The Most Stolen Car Brands and Models

Vehicle theft is on the rise around the world, which is a major cause of concern for many car owners who fear they could be a victim. As experts in comparing car insurance policies, we know that car thefts can affect the cost of car insurance – even though it’s the fault of someone else doing something illegal.

If a particular area has more car thefts than others, then prices for car insurance customers in that neighbourhood can increase. If there is a particular model or brand of car that gets stolen more than others, then that data can lead to higher premiums for customers with the same make and model.

With that in mind, it’s important to know if you’re a potential target of vehicle theft based on the stats in your area and for your car, and how you can take action to help prevent it. Our experts compiled a list of the most commonly stolen car brands around the world, showing where thefts are the most common, and which brands suffer the most often.

Which countries have the highest rate of car theft?

The country with the highest rate of vehicle theft according to our findings is the USA, with 295.50 stolen cars per 100,000 people in 2023. It’s also the country with the highest total thefts annually, as more than 1,000,000 cars were stolen in the same time period.

In terms of states, Colorado is the most common area for vehicle theft incidents, with 731 stolen cars reported per 100,000 people in 2023. The state with the second highest vehicle theft rate was District of Columbia with 700 incidents per 100,000 residents.

Australia is close behind in second place for car thefts, with 252.29 reported stolen cars per 100,000 residents in 2023 – that’s just over 67,000 incidents in one year.

Meanwhile, Italy ranks third for stolen cars, with 221.90 recorded incidents per 100k people over the course of a year. France is fourth with 210.78 thefts per 100k residents, while Greece rounds out the top five countries with 148.25.

Statistically, Hungary was the safest country, recording only 5.80 per 100,000 people (as of 2021). With a population of 9,676,135, only 561 thefts were reported over a year-long period.

Most stolen car brands and models by region

Different parts of the world tend to prefer different manufacturers of cars, so the models being stolen can vary from country to country. Here are the most commonly stolen car brands in major countries around the world, so you can see what’s most at risk in your area:

Australia

The most stolen cars in Australia are from the Holden brand, with 5,539 thefts from the manufacturer recorded in 2021 – more than 1,000 more incidents than the second-most targeted brand. The Holden Commodore VE MY06-13 was the most commonly targeted model for theft, with 898 stolen in 2021. In fact, the Commodore was the most stolen car in Australia for three years running.

With 4,525 models stolen in a year, Toyota was the second most-stolen car brand in Australia. Vehicles from the Hilux range were especially common targets for theft. Ford rounds out the three most commonly stolen brands in the country, with 3,056 cars by the maker being stolen in 2021.

America

In the USA, Hyundai cars make up the two most likely vehicles to be stolen. The Hyundai Elantra was the most targeted model, with 48,445 reported thefts in 2023, followed by the Hyundai Sonata with 42,813 incidents. Kia brands also appear twice in the top five, with the Optima (30,204 thefts) and Soul (21,001 thefts) placing at #3 and #5 respectively.

United Kingdom

The Ford Fiesta was the most likely car to be stolen in the UK in 2024, with 4,446 thefts reported across the country over the course of the year. Volkswagen Golfs were the second most-targeted, with 1,731 incidents in the same time frame, and the Ford Focus ranks as #3 with 1,700 thefts.

The Toyota RAV4 was the most common hybrid car to be stolen in the UK, placing at #4 with 1,260 reported thefts, suggesting it’s not just petrol cars that are at risk.

How to protect your car from theft

Although car theft is becoming more common, there are plenty of ways to protect your vehicle. Here are some of our top tips for keeping thieves at bay:

Lock your doors and keep an eye on your keys

If you’re leaving your car unattended, it’s crucial to always make sure there are no easy entry points for thieves. Lock your vehicle doors, and check that your windows and/or sunroof haven’t been left open. Criminals have their own ways of checking whether cars are unlocked, such as folding wing mirrors on certain models, so always remember to lock up before leaving.

Once you’ve finished making sure your car is safe from entry, store your keys in a safe place where thieves won’t have easy access to them. Leaving your keys in plain sight is a dangerous habit, and keeping them near the front door makes them easy to snatch.

Be aware of risks

Keeping an eye out for possible opportunities to have your car stolen can help you prevent incidents whenever your car is most at risk. Be wary of common thieving tactics, such as carjacking or posing as tow truck crews, and protect your vehicle against them accordingly – you can lock your doors in traffic to stop carjackers stealing your vehicle, and look for suspicious behaviour from tow vehicles such as not wearing uniforms.

Park in safe areas

Parking in poorly-lit areas makes your vehicle a more likely target for thieves, as they’ll be able to conceal their identity more easily. It’s worth driving a little longer to park in a well-lit area where thieves can be seen and stopped, even if it means paying extra for parking or waiting for a space.

Check that your locks are high-quality

Faulty locks can break easily, and thieves will have ways to circumvent their security systems. For the best results, make sure you’ve fitted your vehicle with up-to-date locks to make unwanted entry even harder, and check them frequently to be sure you’re getting the best possible protection.