Just shy of 54,000 cars were stolen in 2024 here in the UK, and data reveals that the Ford Fiesta is still the most stolen car in the UK. It’s bad news for other bestselling car owners, the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Nissan Juke and Vauxhall Corsa also feature on the most stolen car list.
This list, revealed by a FOI request to the DVLA by Tempcover, shows that 4,446 Ford Fiestas were stolen in 2024. There’s some positive news for Fiesta owners, thefts are down 24.6% year-on-year from 2023, but the sheer number of Fiestas on the road means it remains a popular target.
It’s positive news for other bestsellers too, with a decrease in thefts for most cars on this list, which tracks against an almost 16% drop in overall car thefts, down from 64,087 in 2023. With a whopping 42.7% fall in thefts, the Mercedes-Benz C Class drops from fourth to seventh spot, even with 1,024 cars stolen last year.
The Nissan Juke was the only top 10 car to see a significant jump in thefts, rising a worrying 61.5% year-on-year. There was a small but notable rise for the Toyota RAV4 too, a car that’s in strong demand overseas. As with the more premium cars on this list, the likelihood of having a RAV4 nicked is more likely than the popular picks because there aren’t as many of them about.
The top 10 most stolen cars in the UK
| Rank | Make | Number stolen in 2023 | Number stolen in 2024 | % Increase/ (Decrease) |
| 1 | Ford Fiesta | 5,976 | 4,446 | -25.6 |
| 2 | Volkswagen Golf | 2,038 | 1,727 | -15.3 |
| 3 | Ford Focus | 2,120 | 1,700 | -19.8 |
| 4 | Toyota RAV4 | 1,169 | 1,260 | 7.8 |
| 5 | BMW 3 Series | 1,466 | 1,207 | -17.7 |
| 6 | Range Rover Evoque | 1,489 | 1,079 | -27.5 |
| 7 | Nissan Juke | 636 | 1,027 | 61.5 |
| 8 | Mercedes-Benz C Class | 1,786 | 1,024 | -42.7 |
| 9 | Range Rover Sport | 954 | 950 | -0.4 |
| 10 | Vauxhall Corsa | 1,110 | 870 | -21.6 |
Why are these cars so popular with thieves?
Supply chain issues for spare parts, stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine has driven demand for second-hand parts soar, and criminals have capitalised on this. Popular cars always have demand for spare parts, and where manufacturers can’t meet demand, there’s a bustling array of chop shops happy to strip down stolen cars for cash. It’s a full cottage industry of villainy.
Increasingly sophisticated car theft techniques have also exposed vulnerabilities in modern cars. Relay attacks against keyless entry systems are a huge concern for modern motorists despite manufacturers fighting back with new measures. These keyless thefts are well-documented and a very quick and non-destructive way of stealing premium cars.
The OBDII port is also a backdoor into a car, a savvy thief can reprogram the car quickly, bypassing the alarm and immobiliser. Fords in particular, have been reported to have OBDII vulnerabilities.
What does this mean for you?
Own one of these targeted cars, or simply want to ensure your car doesn’t fall into the wrong hands? There are some high- and low-tech steps you can take to ensure that a car isn’t stolen.
You can fight back, and we’ve produced a guide on how to stop your car getting stolen. Top tips from us would be to secure your garage if you have one, and if you have a keyless car, to use a Faraday pouch to protect your fob at all times. Physical devices like a steering wheel lock are also a highly visible deterrent. The best of the crop can even put up a decent fight against an angle grinder.
Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us.
