The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 tops the list of America’s most-stolen vehicles, as a software upgrade helped reduce theft rates for Hyundai and Kia vehicles, according to new research from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).
The Camaro ZL1 and the regular Camaro account for two of the five most-stolen model year 2022-24 vehicles, HLDI’s latest analysis showed. Relative to its numbers on the roads, the Camaro ZL1 had a whole-vehicle theft rate 39 times the average for all vehicles. The frequency of whole-vehicle theft claims for the standard Camaro was 13 times higher than the average.
“Muscle cars have often topped this list, as thieves are attracted to vehicles with high horsepower,” said Matt Moore, chief insurance operations officer at HLDI and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “That also helps explain why the more expensive, more powerful ZL1 is stolen so much more often than the standard Camaro.”
Along with the two Camaro variants, pickup trucks and other expensive or high-horsepower models dominated the list of the top 20 vehicles with the highest claim frequencies for whole-vehicle theft.
On the other end of the spectrum, the 20 least-stolen vehicles include eight electric vehicles and two plug-in hybrids, all of which have whole-vehicle theft claim frequencies that are more than 85 percent lower than the all-vehicle average.
Past HLDI studies have shown electric vehicles are likely to be garaged or parked near buildings to facilitate charging, making them less attractive to thieves.
Thefts of modern vehicles may involve cloning the owner’s key fob with an electronic device. News reports have indicated thieves may be able to obtain the code for newer Camaros by accessing the onboard ports that technicians use to retrieve diagnostic codes and monitor data about fuel economy, emissions, and other aspects of performance.
For its ranking of the most-stolen vehicles, HLDI identifies whole-vehicle thefts by comparing the dollar amounts of theft claims with what insurers pay for the same vehicles when they’re totaled in a crash.
HLDI engaged a separate analysis of Camaro theft claims for model years 2010-24.
The analysis showed that theft claim frequencies — both whole-vehicle and smaller claims — for Camaro variants were relatively stable from 2020 through 2022 but rose sharply in 2023 and continued to climb through much of 2024. It also indicated a clear break in the pattern beginning with model year 2016, the year the keyless, push-button start system was introduced.
“We expect powerful and high-value vehicles to be targeted, and these models check both those boxes,” Moore said. “But it stood out to us that Camaros that were nearly 10 years old had such high claim frequencies.”
Theft claims for model year 2016-24 Camaros began to soar in 2023.
Claim frequency for the newer models peaked in March 2024 at 18.3 claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years, compared with about 1.3 claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years for 2010-15 models, analysis showed. (One insured vehicle year equals one vehicle insured for one year, two vehicles insured for six months, and so forth.)
Texas and California were the first states to show spikes in theft claims for Camaros. In 2024, California recorded the highest theft claim frequencies for these vehicles, followed by Tennessee, Mississippi, Maryland, and Texas.
In March 2025, General Motors launched a service campaign aimed at reducing theft risk for 2020-24 Camaro models. Under the initiative, owners can bring their vehicles to dealerships for a free software update.
HLDI plans to review how the new software influences theft claims. In the meantime, Camaro owners should contact a nearby dealer to get the update as soon as possible, Moore said.
A similar campaign worked well for Hyundai and Kia, which saw some of their models unexpectedly break into the top 20 most-stolen vehicles in 2021.
After a HLDI analysis revealed that many of the older models targeted by thieves were not equipped with electronic immobilizers as standard equipment, the brands began offering affected owners a theft-deterrent software upgrade that performs the same function.
HLDI has been tracking the campaign’s impact since it began in February 2023.
The latest analysis shows the frequency of theft claims was 46 percent lower for eligible Hyundai and Kia vehicles that received the upgrade than for those that didn’t.
Whole-vehicle theft claims were 52 percent less frequent for vehicles with the upgrade.
Another signal that the software is working is an increase in the frequency of vandalism claims, many of which likely reflect damage that occurred during thwarted theft attempts, the report author noted.
Despite improvements, analysis of December 2024 theft rates revealed that theft claim frequencies for the eligible model year 2011-22 vehicles remained high, at nearly 10 and 11 claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years for Kia and Hyundai, respectively.
In contrast, theft claim frequency for 2011-22 vehicles from all manufacturers was less than two claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years.
Only 41 percent of the eligible Hyundai vehicles and 40 percent of the eligible Kia vehicles had received the upgrade as of December, a likely factor that they continue to be targeted, the report noted.
Owners of newer models have less reason for concern, HLDI’s latest whole-vehicle theft report shows.
Whole-vehicle theft rates for 2022-24 Hyundai and Kia models, most or all of which have electronic immobilizers as standard equipment, are substantially lower than the all-vehicle average.
“This intervention showed dramatic results right off the bat, offering owners some peace of mind,” Moore said. “Owners who still haven’t gotten the software upgrade should do so immediately, as it’s the best way to protect their vehicle.”