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The number of recreational vehicles reported stolen in the United States dropped sharply in 2025, but recovery remained a major challenge for owners. An analysis from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) found that nearly two-thirds of stolen recreational vehicles were still missing.
Law enforcement agencies recorded 58,957 recreational vehicle thefts during 2025, representing a 20% decline from 2024. The category includes motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and watercraft, according to the NICB.
Despite the lower theft total, about 63% of the vehicles reported stolen were not recovered. The NICB said the likelihood of finding a stolen recreational vehicle depends heavily on how quickly the theft is noticed and reported to authorities.
Recovery is often fastest during the first few weeks. More than half of recovered recreational vehicles are located within two weeks of being reported stolen, making prompt reporting particularly important for owners.
The NICB said recreational vehicles can present attractive targets because many are valuable, portable and kept in locations that may provide limited security. The organization noted that the decline in thefts is encouraging, but the high number of unrecovered vehicles remains a concern for owners.
The findings were released by the NICB on August 3, 2026, as part of its analysis of recreational vehicle theft trends. The organization works with insurers and other industry partners to combat insurance crime and vehicle theft.
For recreational vehicle owners, the figures point to the importance of acting quickly when a theft occurs. Faster reporting can improve the chances of recovery while giving law enforcement more timely information to investigate the missing property.
The image is an illustration created with AI for general context.
Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB)
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