(NEXSTAR) – After years of spiking vehicle thefts, the tides have turned. The number of stolen cars reported in 2024 was down substantially, breaking the pattern of year-after-year increases set off in 2020. About 850,700 vehicles were stolen in the U.S. last year, according to the National In surance Crime Bureau (NICB). That's down from more than 1 million stolen vehicles in 2023. Despite the trend, some vehicles are still being targeted fairly often by thieves. The NICB reports two Hyundai models – the Elantra and Sonata – were still the most targeted vehicles for theft last year, as they were in 2023. REAL ID: What is it, and why do you need one in May? Thefts of Hyundai and Kia cars skyrocketed in 2020, when videos showing how to take advantage of the cars’ vulnerabilities and steal them started spreading on TikTok. Thieves realized the cars didn't have engine immobilizers, a standard piece of anti-theft tech. But things have getting better for owners of these affected models, too. The automakers have been offering anti-theft software upgrades to vehicle owners, and the number of Hyundais and Kias stolen in 2024 dropped nationwide. The most commonly stolen vehicles in 2024, according to the NICB, were: RankMake/ModelNo. of thefts in 20241.Hyundai Elantra31,7122.Hyundai Sonata26,7203.Chevrolet Silverado 150021,6664.Honda Accord18,5395.Kia Optima17,4936.Honda Civic15,7277.Kia Soul13,5628.Ford F150 Series Pickup12,9529.Toyota Camry12,29610.Dodge Charger11,452(National vehicle theft data from the NICB) It's not just what you drive, but also where you live that affects how likely you are to be targeted by car thieves. Washington, D.C., California, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada have the highest vehicle theft rates. ...read more read less