Rising Cost of Parts Fuels Interest of Car Thieves

DES PLAINES, Ill., Feb. 15, 2018 — If you own a late model car or truck, and you’ve been in a wreck, you may still be shaking your head over the repair bill. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) says today’s vehicles are loaded with expensive parts and technology that increase the costs of repairs, even in what may be considered a minor accident.
 
And those expensive parts will continue to drive car thefts as criminals steal cars and trucks to strip them and sell the parts on the black market.
 
Thefts of vehicles in the U.S. rose again last year by more than 4 percent, according to preliminary 2017 crime data from the FBI. Many of the vehicles that are recovered are missing wheels and rims or other key parts, while ones that are never recovered end up in chop shops where they are quickly dismantled and sold piece by piece.
 
The NICB looked at the cost of replacement parts for the top 10 stolen 2016 models. Average original equipment manufacturer (OEM) part prices were pulled from a database of over 24 million vehicle damage appraisals generated for insurance claims from 2016 and 2017. Parts such as bumpers, doors, fenders, hoods and headlights were on the list. Major components like the engine and transmission were not included.
 
See our video here. Download an infographic here.

The 2016 Toyota Camry, the most stolen 2016 model in our latest Hot Wheels report, had 15 commonly replaced components valued at nearly $11,000. That’s not including labor.
 
2016 Camry Part Component
Bumper cover
Avg OEM Part Cost$230    
Total$230
Headlamp assembly
Avg OEM Part Cost$287    
Total$575
Bumper cover
Avg OEM Part Cost$304    
Total$304
Grille assembly
Avg OEM Part Cost$265    
Total$265
Fender    
Avg OEM Part Cost$217    
Total$434
Rear body panel
Avg OEM Part Cost$442    
Total$442
Hood    
Avg OEM Part Cost$544    
Total$544
Door shell
Avg OEM Part Cost$797    
Total$1,593
Fender liner
Avg OEM Part Cost$109    
Total$218
Tail lamp assembly
Avg OEM Part Cost$169    
Total$338
Trunk lid
Avg OEM Part Cost$707    
Total$707
Wheel, alloy
Avg OEM Part Cost$411    
Total$1,642
Door shell
Avg OEM Part Cost$717    
Total$1,434
Quarter panel
Avg OEM Part Cost$856    
Total$1,712
Body side molding
Avg OEM Part Cost$128    
Total$257
Total Cost of Parts
Avg OEM Part Cost 
Total$10,695
2016 Camry Part Component Avg OEM Part Cost Total
Bumper cover $230     $230
Headlamp assembly $287     $575
Bumper cover $304     $304
Grille assembly $265     $265
Fender     $217     $434
Rear body panel $442     $442
Hood     $544     $544
Door shell $797     $1,593
Fender liner $109     $218
Tail lamp assembly $169     $338
Trunk lid $707     $707
Wheel, alloy $411     $1,642
Door shell $717     $1,434
Quarter panel $856     $1,712
Body side molding $128     $257
Total Cost of Parts   $10,695

 

 
The 2016 Nissan Altima had 14 standard components worth more than $14,000, including a single headlamp assembly valued at more than $1,000.
 
2016 Altima Part Component
Bumper cover
Avg OEM Part Cost$419    
Total$419
Bumper cover
Avg OEM Part Cost$393    
Total$393
Fender    
Avg OEM Part Cost$363    
Total$726
Headlamp assembly
Avg OEM Part Cost$1,013    
Total$2,027
Combo lamp assembly
Avg OEM Part Cost$237    
Total$473
Rear body panel
Avg OEM Part Cost$480    
Total$480
Hood    
Avg OEM Part Cost$631    
Total$631
Trunk lid
Avg OEM Part Cost$697    
Total$697
Wheel, alloy
Avg OEM Part Cost$436    
Total$1,745
Quarter panel
Avg OEM Part Cost$886    
Total$1,772
Door shell
Avg OEM Part Cost$875    
Total$1,751
Door shell
Avg OEM Part Cost$811    
Total$1,623
Outer panel
Avg OEM Part Cost$359    
Total$717
Outer panel
Avg OEM Part Cost$391    
Total$782
Total Cost of Parts
Avg OEM Part Cost 
Total$14,236
2016 Altima Part Component Avg OEM Part Cost Total
Bumper cover $419     $419
Bumper cover $393     $393
Fender     $363     $726
Headlamp assembly $1,013     $2,027
Combo lamp assembly $237     $473
Rear body panel $480     $480
Hood     $631     $631
Trunk lid $697     $697
Wheel, alloy $436     $1,745
Quarter panel $886     $1,772
Door shell $875     $1,751
Door shell $811     $1,623
Outer panel $359     $717
Outer panel $391     $782
Total Cost of Parts   $14,236

