No matter where you live, there’s always a chance that your car could get stolen. While car theft is not particularly common, it can happen anywhere, from rural driveways to busy city streets. Between your insurance and the

police

, you can usually handle a car theft pretty easily to make sure you’re back on the road in no time.

Of course, car theft is more common in some areas than in others. In general, car theft is a lot more common in metropolitan areas, for example. Thankfully, there's a wealth of car theft to work with, so it’s easy to see in which states you have the greatest chance of having your vehicle stolen. It may not be enough to dictate where you live, but it’s worth knowing.

So, here's everything you need to know about the worst places to own a car, thanks to

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Jerry

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Washington, D.C.

Washington D.C. tops this list of worst states for stolen cars. And while the nation’s capital isn’t technically a state, it’s still included here because it is far and away the leader for vehicle theft. So if you live in Washington D.C., be sure to have a strong insurance plan and don’t keep your valuables in the vehicle.

Washington

Washington isn’t exactly known as a crime-heavy state, which makes its place on this list rather surprising to many. But both Seattle and Spokane have very high car theft rates, and these two metropolitan areas make up a large percentage of the state’s population. Washington may be a laid-back, peaceful place most of the time, but not when it comes to automotive burglary.

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California

California is bursting with metropolitan areas, so it’s no surprise that the nation’s most populous state is high on this list. California has a whopping six cities (Modesto, San Francisco, Bakersfield, Stockton, Fresno, and San Jose) that are among the top 10 metropolitan areas for car theft. Those areas are enough to land California near the top of this list of the worst states for stolen cars.

Nevada

Nevada has a high rate of car thefts. Given the number of tourists that come to the area, it’s no surprise that burglars pounce on the opportunity to steal a car.

New Mexico

New Mexico is adjacent to Mexico, which is the primary reason why it's among the worst states for stolen cars. With the border so close by and accessible, thieves can steal cars, take them across country lines and into a new jurisdiction, and sell the vehicles before they’re caught. This is why New Mexico is in fifth place on this list, and Albuquerque second behind only Washington D.C. for metropolitan areas most vulnerable to car theft.

MORE:

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Hawaii

Just as with Nevada, Hawaii’s elevated auto theft rates are due to the large number of tourists that come to the state.

MORE: What city has the highest rate of stolen cars?

Oklahoma

Oklahoma has its fair share of car thefts. And though car theft rates have declined in recent years, it's still not the safest place to be if you want your car to stay safe.

Missouri

A large factor in Missouri's car thefts is the fact that the state's largest city, Kansas City, is right near the border of another state.

South Carolina

South Carolina may seem like an easygoing state, but not so much when it comes to car theft!

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Georgia

Atlanta is a city, so it’s not too surprising that Georgia rounds out the top 10. Car theft is fairly common in Atlanta, and Georgia’s other big cities (Columbus and Savannah) are directly adjacent to the state border.

No matter where you live, there’s a chance that your vehicle could be stolen, so always be careful and keep your car in a secure environment.

And if something does go awry, look into

car insurance

comparison and broker app

Jerry

for the best package for you. If you want to save money on car insurance, the Jerry app is a good place to start. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding the cheapest quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.

And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price.

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