas had the 2nd-most vehicle thefts of any state in 2025, with 75,269.
MVCPA taskforces report criminal groups using programming devices and high-tech printers to make working key fobs and counterfeit ID labels for stolen high-end vehicles and trucks.
In Hidalgo County, a taskforce tied a family-run ring to about 50 stolen vehicles, targeting GM 1500 and 2500 trucks, Camaros and Corvettes and taking them into Mexico on Mexican plates. About 30 were recovered and 18 people were arrested.
Pickups led the DPS statewide stolen-vehicle report for August 2026: 291 Chevrolet Silverados and 208 GMC Sierras, ahead of 154 Hyundai Elantras. DPS notes an error rate of about 5% in agency entries.
Is your car a likely target?
Four questions, checked against the most-stolen vehicle list for Texas and the theft methods we see most.
Most-stolen list: NICB 2024 Texas data via KXAN
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.
Texas rules worth knowing.
Texas grades theft by value: a vehicle worth $2,500 to under $30,000 is a state jail felony, $30,000 to under $150,000 a third-degree felony, $150,000 to under $300,000 a second-degree felony and $300,000 or more a first-degree felony (Penal Code 31.03).
Source: Texas Penal Code 31.03
Operating someone else's vehicle without the owner's consent is a state jail felony whatever the vehicle is worth (Penal Code 31.07).
Source: Texas Penal Code 31.07
Since SB 224 took effect in May 2023, stealing a catalytic converter that costs less than $30,000 to replace is a state jail felony (Penal Code 31.03(e)(4)(G)).
Source: Texas Penal Code 31.03
Insurers pay a $5 fee for each vehicle-year of coverage they write. After $1 for catalytic converter enforcement, 20% of the rest is appropriated to the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (Transportation Code 1006.153).
Prevention for every kind of owner.
Dealerships
Customs stopped a $90,000 GMC Sierra taken from a McAllen dealer's lot at the border, and a suspect told detectives someone inside the dealership was providing keys. Titan arms every unit after hours.
Titan for dealersDrivers & owners
Silverados, Sierras and F-Series trucks top the Texas stolen lists. Titan keeps yours from being driven off, even by someone holding a programmed key.
How drivers get TitanFleets & equipment
Work pickups are the most-stolen vehicles in Texas. Titan stops unauthorized starts in the yard and on the job site.
Titan for fleetsRental operators
Texas taskforces see programmed and duplicated fobs used to steal vehicles. Titan arms units between rentals so a copied key won't drive one away.
Titan for rentalWhere we work in Texas
Local help in Texas.
Report a stolen vehicle to local police right away; your insurer will ask for the report number.
- Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority State authority, set up in 1991, that funds Texas auto theft taskforces through a fee on insurers.
- 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 Texas: your questions.
How many vehicles are stolen in Texas?
FBI data shows 78,862 vehicle thefts in Texas in 2025, down from 103,804 in 2024 and 124,903 in 2023. The state's Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority counted 78,677, and NICB counted 75,269, the 2nd-highest of any state.
Is car theft a felony in Texas?
In most cases. Under Penal Code 31.03, stealing a vehicle worth $2,500 or more is at least a state jail felony, rising to a first-degree felony at $300,000. Using someone else's vehicle without consent is a state jail felony under 31.07, whatever it's worth.
What's the most stolen vehicle in Texas?
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500. NICB's 2024 Texas data counted 6,453 stolen, followed by 4,073 GMC Sierra 1500s and 3,140 Hyundai Elantras. The same two pickups led the DPS monthly report for August 2026.
What is the MVCPA?
The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, first set up in 1991, funds auto theft taskforces across Texas. Insurers pay a $5 fee per vehicle-year of coverage, part of which goes to the authority, and in fiscal 2025 it funded 30 taskforces with 313 investigators, analysts, prosecutors and staff.
Further reading.
Your Car Can Be Stolen in Under 60 Seconds — Here’s How to Stop It
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GPS Tracking Is Useless If Your Car’s Already Gone
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The Hidden Price of Auto Theft
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The Dealership Advantage: How Forward-Thinking Dealers Are Ending Vehicle Theft for Good
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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 Texas 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.