Are you thinking about purchasing a new car before the end of the year? There’s no question that you might be able to save big this time of year, especially if you’re willing to purchase a current year model (dealers are making room for next year’s models). However, it’s obviously something you should really think about and do major research on beforehand.
After you have looked at safety, performance, and gas mileage, you may want to consider theft rates. No, seriously. Some cars are more likely to be stolen than others, so it’s something to be mindful of. If your car does get stolen, you will likely have to pay more in insurance premiums in addition to the deductible and other costs not covered by your insurance provider.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) compiles statistics on car theft to provide motorists with the latest information on car theft. In August, it released its list of the most stolen cars in 2015. And some of the models and years might surprise you.
Here were the top ten most stolen used cars in the US in 2015:
- Honda Accord (1996)
- Honda Civic (1998)
- Ford pickup, full size (2006)
- Chevrolet pickup, full size (2004)
- Toyota Camry (2014)
- Dodge pickup, full size (2001)
- Toyota Corolla (2014)
- Nissan Altima (2014)
- Dodge Caravan (2002)
- Chevrolet Impala (2008)
If you are looking to purchase a new vehicle, these are most likely to be stolen, according to the report:
- Nissan Altima
- Chrysler 200
- Toyota Camry
- Toyota Corolla
- GMC Sierra
- Dodge Charger
- Hyundai Sonata
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Chevrolet Impala
- Chevrolet Cruze
eTags, an online registration renewal service provider for vehicle owner’s in California, Florida, and Maryland , reccomends motorists always lock their car doors and keep their windows up. They should also make sure not to leave valuables in plain sight. Finally, it asks motorists to not rely on anti-theft systems that are common in new cars. Thieves are getting more sophisticated and have found ways to hack into these systems. For greater peace of mind and additional protection, motorists can get a smart key or another immobilizing device that is not native to the vehicle.