Study States That Dodge Muscle Cars Are Still The Most Stolen Vehicles in the U.S.

Even in the year 2023, car theft remains a serious problem across the country. According to crime data, there are 268 stolen vehicle cases per 100,000 people in the United States. However, a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) discovered certain patterns in some of the most stolen vehicles targeted by thieves, with a pair of muscle cars being the biggest targets.

Both the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat and the Dodge Charger HEMI found themselves once again at the top of the IIHS’s list for the most stolen vehicles in the U.S. for model years 2020 to 2022.

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Why Are Dodge Chargers and Dodge Challengers Targeted?

Both Dodge Chargers and Dodge Challengers are known for being some of the most recognizable and powerful muscle cars on the market. While they can certainly produce a lot of horsepower, the downside is they can also attract a lot of negative attention, which can result in them being stolen and sold for a high asking price on the black market.

Since 2011, there has been a surge in theft claims for both models at an alarming rate. For 2020-2022 Charger SRT Hellcat models, there were 25 whole-vehicle theft claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years, which is up from 18 for 2019-2021 models. In contrast, the most stolen vehicle of 2017-2019 models was the Infiniti Q60, which only had 2 thefts per 1,000 insured vehicle years.

“If you own a Hellcat, you better check your driveway,” says HLDI Senior Vice President Matt Moore. “These numbers are unbelievable.”

Some of the other most stolen vehicles with 2020-2022 models years include Land Rover Range Rover, Kia Sportage, Honda CR-V, and BMW X6. In addition, the skyrocketing trend of stealing Hyundais and Kias fueled by social media also landed four Kia models into the top 20 spots.

The Most Stolen Vehicles with 2020-22 Model Years

Also, check out the list of vehicles that are the least likely to be stolen, and are getting largely ignored by thieves.

The Least Stolen Vehicles with 2020-22 Model Years