The Ford Fiesta was the most stolen car in the UK in 2025, with 3,511 taken, according to DVLA figures obtained by What Car? under a Freedom of Information request. In total 54,830 vehicles were reported stolen, down from 61,343 in 2024. Below is the top 20, why these particular cars get taken, and what owners of each kind of car can do about it.
The 20 most stolen cars in the UK, 2025
| Rank | Make and model | Reported stolen in 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford Fiesta | 3,511 |
| 2 | Volkswagen Golf | 1,625 |
| 3 | Ford Focus | 1,474 |
| 4 | Toyota RAV4 | 1,319 |
| 5 | BMW 3 Series | 1,249 |
| 6 | Nissan Juke | 1,200 |
| 7 | Toyota C-HR | 967 |
| 8 | Lexus NX | 951 |
| 9 | Range Rover Evoque | 895 |
| 10 | Vauxhall Corsa | 874 |
| 11 | Mercedes C-Class | 826 |
| 12 | Land Rover Discovery Sport | 813 |
| 13 | Ford Kuga | 799 |
| 14 | Vauxhall Astra | 758 |
| 15 | BMW 1 Series | 754 |
| 16 | Range Rover Sport | 700 |
| 17 | Nissan Qashqai | 695 |
| 18 | Audi A3 | 658 |
| 19 | Kia Sportage | 653 |
| 20 | Toyota Prius | 644 |
Source: DVLA data for 2025 published by What Car?, updated February 2026. Ordered by number stolen. Popular cars appear partly because there are so many of them on the road, so a high count is not the same as a high theft rate.
Why these cars get stolen
The list splits into three groups, and each is stolen for a different reason.
Older, very common cars: Fiesta, Focus, Corsa, Astra, Golf
Millions of these are on UK roads and they need a steady supply of spare parts. Stolen cars are often broken for parts rather than sold whole. Older models also tend to have less sophisticated security.
Keyless SUVs and hybrids: RAV4, C-HR, NX, Evoque, Discovery Sport, Kuga, Juke
These are valuable, in demand abroad and often fitted with keyless entry and start, which makes them open to relay attacks. Hybrids such as the RAV4, C-HR and Prius are also targeted for parts.
Premium cars: BMW 3 Series and 1 Series, Mercedes C-Class, Range Rover Sport, Audi A3
High resale and parts value. Thieves use relay attacks and, on some models, devices that program a new key through the diagnostic port.
What to do if your car is on the list
You do not need all of these. You need the ones that close the gap for your kind of car.
| If you drive | Do this first | Then |
|---|---|---|
| An older Fiesta, Focus, Corsa, Astra or Golf | Fit a visible steering lock every time you park | Park in light and in view, keep valuables out of sight |
| A keyless SUV or hybrid | Keep the key in a signal-blocking case at home | Add a visible steering lock, and ask the dealer about software updates |
| A premium BMW, Mercedes, Range Rover or Audi | Signal-blocking case plus a steering lock | Consider an OBD port lock and a tracker |
The common thread is the steering lock. Relay attacks and key programming beat the electronics, but they do nothing to a mechanical lock on the wheel, and a lock a thief can see from outside often means they move on to the next car. West Midlands Police have urged drivers to use "visible deterrents such as steering wheel locks" for exactly this reason. We go through the evidence in do steering wheel locks work.
The lock that gets used
The BEAM Lab Steering Wheel Lock is a 5 mm steel cable that loops round the wheel and clicks into the seatbelt buckle. The wheel cannot turn and the buckle cannot release without the key. It fits in about three seconds and coils into the door pocket, so it goes on at every stop, not just when you remember. Orange cable ends show through the windscreen. Three keys in the box and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
See the Steering Wheel Lock · Safety Vault key case
Common questions
What is the most stolen car in the UK?
The Ford Fiesta, with 3,511 reported stolen in 2025 according to DVLA figures published by What Car?.
Is car theft going up or down in the UK?
Reported thefts fell from 61,343 in 2024 to 54,830 in 2025 in the DVLA figures. That is still around 150 cars every day.
Which cars are most at risk of keyless theft?
Any car with keyless entry and start can be relay attacked. In 2025 several keyless models were among the most stolen, including the Toyota RAV4, Toyota C-HR, Lexus NX and Range Rover Evoque.
Does my insurer care if my car is on the list?
Theft risk feeds into premiums, and some policies on high risk models ask for extra security. Check your policy wording, and ask whether a steering lock or tracker changes your price.