Ford fiesta, Volkswagen Golf and BMW 3 series among the most stolen cars in the UK

• Further research finds that almost 1 in 5 (18%) motorists have had their car stolen before, equating to 7,608,568 UK drivers¹.
• More cars were stolen from streets outside the victim’s home (28%) than any other location.
• With car thefts affecting so many drivers, Confused.com has launched a probability tool, where you can find out how likely the car you’re considering purchasing is to be stolen.
• Rhydian Jones, car insurance expert at Confused.com shares advice on car theft prevention, and what to do if you need to make a claim.

The Ford Fiesta is a firm favourite among drivers, with around 1.5 million on UK roads². However, it’s also the most targeted car by thieves, new data reveals³.

The data, released by Confused.com, highlights the number of stolen vehicles over the past 5 years, with certain models and areas facing a significantly higher risk.

In total, 10,346 thefts of Ford Fiesta have been reported since January 2018, according to car theft claims declared through Confused.com. This averages around 2,000 thefts per year, making it the most targeted car in the UK. Volkswagen Golf follows, with a total of 9,526 thefts over the same period, and BMW 3 Series ranks third with a total of 9,148 thefts.

However, the most targeted cars can vary by area of the UK. For example, in London, the BMW X6 is the most stolen car. Yet in Birmingham, a Ford Fiesta tops the list as the most reported stolen vehicle in the past 5 years. The UK cities with the most stolen cars include:

With so many drivers falling victim to car thefts, Confused.com has launched a new tool which shows the likelihood of a car being stolen, based on the make, model and variant. This allows users to input the car they own, or are considering buying, and receive an estimate of its theft risk. Armed with this knowledge, car buyers can make more informed decisions about their purchases.

In total, more than 250,000 thefts of cars have been reported in the past 5 years, according to Confused.com’s data. But the issue goes back further than this, as research found that almost 1 in 5 (18%) UK drivers have experienced car theft in the past - equivalent to 7,608,568 motorists².

And according to the research by Confused.com, thieves aren’t always being particularly cautious with their methods, which suggests anyone could be at risk. In fact, more cars were stolen from streets outside the victim’s home (28%) than any other location, followed by their driveway (15%). And it seems thieves are using a range of methods to successfully steal cars. Almost 1 in 4 (23%) stolen cars were hot-wired, 1 in 4 (22%) had their windows smashed and unfortunately 1 in 10 (10%) had their house broken into to steal the keys.

But it’s not all bad news as almost 9 in 10 (87%) of those who had their cars stolen said it was retrieved. Almost 2 in 3 (62%) said the police found it and 15% said they found it themselves. And technology clearly plays a role. Over 1 in ten (14%) said they had security footage that showed the car being stolen, either from their own devices or their neighbours. A further 12% said they had a tracker on their car when it was stolen, which enabled them to find where it had been taken to.

It shows that having additional security pays. And as we head further into the winter season, getting closer to the clocks coming forward, drivers are being reminded to use car theft prevention devices. However, worryingly 28% of drivers admit they don’t use any additional security on their car.

But for those taking extra precautions, the most popular were found to be steering locks (19%), GPS trackers (17%), parking in a garage (17%) and putting car keys in a faraday pouch (12%). One in 10 also said they use a car key signal blocker as keyless car theft seems to be on the rise.

But it isn’t just the stress of having their car stolen which affects victims. In fact many were also left with significant financial burdens. Whilst the majority of cars are returned, almost 9 in 10 (87%) said their cars were returned damaged. On average, drivers had to spend £364 to repair damages and £671 to top up the cost of a new car.

With car thefts having such a significant impact on victims, it’s important that drivers are considering extra measures to keep their car as secure as possible - especially if their car is among the most targeted by thieves.

Rhydian Jones, motoring expert at Confused.com car insurance, comments:

“Having your car stolen is a stress on both your life and your living costs too. And with general car insurance costs at extreme highs, the impact of having your car stolen is proving to be a burden on drivers and the price they pay for their car insurance.

“That’s why it’s important that drivers do all they can to protect their cars from thieves. And there are many ways to do this. These include:

• Checking your car is locked – it might sound like an obvious one, but especially with more modern cars having keyless locking systems, it can be easy to forget to double check or lock your car in the first place. It will also impact your claim if your car is stolen and you’re not sure if you locked it or not.
• Hiding valuables in your car – don’t leave any valuables like handbags, tech or money left visible in your car. This could make it more attractive to break into and steal.
• Investing in car security – steering wheel and handbrake locks are effective ways to protect your car from thieves. The brightly coloured locks also act as a visual deterrent.
• Installing a tracking device – although this doesn’t prevent your car from being stolen, it can improve its chances of being recovered.

“Taking measures to protect your car can help ensure that it doesn't become a target. And if you are considering changing your car, our car theft probability calculator will help you determine how likely a car model is to be stolen in your area."

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Notes to editors