Why Does Honda Civics Get Stolen? (Explained)

Nothing is guaranteed to ruin your day than walking out of the mall or the movies, and your car is nowhere to be found.

For car owners, having one’s car stolen is a constant concern. For Honda owners, however, it is no idle worry.

The National Insurance Bureau ranked the most stolen cars in America in 2018, and the Honda Civic was top of the record. Hence many people want to know whether the stolen Honda can be found or not?

Last year, a record 38,000 Honda Civics were reported stolen in the US alone. The Honda Civic has become a favorite for automobile thieves based on reports.

You’re probably wondering why Honda Civics get stolen.

Honda Civics are a target because they are widespread. Also, other models of Honda can use the same parts as the Honda Civic. With millions of Honda cars around, it’s easy to strip the car down and sell the parts at a reasonable price. Further, the older versions of Honda are pretty unchallenging to steal since they do not have advanced Anti-Theft devices found in newer cars.

Do Honda Civics Get Stolen A Lot?

Honda Civics do get stolen a lot.

According to the National Insurance Bureau, in their 2015 record, thieves’ top most beloved car is the Honda Accord; the Honda Civic closely follows in second place.

Hondas have a reasonable percentage of the total number of the millions of cars stolen each year. 

The 2000 model Honda Civic, in particular, has ranked as one of the most stolen cars in America over the years.

However, thieves treasure the 2000 Civic for its spaciousness and reliability. But it is majorly eyed because it does not have the Antitheft technologies of modern cars.

It is easier to break into and so much easier to steal. 

Older versions of the Honda Civic are also very likely to be stolen. In 2020, about thirty-four thousand, one hundred and forty Civic was stolen in the US.

Keep in mind that it is not limited to old versions; the 2020 model is also a prime choice for thieves.

Are Hondas The Most Stolen Cars?

Honda cars are among the most stolen vehicles in the US. According to the FBI’s 2018 report, the Honda Civic was the most stolen vehicle, with about 38,436 Civics reported missing.

Closely behind the Civic was the Accord. According to the report, the Accord came in second place with about 36850 Accords reported stolen.

Also, according to a piece of recent information by Insurify, it was the fourth most stolen car in 2021 with about 30814 thefts reported, while the Civic came third with a total of 34144 autos reported stolen.

Although the FBI’S Uniform Crime Reporting program reported that the rate of motor vehicle theft has significantly decreased by at least 55% since 1991, owners of motor should be conscious that cars are still stolen daily.  

And Honda cars have always been valuable and vulnerable to auto theft. Especially the older versions, like the 1997 Accord and the 2000 Civic.

Thieves love both cars, and they do not have the advanced anti-theft systems that newer versions have. Or maybe they are loved for that very reason.

How Easy Is It To Break Into A Honda Civic?

The effort required to break into a Honda Civic mostly depends on the model of the car.

Older versions are much easier to crack than newer ones because the anti-theft systems on the more recent ones are better than those on old ones.

It also depends on the skill set of the thief. Breaking into a Honda, especially an older model, is like a cakewalk for some professional thieves.

That is also because these versions have cheaply made locking mechanisms. 

Although in comparison to other autos with more advanced systems, Hondas are easier to break into. And some criminals can do it in less than 5 minutes.

And if you try, you may find out that you can use a different key to open the doors of your Civic. Like maybe the key of an Accord or even a completely different car brand.

So sometimes, the thieves don’t break in. They simply try a few keys until they get lucky. And this is why Honda Civics are the most stolen cars in the U.S.

Several Honda Civic owners have complained about the security of their cars. Some of their cars have been broken into severally, and it turns out the thieves had an effortless time doing it. Does Honda Civic Have Abs?

What Year Hondas Are Easy To Steal?

Hondas are prone to theft. They are effortless and attractive targets for auto thefts. So if you drive a Honda, you should be on the alert.

Even if it is an older model, you should be wary, especially if you own an older model.

The reason is that thieves find them attractive too. According to the National Insurance Bureau, about 43,500 Honda Accords were stolen in 2017.

And 3,501 of them were 1997 versions. The older versions are a target because they do not have immobilizers.

Of all Honda Models, the ones that are easier to steal and are more prone to theft are:

• The 1997 Honda versions. The 1997 model is the last year that Honda manufactured cars without immobilizers. And thieves know this too.
  
• 1998 versions. Like the 1997 Honda’s, the 1998 versions do not have immobilizers either.
  
  And their anti-theft systems are not very effective in preventing theft. What’s more? Keyless cars weren’t popular back then.
  
  So it’s easier for car owners to forget their keys in the ignition.

• The Honda Civic 2000 model is also very trouble-free to steal. Little wonder that it was second on the FBI’s record of most stolen cars in 2020.
  
  The 2000 Honda is ubiquitous, and it predates many anti-theft systems like immobilizers. In that case, it’s facile for thieves to make away with them.

How Do I Stop My Honda Civic From Being Stolen?

You probably already know that Hondas top the record of stolen cars, and your vehicle is already at a higher risk of being stolen for several reasons.

However, there are some things you can do that will make your vehicle more secure and put it at a lower risk of being stolen. They include;

• Keep your vehicle locked, always ensuring that you lock your car at all times. And never leave your key in the ignition. That is one way that thieves get into auto.
  
• Make sure to park your vehicle in a well-lighted area, don’t leave the windows open. And don’t leave the car running. And when your vehicle is parked, don’t leave valuables in the car.
  
• If your Honda model has a built-in immobilizer, then you’re in luck. But if that’s not the case, you can have one installed for additional security.
  
• You can also install a steering wheel lock. While these aren’t foolproof, they discourage thieves. A thief will most likely move away from your vehicle if they encounter a lock on the wheel then try to crack it.

Why Honda Civic get stolen so often?

Conclusion

Honda Civic is vulnerable to theft because they’re standard vehicles and their corpus has a higher resale value.

It’s also easier to try and sell Honda spare parts than most other company’s body part. That is the reason why so many Honda Civic is stolen every year.

And while it is relatively uncomplicated to break into a Honda, especially the older versions, there are some measures you can take to make your vehicle more secure.