Key takeaway: U.S. roads produced about 6.18 million police-reported crashes in 2024, and many of those vehicles are repaired and resold. Add more than 450,000 cars sold each year with false odometer readings and 659,880 vehicles stolen in 2025, and a meaningful share of used cars carry a history the seller may not mention. This page collects the latest official numbers, each linked to its source. Last updated: October 2026.
Key statistics at a glance
6.18 million police-reported crashes in the U.S. in 2024 (NHTSA)
2.42 million people injured in traffic crashes in 2024 (NHTSA)
36,640 traffic deaths in 2025, early estimate, down 6.7% from 2024 (NHTSA)
450,000+ vehicles sold each year with false odometer readings (NHTSA)
$1 billion+ lost by U.S. car buyers to odometer fraud each year (NHTSA)
659,880 vehicles stolen in 2025, down 23.2% from 2024 (NICB)
How many cars are in accidents each year?
NHTSA estimates there were 6,180,241 police-reported traffic crashes in 2024, up 0.7% from 6,138,474 in 2023. Most were property-damage-only crashes, the kind where the car is repaired and later sold without the buyer ever seeing the damage.
| Measure | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police-reported crashes | 6,138,474 | 6,180,241 | +0.7% |
| Fatal crashes | 37,769 | 36,297 | -3.9% |
| People injured | 2.44 million | 2.42 million | Down slightly |
Source: NHTSA, Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2024.
What this means for used car buyers
Police reports are one of the main ways a crash reaches a vehicle history report. Crashes that were never reported to police or insurance, and repairs paid in cash, often do not appear on any report. That is why a clean history report should be paired with a pre-purchase inspection.
Traffic deaths: the latest numbers
NHTSA's early estimate puts 2025 traffic deaths at 36,640, a 6.7% drop from 39,254 in 2024. The 2025 figure is an early estimate and will be revised when final data is published.
| Year | Traffic deaths | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 42,514 | Final |
| 2023 | 40,901 | Final |
| 2024 | 39,254 | Annual report file |
| 2025 | 36,640 | Early estimate |
Source: NHTSA Crash Stats.
Odometer fraud statistics
NHTSA estimates more than 450,000 vehicles are sold every year with false odometer readings, costing American buyers more than $1 billion annually. Digital odometers have not ended the problem, because they can be reprogrammed with the right tools.
- A rolled-back car is overpriced at sale, because mileage drives value.
- Hidden mileage means worn parts the buyer did not budget for.
- Federal law treats odometer tampering as a crime, and each altered odometer counts as a separate violation.
The best defense is a report with many dated mileage readings. Each title transfer, inspection and service visit adds a data point, and a reading that goes backwards is a red flag. Source: NHTSA, Odometer Fraud.
Vehicle theft statistics
The National Insurance Crime Bureau counted 659,880 vehicle thefts in 2025, down 23.2% from 850,708 in 2024. That is 190,828 fewer thefts and the lowest total in several decades. Stolen vehicles that are recovered can return to the market, sometimes with altered VINs or washed titles.
| Most stolen vehicles in 2025 | Reported thefts |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra | 21,732 |
| Honda Accord | 17,797 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 17,687 |
| Theft fact (2025) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total vehicles stolen | 659,880 |
| Change from 2024 | -23.2% |
| State with the most thefts | California, 136,988 (over 20% of the U.S. total) |
| Hyundai and Kia share of thefts | 14%, down from 16% in 2024 and 21% in 2023 |
Source: NICB, U.S. Vehicle Thefts Experience Historic Decline. You can run a free theft and salvage check with NICB VINCheck.
Salvage, flood and branded titles
When an insurer declares a car a total loss, the state title is usually branded salvage. After repair it may be retitled as rebuilt or reconstructed. Flood, junk and lemon brands work the same way. All U.S. states report these brands to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), run by the U.S. Department of Justice.
| Title brand | What it means | Risk to a buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Salvage | Declared a total loss by an insurer | Cannot be legally driven in most states until rebuilt and inspected |
| Rebuilt or reconstructed | Salvage car repaired and passed a state inspection | Lower resale value, repair quality varies, some insurers limit coverage |
| Flood | Water damage reported | Corrosion and electrical faults can appear months later |
| Lemon or buyback | Returned to the maker under lemon laws | Recurring defect that may not be fully fixed |
| Junk | Only fit for parts or scrap | Should not be on the road |
Title washing happens when a branded car is moved and retitled in a state with weaker rules, so the brand disappears from the paper title. A history report that shows registrations across several states is the main way to catch it. Source: NMVTIS, U.S. Department of Justice.
How to check a used car's history
Use free tools first, then a full report on the car you are serious about.
- Decode the VIN with the free NHTSA VIN decoder and confirm it matches the car's year, make and engine.
- Check open recalls on NHTSA's recall lookup.
- Run NICB VINCheck for theft and insurance total loss records.
- Pull a full vehicle history report for accidents, title brands, mileage readings, owners and service records. CarfaxDeals sells the official Carfax report for $7.99.
- Book a pre-purchase inspection with an independent mechanic.
See what the seller did not tell you
Accidents, title brands, mileage readings and service history in one official Carfax report, for $7.99.
Frequently asked questions
How many car accidents happen in the U.S. each year?
NHTSA estimates 6,180,241 police-reported crashes in 2024. The real total is higher, because many minor crashes are never reported to police.
How many people die in car accidents each year?
NHTSA's early estimate for 2025 is 36,640 traffic deaths, down 6.7% from 39,254 in 2024.
How common is odometer fraud?
NHTSA estimates more than 450,000 vehicles are sold each year with false odometer readings, costing buyers over $1 billion annually.
How many cars were stolen in 2025?
NICB counted 659,880 vehicle thefts in 2025, a 23.2% drop from 850,708 in 2024.
Does every accident show up on a vehicle history report?
No. Reports rely on police, insurance, repair shop and state records. A crash that was never reported or was repaired privately for cash may not appear, which is why an inspection still matters.
Methodology and sources
Every figure on this page comes from a government agency or a recognized industry body and is linked above. We use the most recent year each source has published and label early estimates as such. This page is reviewed when NHTSA or NICB release new data.
Sources
Cite this page
You are welcome to use these statistics. Please credit the original source and link to this page: CarfaxDeals, "Used Car Accident and Damage Statistics," https://carfaxdeals.com/used-car-accident-statistics.