California recorded its second consecutive year of declining vehicle thefts in 2025, according to newly released data by the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

According to the CHP’s 2025 Vehicle Theft Fact Sheet, thieves stole more than 133,000 vehicles statewide in 2025—about 25% fewer than the 176,230 stolen in 2024. The estimated total value of the vehicles is $1.2 billion.

On average, a vehicle was stolen in California about every four minutes in 2025.

Of the vehicles targeted last year, 43.2 percent were personal trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), 37.3 percent were automobiles, 6.9 percent were commercial trucks and trailers, and 4.7 percent were motorcycles.

Of the 133,372 vehicles stolen statewide last year, 84% (111,661) were recovered.

More than half of the recovered vehicles were returned to their owners in drivable condition.

The decline in vehicle thefts began in 2024, when California recorded its first year-over-year decrease since 2019.

That year, Governor Gavin Newsom deployed CHP officers to work alongside local law enforcement agencies in regional crime suppression operations.

Targeted enforcement in Bakersfield, San Bernardino, and Oakland contributed to reductions in vehicle thefts and other crime in those communities.

The CHP crime-suppression operations expanded in August 2025, deploying additional teams to high-crime areas across California.

Several counties where CHP crime suppression teams were deployed also experienced significant declines in vehicle thefts last year, including:

• Alameda: 12,277 vehicle thefts, down 36.1% from 2024.
• Kern: 4,258 vehicle thefts, down 31.4% from 2024.
• San Bernardino: 7,759 vehicle thefts, down 23.3% from 2024.
• San Diego: 8,023 vehicle thefts, down 25.7% from 2024.
• Sacramento: 5,061 vehicle thefts, down 23% from 2024.

The most frequently stolen vehicles in 2025:

1) Automobile: Hyundai Elantra and Sonata 2013, Kia Optima 2015

2) Personal Trucks/Sport Utility Vehicles: Chevy Silverado 2001, 2002, 2004

3) Motorcycles: Honda 2022, 2023, and Yamaha 2024

4) Commercial Trucks: Freightliner 2019, Freightliner 2016, Freightliner 2020

All other vehicles (e.g., recreational vehicles, construction and farm equipment, special construction) accounted for 7.9 percent of thefts.

John Deere farm equipment ranked as the number one brand of stolen farm equipment every year since 2008, and Bobcat Company equipment is the number one brand of stolen construction equipment for three consecutive years.