The National Insurance Crime Bureau has released its Hot Wheels 2010 list of the most stolen vehicles. The nonprofit, who says it is dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft, compiled data reported to the National Crime Information Center to make its 2009 most stolen list.
This list is important if you’re in the market for a used car because the cost to insure these vehicles might be higher than comparable used cars not on the list. And if you’re on a tight monthly budget, expensive insurance on an affordable used car might not make financial sense for you.
“Through the end of August this year there were 97,655 vehicles that were listed as stolen and not yet recovered,” said Joe Wehrle, NICB president and CEO. “Of that number, only 38 percent had some kind of insurance coverage. So there are a lot of vehicles out there that are being stolen and the owner is left holding the bag with no car and no money to buy another one.”
Most stolen vehicles in the U.S. in 2009
- 1994 Honda Accord
- 1995 Honda Civic
- 1991 Toyota Camry
- 1997 Ford F-150 Pickup
- 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
- 2000 Dodge Caravan
- 1994 Chevrolet Pickup (full-size)
- 1994 Acura Integra
- 2002 Ford Explorer
- 2009 Toyota Corolla
The NICB has a few tips and useful devices for consumers to protect their vehicle from theft. They suggest you lock your car and take your keys. Also, use a visible or audible warning device. Immobilization devices, such as kill switches, fuel cut-offs and smart keys, are also effective devices. Finally, they suggest that using a tracking device can help police recover your vehicle if it’s stolen.
Before you pick a used car and fill out the auto loan application, remember to call your insurance agent to see what it will cost to insure the vehicles you’ve narrowed down.
