California Vehicle Theft Rates and Vehicle Theft Maps

Crime Grade's vehicle theft map shows the safest places in California in green. The most dangerous areas in California are in red, with moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted by the type and severity of the crime.

Is California Safe from Vehicle Theft?

The D- grade means the rate of vehicle theft is much higher than the average US state. California is in the 14th percentile for safety, meaning 86% of states are safer and 14% of states are more dangerous. This analysis applies to California's proper boundaries only. See the table on nearby places below for nearby states.

The rate of vehicle theft in California is 4.671 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. People who live in California generally consider the north part of the state to be the safest.

Your chance of being a victim of vehicle theft in California may be as high as 1 in 146 in the south neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 337 in the north part of the state.

By a simple count ignoring population, more vehicle theft occurs in the southeast parts of California: about 66,396 per year. The northeast part of California has fewer cases of vehicle theft with only 0 in a typical year.

How California's Vehicle Theft Rate Compares

The chart below compares the vehicle theft rate in California to the national average. All rates are the number of crimes per 1,000 residents in a standard year.

Considering only the vehicle theft rate, California is as safe as the national average.

See how CrimeGrade calculates these grades and rates on the CrimeGrade methodology page.

The Cost of Vehicle Theft in California

Vehicle Theft is projected to cost the residents of California about $2,924,104,447 in 2025, or roughly $72 per resident. This is part of California's overall Cost of Crime™. See the full cost-of-crime breakdown for California, including every crime type and how California compares to other states.

Interpreting the Vehicle Theft Map

Remember that vehicle theft rates are measured per resident. Places with heavy daytime traffic, like shopping districts, airports, and parks, can look more dangerous than they are for the people who live there. See a full guide to reading California's crime maps on the California overall crime page.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in California at ISP Reports.

Individual California Crime Maps & Stats

Vehicle Theft Maps and Rates for Nearby States

Compared to surrounding states, the rate of vehicle theft in California is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for states close to California.

Nearby State	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade	Vehicle Theft Crime Grade
Nevada	D	D	D-	F
Arizona	B-	C	C+	C+
Utah	C-	B	C	B
Oregon	D-	C+	D-	D-
Idaho	A-	B	A+	A+
New Mexico	F	F	D-	D-
Washington	D-	C	F	F
Colorado	F	D-	F	F
Wyoming	B+	A	A	A-
Montana	C-	D+	C-	C+

Vehicle Theft in State with Similar Populations

California is higher versus other states of the same size for vehicle theft. The table below compares vehicle theft in states with comparable overall population.

Similar State	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade	Vehicle Theft Crime Grade
Alaska	C+	F	F	C
Hawaii	B	A	A	D
Puerto Rico	F	F	F	D+
Arkansas	D-	D-	D-	C
Florida	A+	A-	A-	A
Louisiana	D+	D-	D-	D+
Maine	A	A+	A+	A+
Massachusetts	A+	C+	C+	A
Minnesota	C	B	B	D+
Montana	C-	D+	D+	C+

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in California average SchoolGrade of C, with 35% actual proficiency versus 36% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See California schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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Home Security

A vehicle theft occurs on average every 3 minutes in California. Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system. Want to protect your home?

Home Security Companies in California

All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.