Most Stolen Cars in the UK 2026, and the Latest Car Theft Statistics

The most stolen car in the UK in 2026 so far is the Nissan Juke Tekna CVT. 197 were stolen between 1 January and 30 June 2026, according to Tempcover’s analysis of DVLA data. Across the whole of 2025, the most stolen model was the Ford Fiesta, with 3,511 thefts. In England and Wales, police recorded 115,299 thefts of a motor vehicle in the year to June 2026: about 316 a day (ONS, published 22 October 2026).

Below are the latest official figures: which cars are taken, how many, when and where, the London boroughs and Home Counties with the most thefts, and what actually stops it, from key pouches to driveway bollards. Every number links to its source at the end of the page.

UK car theft statistics 2026: the key numbers

• 115,299 thefts of a motor vehicle recorded by police in England and Wales in the year to June 2026, down 3.4% on the year before (ONS).

• 149,287 thefts from a vehicle in the same year, down 8.6%. All vehicle offences together: 312,231, down 7% (ONS).

• 90,509 vehicles of all types stolen across the UK in 2025, down from 102,169 in 2024 (DVLA records).

• 30,892 vehicles stolen in London in the year to June 2026: about 85 a day, and more than a quarter of all thefts in England and Wales (Home Office data).

• 75% of car thefts happen in the evening or overnight, and 67% at or near the owner’s home (Crime Survey for England and Wales).

• 93% of the vehicles Tracker recovered between January and October 2025 had been stolen without their keys (Tracker).

• £142 million paid out on theft-related motor insurance claims in just three months (July to September 2025): about £1.5 million a day (ABI).

Most stolen cars in the UK in 2026 (January to June)

Tempcover analysed DVLA records for cars stolen between 1 January and 30 June 2026. Its list ranks exact versions of each car rather than whole models:

1. Nissan Juke Tekna CVT: 197 thefts

2. Toyota C-HR Dynamic HEV CVT: 160 thefts

Both are higher-spec versions, and higher-spec trims usually come with keyless entry and push-button start: the kind of car relay thieves look for (see how keyless theft works). Hybrids and electric cars are also climbing the list: four fully electric cars made the top 20 for the first half of 2026, when none did in 2025.

Most stolen cars in the UK in 2025 (full year)

What Car? analysed DVLA data for the whole of 2025. 54,830 cars were stolen, 11% fewer than in 2024. These were the ten most stolen models:

These lists count thefts, so the most common cars on the road rank high partly because there are so many of them. What stands out is the higher-value keyless SUVs in the top ten, such as the Toyota RAV4, Lexus NX and Range Rover Evoque, which are far less common than a Fiesta or a Golf.

How many cars are stolen in the UK?

Police in England and Wales recorded 115,299 thefts of a motor vehicle in the year ending June 2026, down 3.4% from 119,371 the year before. Thefts from vehicles (things taken from inside) fell 8.6% to 149,287. Together with other vehicle crime, that makes 312,231 vehicle offences, 7% fewer than a year earlier.

Not every theft is reported to the police, so the Crime Survey for England and Wales asks households directly. It estimates 608,000 vehicle-related thefts in the same year, including 77,000 thefts of vehicles. The ONS notes that none of the year-on-year changes in the survey is statistically significant: car theft is falling slowly, not disappearing.

DVLA records, which cover the whole UK and every type of vehicle (including vans, motorbikes and scooters), show 90,509 vehicles stolen in 2025, down from 102,169 in 2024.

How cars are stolen: keyless theft

Most modern cars have keyless entry, and thieves no longer need your key. A relay device picks up the signal from your key inside the house and passes it to the car, which unlocks and starts. The car can be gone in a minute or two.

• 93% of the vehicles Tracker recovered between January and October 2025 had been stolen without their keys (Tracker, November 2025). That covers cars fitted with a Tracker, not every theft.

• In the official Crime Survey, the thief manipulated the signal from the car’s remote locking in 47% of car thefts in the year to March 2025, up from 13% in 2018/19, the first year the survey asked. (The survey interviews a sample of households, so this rests on a small number of thefts and moves around from year to year.)

We explain how relay theft works, and how to stop it, in our guide to preventing keyless car theft.

When and where cars are stolen

The Crime Survey for England and Wales asks victims when and where their car was taken (latest figures: year ending March 2025):

• 75% of car thefts happened in the evening or overnight, and 39% between midnight and 6am.

• 67% happened at or near the owner’s home.

• 37% were taken from a driveway or another space on the owner’s property.

In other words, the most likely time and place for your car to be stolen is at night, from outside your own house: exactly where a driveway security post works.

London car theft statistics

London has the highest rate of car theft in the country. The Metropolitan Police recorded 30,892 thefts of a motor vehicle in the year to June 2026, down 5.5% on the year before. That’s about 85 a day, more than a quarter of all vehicle thefts in England and Wales, and 3.4 for every 1,000 Londoners.

The boroughs with the most thefts of a motor vehicle between October 2025 and September 2026 were:

Outer boroughs with lots of houses, driveways and family cars top the list, not central London.

Car theft in Essex, Kent, Hertfordshire and Surrey

Car theft is falling faster around London than in the capital itself, but thousands of cars are still taken every year. Thefts of a motor vehicle in the year to June 2026, by police force:

Essex has the highest rate of the four, at 2.4 thefts for every 1,000 people.

