Where are the most cars stolen in the UK?

Last Updated: 5 November 2025
Read time: 8 minutes

Written by: Stephen Gamble
Insurance PR Writer

Reviewed by: Katie Gawley

Written in line with our Editorial Guidelines

The West Midlands had the highest rate of vehicle theft in the UK in 2025

Figures compiled by our motoring insurance experts at Quotezone show there were 384,433 vehicle thefts across the country in the three-year period between April 2022 and March 2025.

When adjusted for population, West Midlands emerged as the police force area where drivers were most likely to have their vehicle stolen, with 1,451 offences per 100,000 residents.

Greater London was the second hardest hit region, with the Metropolitan Police recording 1,117 vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents.

Unsurprisingly, residents in rural areas are significantly less likely to experience this type of crime than those in densely populated cities, with Norfolk and Suffolk ranking as the safest areas to own a vehicle at just 43 and 68 thefts per 100,000 people respectively.

Top 10 worst areas for vehicle theft in the UK

Vehicle theft rates across UK police force areas

Vehicle theft trends in the UK

Vehicle theft in the UK is now 75% higher than it was a decade ago.

This is driven in large part by the emergence of organised crime groups using sophisticated methods to steal vehicles for parts or ship them abroad.¹

Police forces have stepped up their efforts to combat these criminal gangs through targeted operations. Recently, the ringleaders of a gang who stole 107 high-value vehicles worth more than £2m were jailed², while another four men were convicted of stealing over 40 vehicles across Birmingham and Solihull.³

On an encouraging note, overall vehicle thefts across the UK have dropped by six per cent year-on-year, down from 130,379 in 2023/24 to 122,502 in the most recent 12-month period.

The impact on victims of car theft

But while police have had some success in disrupting these criminal networks, the reality for most victims of vehicle crime is that their property is never recovered. This can have lasting financial repercussions for drivers, including:

• Higher insurance premiums
• Loss of their no-claims discount 
• The cost impact of replacing any personal belongings that may not be covered by insurance.

Motorists have been urged not to become complacent and to take steps to protect their vehicles against thieves, especially if they live in areas with high crime rates.

If you have experienced an increase in your car insurance costs following a theft, you could find cheaper deals when you compare car insurance at Quotezone.

Hear from our experts

“While it is positive to see a drop in the overall number of vehicles thefts in the UK over the last year, it is worrying to see just how prevalent thefts are in certain regions.

“Organised crime gangs are increasingly targeting high-end or newer models to meet demand for luxury parts or to smuggle the vehicle out of the country. Many modern cars are also vulnerable to keyless theft, which can make them more attractive to these criminal groups.

“It is no coincidence that drivers who live in vehicle crime hotspots such as the West Midlands, London and South Yorkshire are also facing the most expensive car insurance premiums in the UK on average, as insurers may take these higher risk locations into account as one of the rating factors when reviewing premium costs. 

“While there isn’t much drivers can do about their location, there are some precautions they can take to make their vehicle less of a target to would-be thieves and help reduce the cost of insurance.”

– Greg Wilson, CEO and car insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk

Five tips to help prevent vehicle crime

1. Park somewhere safe

Parking in a garage or on a private driveway may be enough to deter opportunistic criminals and could help lower insurance premiums, as providers could factor in the lower risk. In fact, data suggests drivers can save over £140 on average each year by parking on a driveway compared to a public road.⁴

2. Beware keyless theft

Tech-savvy criminals can use specialist equipment to hack open and start a vehicle if the key fob is nearby. To prevent these relay attacks at home, make sure the fob is not stored near any doors or windows, making it harder for thieves to capture its signal. For added peace of mind, consider storing the fob in a signal-blocking security pouch.⁵

3. Consider extra security

Upgrading a factory-fitted immobiliser to an advanced or ‘ghost’ immobiliser can protect vehicles against the most sophisticated theft techniques, including key cloning, hacking or relay attacks.⁶

4. Visual deterrents

Steering wheel locks and wheel clamps are a simple and affordable way to make vehicles less appealing targets to opportunistic thieves, who rely on a quick getaway.

5. Keep valuables out of sight

While it may seem obvious, one of the easiest ways to prevent vehicle crime is to remove the temptation for criminals. Don’t leave any belongings on display – even a shopping bag on the back seat or loose change in the cup holder could be enough to pique a thief’s interest.

UK Motor vehicle theft data

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References:
¹https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/occasional-papers/organised-vehicle-theft-uk
²https://news.sky.com/story/ringleaders-of-car-theft-gang-who-stole-more-than-2m-worth-of-cars-are-jailed-13447703
³https://www.westmidlands.police.uk/news/west-midlands/news/news/2025/september/four-convicted-for-stealing-dozens-of-cars-across-birmingham-and-solihull/
⁴https://www.quotezone.co.uk/car-insurance/guides/save-on-young-driver-costs
⁵https://www.psni.police.uk/safety-and-support/roads-and-driving/preventing-car-and-vehicle-theft
⁶https://www.carwow.co.uk/editorial/automotive-glossary/car-technology-and-equipment/ghost-immobiliser#gref
⁷https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/police-recorded-crime-and-outcomes-open-data-tables#police-record-crime-open-data-police-force-area-tables;
⁸https://www.gov.scot/publications/recorded-crime-scotland-2024-25/pages/crimes-of-dishonesty/

This article is intended as generic information only and is not intended to apply to anybody’s specific circumstances, demands or needs. The views expressed are not intended to provide any financial service or to give any recommendation or advice. Products and services are only mentioned for illustrative rather than promotional purposes.