► The Ford Fiesta is still the most stolen car in the UK
► Top seller including the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Nissan Juke all feature
► How and why these cars are so sought after
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 best-selling 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 with the Focus, thefts are down 24.6% year-on-year from 2023, but the sheer number of Fiestas on the road mean it remains a popular target.
It’s positive news for other best-sellers too, with a decrease in thefts for most cars on this list, with a whopping 42.7% fall in thefts for the Mercedes-Benz C Class, even if 1,024 cars were stolen last year. This tracks against an almost 16% drop in overall car thefts, down from 64,087 in 2023.
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. Like with the more premium cars on this list, the likelihood of having a RAV4 nicked is more likely than the bigger-selling Fords.
The top 10 most stolen cars in the UK
| Rank | Make | Model | 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 reprogramme the car quickly, bypassing the alarm and immobiliser. Fords 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 wheel lock are also a highly visible deterrent.
But don’t ever assume your car is impossible to steal – because the technology designed to protect it can have vulnerabilities.