What car theft costs

Insurers paid out £142 million on theft-related claims between July and September 2025 alone, about £1.5 million a day (Association of British Insurers). The ABI put the average theft claim at £11,200 at the end of 2024. Those costs feed into everyone’s premiums, and a theft can also mean a higher premium for you when you renew.

Getting a stolen car back is far from certain. In the Crime Survey for the year to March 2025, only about one in four stolen vehicles (26%) was returned to its owner. Many are broken up for parts: Tracker and the police shut down a record 78 illegal “chop shops” in 2025.

What’s changing in 2026

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 became law on 29 April 2026. It creates a new offence of possessing or supplying devices used to steal vehicles, such as relay boxes, key programmers and signal jammers, with up to five years in prison. As of 22 October 2026, that part of the Act is still waiting for a start date from the government.

The new law will help the police, but it won’t stop a thief who already has the kit. Protecting the car itself still matters.

How to protect your car in 2026: four layers

No single product stops every theft. The cars that don’t get taken are the ones that are slow, noisy and awkward to steal. Stack these four layers:

1. Stop it being driven away. A locked driveway security post in front of the car means that even if a thief gets in and starts it, they can’t drive it off the drive.

2. Block the key signal. Keep keyless fobs in a signal-blocking pouch, away from doors and windows. See do Faraday pouches work?

3. Make it harder to start and steer. A PIN immobiliser or a steering wheel lock adds time and noise. See bollards vs Ghost immobilisers and do steering wheel locks work?

4. Make it easier to recover. A tracker won’t stop a theft, but it gives the police a location if one happens.

Why a driveway security bollard works

Two-thirds of car thefts happen at or near the owner’s home, and three-quarters in the evening or overnight. A driveway security bollard deals with exactly that moment: even if a thief unlocks and starts your car with a relay device, a locked steel post in front of it means it can’t be driven off the drive.

Telescopic security posts are the most popular choice because:

1. They’re a physical barrier that can’t be hacked or bypassed electronically

2. They protect any car, whatever its make, model or key system

3. They’re visible, so thieves can see the car isn’t an easy target

4. They drop flush with your drive when you need to drive out

5. They need no changes to the car itself

For homes in the areas above, from Enfield and Bromley to Essex and Surrey, Wentworth Protection supplies and fits driveway security bollards through our vetted local installers. For more ways to protect your home and car, read our five ideas to secure your driveway.

Where these numbers come from

We use official figures wherever they exist, and say who produced every other number:

• Police recorded crime and Crime Survey totals: ONS, Crime in England and Wales: year ending June 2026 (appendix tables), published 22 October 2026.

• London and Home Counties by police force: ONS police force area tables, year ending June 2026. Rates per 1,000 people are our own calculation from these figures.

• London boroughs: Metropolitan Police recorded crime, London Datastore (October 2025 to September 2026).

• When, where, keyless method and recovery: ONS, Nature of crime: vehicle-related theft, year ending March 2025 (the latest edition).

• Most stolen cars in 2026: Tempcover’s analysis of DVLA data, 1 January to 30 June 2026, as reported in September 2026.

• Most stolen cars in 2025: What Car?’s analysis of DVLA data, reported by Car Dealer Magazine, February 2026.

• Keyless thefts: Tracker, November 2025. Chop shops: Tracker, 2026.

• Insurance claims: ABI, November 2025 and ABI, February 2025.

• The new law: Crime and Policing Act 2026, legislation.gov.uk.

We’ll update this page when new figures come out.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most stolen car in the UK in 2026?

So far in 2026 it’s the Nissan Juke Tekna CVT: 197 were stolen between 1 January and 30 June, ahead of the Toyota C-HR Dynamic HEV (160), according to Tempcover’s analysis of DVLA data. Over the whole of 2025, the most stolen model was the Ford Fiesta, with 3,511 thefts.

How many cars are stolen in the UK each year?

Police in England and Wales recorded 115,299 thefts of a motor vehicle in the year to June 2026, about 316 a day and 3.4% fewer than the year before (ONS). DVLA records show 90,509 vehicles of all types stolen across the UK in 2025, down from 102,169 in 2024.

What time of day are most cars stolen?

At night. In the Crime Survey for England and Wales (year to March 2025), 75% of car thefts happened in the evening or overnight, and 39% between midnight and 6am.

Where are most cars stolen from?

From home. 67% of car thefts happened at or near the owner’s home, and 37% from a driveway or another space on the property (Crime Survey for England and Wales, year to March 2025).

Which London borough has the most car thefts?

Enfield, with 1,839 thefts of a motor vehicle between October 2025 and September 2026, followed by Newham (1,775), Croydon (1,682), Barnet (1,568) and Bromley (1,455) (Metropolitan Police data).

Is it illegal to own a relay box or key programmer?

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 creates an offence of possessing or supplying devices used to steal vehicles, such as relay boxes and key programmers, with up to five years in prison. As of 22 October 2026, that part of the Act is waiting for a start date.

Does car insurance cover theft?

Comprehensive insurance policies usually cover theft; third-party-only policies usually don’t. Always check your own policy details.

Can I install security bollards if I rent my property?

You’ll need your landlord’s permission before any bollard is fitted, because it’s set into the drive.