02/2024. Subject to who you ask, the number of VEHICLE thefts varies. Then there is whether you want VEHICLE theft information or if your interest is more specific; cars, vans, motorcycles … ambulances? The DVLA records more than 60 ‘body styles‘. What you ask of who also has a bearing on the figures you will receive, whilst some can provide the date of taking and the vehicle age characters from the VRM they are unable to supply the vehicle’s make, model and vehicle category (estate, hatchback etc.) simply advising ‘not recorded’.
How the data is then assessed can provide varying results. Recent reports suggest others requested the DVLA’s vehicle-taking data:
- WhatCar’s ‘The most stolen cars in the UK‘ cites’ 61,343 vehicles reported stolen in 2024′ but adds ‘The yearly figure equates to 168 cars stolen every day’.
- TempCover’s ‘Most stolen cars in the UK 2024‘ conveys ‘53,955 stolen cars were reported by the police to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in 2024.
A difference of 7,388. But the DVLA data appears to be a reasonable means by which to make a year-on-year theft comparison. However, DVLA data will always understate the real situation (as explained below), the above WhatCar and TempCover figures will be low.
- What of police information, crime report data?
Unfortunately, these too are the subject of recording methodologies that hamper an understanding.
The caveats to the DVLA 2023 & 2024 LoS data can be found here. By way of example:
- Police ‘Taken’ Data – The Missing or Confusing Records
- DVLA ‘Taken’ Data – The Missing Records
- Fraud ‘Taken’ Records – How & Where Recorded?
For example, it does not appear the Home Office codes provide a clear picture – read more here.
Then there is the confusion that arises from descriptions; do the numbers relates to care or all vehicles – which can include anything form quad-bikes & mopeds to HGVs.
The following information has been collated to date, with links to the source, some of which are active links, i.e. connect to the source of the information..
| Motor Vehicle Thefts | Period | Source | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 132,412 | 2024 | Telegraph | just cars, as opposed to all vehicles |
| 100,584 | 2024 | DVLA | vehicles of all descriptions |
| 62,980 | 2024 | DVLA | cars |
| 61,343 | 2024 | WhatCar | cars |
| 53,955 | 2024 | TempCover | cars Note: DVLA records 4,767 Fiesta LoS reports in 2024 |
| 65,905 | 2023 | DVLA | cars |
| 107,413 | 2023 | DVLA | vehicles of all descriptions |
| 129,159 | 2023/24 | Statista | April 2023 to March 2024, also conveyed by the RAC. Read more here. |
| 130,119 | 2022/23 | Statista | April 2022 to March 2024, also conveyed by the RAC - see above link |
| 130,389 | 2022 | Motoring Research | up 24.9% on 2021 |
| 98,730 | 2022 | DVLA | all vehicles |
| 104,435 | 2021 | ||
| 101,198 | 2021 | Home Office | the Home Office corrected the WMPCC’s 48,400 figure for the same period (below) |
| 48,400 | 2021 | West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner | ‘spearheading’ the Vehicle Crimes Task Force (VCT) the WMPCC conveyed this woefully inaccurate figure to the Home Office (see above) |
| 89,400 | 2020 | Statista | |
| 113,300 | 2019 | Statista | |
| 114,600 | 2018 | Statista | |
| 106,330 | 2017 | Statista | |
| 91,350 | 2016 | Statista | |
| 76,130 | 2015 | Statista | |
| 70,210 | 2014 | Statista | |
| 70,050 | 2013 | Statista | |
| 74,170 | 2012 | Statista | |
| 80.000 | 2012/13 | 2016 Reducing criminal opportunity (RCO): vehicle security and vehicle crime | approx. number taken from graphic |
| 85,800 | 2011 | Statista | |
| 99,210 | 2010 | Statista | |
| 109,680 | 2009 | Statista | |
| 137,510 | 2008 | Statista | |
| 159,700 | 2007 | Statista | |
| 182,460 | 2006 | Statista | |
| 203,240 | 2005 | Statista | |
| 231,320 | 2004 | Statista | |
| 280,290 | 2003 | Statista | |
| 306,950 | 2002 | Statista | |
| 390,000 | 1999 | 2016 RCO | approx. number taken from graphic |
| 400,000 | 1998 | 2016 RCO | approx. number taken from graphic |
| 410,000 | 1997 | 2016 RCO | approx. number taken from graphic |
| 510,000 | 1996 | 2016 RCO | approx. number taken from graphic |
| 550,000 | 1995 | 2016 RCO | approx. number taken from graphic |
| 600,000 | 1994 | 2016 RCO | approx. number taken from graphic |
| 620,000 | 1993 | 2016 RCO | approx. number taken from graphic |
| 615,000 | 1992 | 2016 RCO | approx. number taken from graphic |
| 610,000 | 1991 | 2016 RCO | approx. number taken from graphic |
| 494,000 | 1990 | Webb & Laycock 1992 report | approx. number taken from graphic |
| 1988 | 2016 RCO | approx. number taken from graphic | |
| 1986 | 2016 RCO | approx. number taken from graphic | |
| 1984 | 2016 RCO | approx. number taken from graphic | |
| 1982 | 2016 RCO | approx. number taken from graphic | |
| 330,000 | 1980 | 2016 RCO | approx. number taken from graphic |
| 324,354 | 1980 | Webb & Laycock 1992 report | |
| 147,632 | 1970 | Webb & Laycock 1992 report | |
| 16,840 | 1960 | Webb & Laycock 1992 report | |
| 6,192 | 1950 | Webb & Laycock 1992 report | |
| 1,716 | 1940 | Webb & Laycock 1992 report |