HLDI Names the Least Stolen Cars in the United States for 2024

HLDI insurance data reveal which cars were least often stolen in the US in 2024, highlighting Tesla, Toyota RAV4 Prime and Volvo XC90. Learn the key findings.

In 2024, more than 850,000 vehicle thefts were recorded in the United States, a figure that once again pushed car security into the spotlight. Against this backdrop, a new report from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) highlights a small group of vehicles that are stolen far less often than the market average. The ranking is based not on surveys or opinions, but on insurance claim data tied to real-world theft cases.

The five models with the lowest theft risk are the Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid, Tesla Model S, and the Volvo XC90. According to HLDI data, all of them show theft claim frequencies that are only a fraction of the overall market level, in some cases amounting to just a few percent of the average rate.

One of the most striking aspects of the list is the strong presence of electric vehicles. HLDI data indicate that a significant share of the least-stolen cars are EVs or plug-in hybrids. In Tesla’s case, this is closely linked to a fully digital security ecosystem: constant connectivity, built-in telemetry, remote monitoring, mandatory driver authentication via a personal PIN, and video surveillance functions that activate when suspicious activity is detected around the vehicle.

The inclusion of the Toyota RAV4 Prime is particularly notable. While conventional RAV4 models have historically appeared frequently in theft statistics, the plug-in hybrid variant shows a dramatically lower number of insurance claims. This contrast underlines how specific technical configurations and security implementations can outweigh a model’s general popularity among buyers.

The Volvo XC90 completes the top five, reflecting the brand’s emphasis on comprehensive electronic protection. Features that allow remote intervention and the deactivation of vehicle keys are regarded by insurers as effective deterrents and play a role in reducing both theft frequency and overall losses.

HLDI stresses that the findings apply to insured vehicles in the United States and are based on standardized data that account for regional and demographic factors. Even so, the broader trend is clear: as vehicles become increasingly connected and digitally secured, car theft becomes more complex, more traceable, and less attractive to criminals.

Looking ahead, the data suggest that software-based protection and remote control capabilities are likely to become even more influential in future theft rankings, gradually pushing traditional mechanical anti-theft measures into the background.