Annual Probability of Carjacking

The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates approximately 110,000 completed and attempted carjackings occur each year in the United States. This translates to an annual risk of about 1 in 3,300 for vehicle owners. Carjacking rates increased significantly during 2020-2022, with some cities reporting increases of 50-100%, though rates have begun declining in most areas.

Carjacking differs from regular auto theft in that the vehicle owner is present and often threatened with force. About 74% of carjackings involve the use of a weapon (primarily firearms). Victims are physically injured in about 32% of incidents. The vast majority of carjackings occur in urban areas, with parking lots, gas stations, and residential driveways being the most common locations.

Perpetrators tend to be young males (about 90% male, median age 21). About 65% of carjacked vehicles are recovered, though often with damage. Prevention strategies include maintaining awareness of surroundings (especially when entering and exiting your vehicle), keeping doors locked and windows up, leaving space between your car and the vehicle ahead at stops, not resisting if confronted (no vehicle is worth your life), and avoiding high-risk areas at night.