Most stolen cars in the UK: the 2026 figures

The Ford Fiesta was the most stolen car in the UK in 2025, followed by the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus. Thefts are falling overall, but newer keyless models like the Toyota RAV4 and Lexus NX are near the top of the list.

The short version

Around 54,000 cars were reported stolen to the DVLA in 2025, down on 2024.
Older Fiestas, Golfs and Focuses top the list, likely stolen for parts.
Newer targets are keyless: the RAV4, C-HR, Lexus NX and Evoque.
In 2024, 58% of vehicle thefts involved the car's remote locking signal.

The 10 most stolen cars in 2025

These are What Car?'s figures from DVLA data, obtained under Freedom of Information. They count every version of each model together.

Ford Fiesta: 3,511 stolen, down from 4,446 in 2024
Volkswagen Golf
Ford Focus
Toyota RAV4
BMW 3 Series
Nissan Juke
Toyota C-HR
Lexus NX
Range Rover Evoque
Vauxhall Corsa

The age of the cars tells two stories. What Car? found 86% of stolen Fiestas were 2008 to 2017 models, while about 95% of stolen RAV4s were 2019 or newer. QuestGates, analysing the same DVLA data, says the top three average around eight years old, which suggests they're taken for parts. The newer cars on the list are mostly keyless models.

Why other lists look different

Tracker's 2025 list, from the same DVLA source, has a Yamaha scooter at number one, followed by vans and pickups like the Ford Transit and Toyota Hilux. That's because it counts each exact variant separately and includes all vehicle types. What Car? groups every version of a car model together. Both are right; they're measuring different things.

How many cars are stolen?

Analysis of DVLA data gives about 54,000 cars stolen in 2025: QuestGates counts 53,629, down 13% on 2024, and What Car? counts 54,830. QuestGates also found more were recovered, at about 45%.

Police in England and Wales recorded 312,250 vehicle offences in the year to March 2026, down 11%, according to the ONS. That figure also includes theft from cars and tampering, not just whole cars taken. Only 2.8% of vehicle offences led to a charge or summons.

Keyless theft

A government minister confirmed in November 2025 that, in the Crime Survey for the year to March 2024, 58% of vehicle thefts involved the thief manipulating the remote locking signal. Tracker says 93% of the vehicles it recovered between January and October 2025 were stolen without their keys.

Car theft near us

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight: 2,327 vehicle thefts in 2025, with 1.8% leading to a charge, according to Home Office data reported in July 2026.
Thames Valley, which covers Berkshire: 3,496 vehicle thefts in the 12 months to August 2025, according to the Police and Crime Commissioner's vehicle crime strategy.
Surrey: 1,551 thefts or unauthorised takings of vehicles in 2025, with 2.2% charged.

For town-by-town figures, see our car crime pages.

Is your car on the list?

If it is, and it sits on a drive overnight, layers help. Keep keys in a tested signal-blocking pouch, away from the front door. Add a physical barrier: a telescopic bollard locked in front of the car stops it being driven off, however the thief got in. Our guide to bollards, Ghost immobilisers and Faraday pouches compares the options.

Questions people ask

What is the most stolen car in the UK? The Ford Fiesta, with 3,511 stolen in 2025 according to DVLA data obtained by What Car?.

Are car thefts going up or down? Down. DVLA data shows fewer cars stolen in 2025 than 2024, and police recorded vehicle offences fell 11% in the year to March 2026.

Why are older cars stolen? Analysis of the DVLA data suggests many older Fiestas, Golfs and Focuses are taken for parts.

Sources

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