The most stolen cars in the UK

Don’t be fooled into thinking that if you buy a new or nearly new car it will be impervious to thieves, because the majority of the cars stolen in the UK last year were just a couple of years old. Although the problem of car theft abated slightly in 2025 — 54,830 vehicles reported stolen compared with 61,343 the previous year — that still equates to 150 cars taken every day and 10.4 every minute of the year.  That means car owners need to do everything they can to keep their cars safe. 

The top 10 most stolen cars comprises a mix of prestige models and some of the UK’s best sellers, including the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa. 

While there are some premium brands represented, it appears that these car makers’ efforts to combat theft are helping to bring their numbers down. This year’s data only includes one Land Rover — the Range Rover Evoque in ninth place — instead of the two that appeared last year, and the Mercedes C-Class has dropped out of the top 10 this year. It was in sixth place last year and has gone down to 14th. 

It’s not such good news for Toyota and its sister brand Lexus because this time round they have three models in the top 10: the Toyota C-HR, Toyota RAV4 and Lexus NX. 

At the other end of the spectrum, supercars and high-performance models are among the least likely to be stolen. Only six McLarens, seven Aston Martins, 17 Ferraris and 18 Lamborghinis were stolen last year. 

Read on to find out more about the 20 most frequently stolen vehicles in 2025. Our list is generated from the latest DVLA data obtained by a Freedom of Information request.

Top 10 most stolen cars 2025

1. Ford Fiesta

Number stolen 3511

Being popular isn’t always a good thing. Before it was discontinued in 2024, the Fiesta was the UK’s best selling model for more than a decade and there are currently around 1.4 million examples running around on our roads. There’s a lot to recommend it as a used buy, too. It’s fun to drive, comes with a range of punchy turbo-powered petrol engines and has low emissions and good economy. 

That means it’s an appealing prospect and there are plenty for thieves to choose from. Add to that a thriving market for replacement parts, and it’s no wonder it’s the most stolen model of all. 

The only good news for Fiesta owners is that its appeal is starting to wane: thefts were 21% down last year compared with 2024 when 4446 Fiestas were swiped. Older examples are more at risk than the final seventh generation versions: 2008-2017 models accounted for 86% of all thefts. 

Read our 2017-2024 Ford Fiesta review >>

2. Volkswagen Golf

Number stolen 1625

Now in its eighth generation, the Volkswagen Golf has consistently been one of the best-selling cars since it was launched more than 50 years ago. Not only is it impressively practical and good to drive, it’s also available in a number of different forms, with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid power.

The Golf’s position on this list can be put down to two things: desirability and sheer popularity. Indeed, the Golf transcends class boundaries by offering many of the premium features you’d expect from more expensive models, but it still looks right at home among mainstream rivals. What’s more, it continues to sell in huge numbers every year, finishing sixth in the UK sales chart in 2025.

While the latest model might be more popular among new car buyers, it’s the previous 2013-2020 Golf that appeals most to thieves, accounting for just less than half (49.9%) of all Golfs stolen last year.

Read our Volkswagen Golf review >>

3. Ford Focus 

Number stolen 1474

Long before the arrival of road-biased SUVs, the Focus was the default family car for keen drivers because it boasted class-leading handling yet was practical enough for a family of four. It also has a comfortable ride with little road or wind noise. 

Although the quality of the interior is a bit disappointing compared with premium alternatives, this doesn't seem to put off buyers – or criminals. With more than a million examples on our roads, thieves and buyers also have a huge pool of cars to pick from. 

The fourth generation 2011-2018 Focus is the biggest hit with thieves, accounting for 56% of all those stolen in 2025. The later 2019-2026 version has added security, but thieves are still managing to nab some of them. A total 334 were taken, equating to 23% of all Focus thefts. 

Read our Ford Focus review >>

4. Toyota RAV4

Number stolen 1348

The RAV4 is a family SUV that stands out for its frugal hybrid engine, impressive practicality and strong reliability record. All of these things, combined with its slow predicted depreciation, make it an extremely sensible secondhand buy. It’s available exclusively with plug-in hybrid power, and it pumps out even less CO2 than some small cars.

Perhaps it’s the strong demand for the RAV4 on the used car market that sees it place in the top 10 stolen cars for the second year in a row, with more than 1300 examples taken by criminals in 2025.

While the RAV4 has been on our roads for more than 20 years, it’s the current model that’s most popular with thieves. Indeed, the 2019-2025 RAV4 (a new version is due later this year) accounts for 94.6% of all RAV4s that went missing last year. More than half (50.4%) of these were registered at the start of the RAV4’s fifth generation, between 2020 and 2021. 

Read our Toyota RAV4 review >>

5. BMW 3 Series 

Number stolen 1319

The 3 Series has long been the default option for up-and-coming company executives, and it’s a superb all-rounder with excellent handling and a classy interior that’s kitted out with the best infotainment system around. 

The latest version of this sporty executive saloon and estate is available with a traditional rear-wheel-drive set-up or in xDrive four-wheel drive form. It’s moved with the times, so there’s longer a diesel option, but there is a tax-efficient plug-in hybrid that will do up to 62 miles officially on pure electric power. This variant is the most sought after by criminals, accounting for 83% of the 2019-on 3 Series cars taken. 

However, the latest model only accounts for 22% of 3 Series thefts overall. It’s the previous, sixth-generation version, which ran from 2012 to 2019, that is targeted most by thieves — it accounts for 42% overall of all 3 Series thefts. 