 

 
And the 2016 GMC Sierra pickup truck included a $1,100 headlamp and a rear bumper worth more than $1,100. The 20 standard components rang in at more than $21,000.
 
2016 GMC Sierra Part Component
Headlamp assembly
Avg OEM Part Cost$1,144    
Total$2,289
Step pad
Avg OEM Part Cost$246    
Total$246
Body side molding
Avg OEM Part Cost$81    
Total$163
Wheel, alloy
Avg OEM Part Cost$593    
Total$2,373
Fender    
Avg OEM Part Cost$593    
Total$1,185
Bumper assembly
Avg OEM Part Cost$1,133    
Total$1,133
Grille    
Avg OEM Part Cost$761    
Total$761
Rear bumper
Avg OEM Part Cost$824    
Total$824
Outer panel
Avg OEM Part Cost$630    
Total$630
Tail lamp assembly
Avg OEM Part Cost$408    
Total$817
Bumper    
Avg OEM Part Cost$995    
Total$995
Fender liner
Avg OEM Part Cost$94    
Total$1,990
Hood    
Avg OEM Part Cost$855    
Total$855
Door shell
Avg OEM Part Cost$721    
Total$1,710
Tail gate
Avg OEM Part Cost$724    
Total$724
Grille assembly
Avg OEM Part Cost$752    
Total$752
Door shell
Avg OEM Part Cost$775    
Total$1,550
Windshield    
Avg OEM Part Cost$412    
Total$412
Outer panel
Avg OEM Part Cost$509    
Total$824
Outer panel
Avg OEM Part Cost$549    
Total$1,099
Total Cost of Parts
Avg OEM Part Cost 
Total$21,332
2016 GMC Sierra Part Component Avg OEM Part Cost Total
Headlamp assembly $1,144     $2,289
Step pad $246     $246
Body side molding $81     $163
Wheel, alloy $593     $2,373
Fender     $593     $1,185
Bumper assembly $1,133     $1,133
Grille     $761     $761
Rear bumper $824     $824
Outer panel $630     $630
Tail lamp assembly $408     $817
Bumper     $995     $995
Fender liner $94     $1,990
Hood     $855     $855
Door shell $721     $1,710
Tail gate $724     $724
Grille assembly $752     $752
Door shell $775     $1,550
Windshield     $412     $412
Outer panel $509     $824
Outer panel $549     $1,099
Total Cost of Parts   $21,332

 

 
“For the professional theft ring, stealing and stripping vehicles for parts has always been a lucrative business,” said NICB Senior Vice President and COO Jim Schweitzer. “On today’s cars and trucks, the parts are often worth more than the intact vehicle and may be easier to move and sell. That’s why we see so many thefts of key items like wheels and tires and tailgates ... there’s always a market for them.
 
“We support law enforcement efforts, especially the auto theft task forces that focus on these kinds of theft rings. Shutting down a theft ring and a chop shop can have a major impact on reducing thefts in a community.”

Anyone with information concerning insurance fraud or vehicle theft can report it by calling toll-free 800.TEL.NICB (800.835.6422) or submitting a form on our website.

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to combatting and preventing insurance crime through Intelligence, Analytics, and Operations; Education and Crime Prevention; and Strategy, Policy, and Advocacy. The NICB is supported by more than 1,200 property-casualty insurers, self-insureds, rental car, vehicle finance, and auto auctions. To learn more, visit www.nicb.org.