Read our BMW 3 Series review >>

6. Nissan Juke

Number stolen 1200

Originally launched in 2010, the Nissan Juke is the car often credited with creating the small SUV category. Since then, it has triumphed on the sales charts, offering buyers an affordable alternative to the classic small hatchback with a lofty driving position and trendy SUV styling. While the original car was something of a trailblazer, other manufacturers were quick to catch on to the hype and produce their own versions, and the Juke has since been outclassed by rivals like the Ford Puma, Toyota Yaris Cross and Volkswagen T-Roc.

That doesn’t mean the Juke isn’t still highly desirable – the latest version was the fifth best-selling car in the UK last year. However, it’s the first generation 2010-2019 Juke that’s proving most popular among thieves, accounting for the vast majority (87.9%) of all Jukes stolen in 2025.

Read our Nissan Juke review >>

7. Toyota C-HR 

Number stolen 967

Although the C-HR shares its underpinnings with the Prius, it has far bolder styling than its sibling. The small SUV has bold avant-garde exterior styling with sharp, angular lines and a sloping roofline that gives it a sports coupe look. 

It doesn't handle as well as rivals, such as the Audi Q2 or Ford Puma, but it rides well and the choice of hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology ensure it’s an economical choice.  

Almost all thefts (97%) were of the first generation 2016-2023 C-HR, with early examples taken more frequently. Toyota introduced Digital Key technology on the second generation model. This enables owners to use smartphones to lock and unlock their cars, making them less susceptible to keyless theft techniques. It appears to be effective, as only 3% of thefts were of the 2024-on model.  

Read our Toyota C-HR review >>

8. Lexus NX

Number stolen 951

For a long time, the Lexus NX was the Japanese brand’s top selling model in the UK – for which it has its upmarket appeal and strong engine line-up to thank. While it has since been usurped by the LBX small SUV, the NX continues to prove popular among buyers, with the efficient plug-in hybrid variant driving the majority of sales due to its low company car tax rates and competitive all-electric range.

It’s not just car buyers loving the NX, though. More than 950 examples were taken by criminals last year, representing a significant increase in thefts compared with the figures from 2024, where the NX didn’t even appear in the top 20 most stolen cars.

Thieves don’t seem to have much of a preference between the current NX and previous-generation 2014-2021 version, with thefts split almost evenly between the two, at 50.4% and 49.6% respectively.

Read our Lexus NX review >>

9. Range Rover Evoque

Number stolen 895

The Evoque family SUV is one of the most desirable used cars you can buy, thanks to its combination of good looks and practicality. It has a high driving position, plenty of standard kit and the desirability of a premium badge. 

That also means it’s also wanted by criminals, which is why Land Rover’s most affordable model is the most frequently stolen. However, the brand has been working hard to protect its vehicles in recent years, and that shows in the number of thefts. The 2025 total of 895 is 18% less than the 2024 figure and that was 35% down on the previous year, so things are moving in the right direction. 

Security has been significantly improved for the latest model, evidenced by the fact that 83% of Evoque thefts were of first-generation 2011-2018 versions. To combat this the brand is implementing two security measures to help keep older cars safe. It’s offering complimentary sleeping keyfob batteries to owners of 2016-19 Evoques, which combat ‘relay’ theft by disabling the key signal when the fob has been static for three minutes. It is also adding new security technology to 2018-19 models as part of a wider campaign to update the security on all vehicles dating back to 2017 with the same levels of protection as current models. 

Read our Range Rover Evoque review >>

10. Vauxhall Corsa

Number stolen 874

If you’ve never owned a Vauxhall Corsa, it’s highly likely you know someone who has. That’s because it’s consistently one of the biggest-selling cars in the UK, with almost 36,000 new examples sold just last year. And, having been on sale since 1993, there’s plenty of secondhand options to choose from, too – so much so that it was the second biggest-selling used car in 2025 (behind the Ford Fiesta).

The fact that the Corsa appears in the top 10 most stolen cars of 2025 could, then, be attributed to the sheer number present on UK roads. The latest version is well-equipped and has efficient engines, but it’s the fourth generation 2006-2014 Corsa that’s most at risk of theft – it accounted for almost 40% of all Corsas stolen last year. 

Read our Vauxhall Corsa review >>

The 20 most stolen car models in 2025

What are the most stolen car brands? 

At brand level, Ford is the most frequently stolen brand, with more than 7600 cars stolen in 2025. 

Next up is BMW, closely followed by Toyota and Mercedes, highlighting the fact that owners of less prestigious makes and models need to be just as vigilant about protecting cars. 

The most stolen car brands of 2025

* Data obtained via a Freedom of Information request

** Brand data contains all examples listed by DVLA for each brand, including some with no model specified

How to protect your car from thieves

There are some simple car security measures you can take to make it harder for criminals to get their hands on your car. Even simple deterrents, such as steering wheel locks, are likely to make your car less appealing to thieves, so consider buying one of these devices.  

When you’re at home, keep the keys in a secure place away from the front door, and in a metal box or Faraday pouch if it has keyless entry and could be stolen using the relay theft method. 

If you leave your car in a public place, pick a well-lit car park with security cameras if you can, and don’t leave any valuables on display as theft from vehicles is just as prolific as theft of entire vehicles.

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