Vehicle theft figures reveal hybrid focus
DVLA vehicle theft figures have revealed that one car was stolen roughly every 10 minutes in the UK last year, with criminals increasingly targeting hybrids.
The data has revealed that 54,145 vehicles were stolen in 2025, which equates to 148 a day.
Further analysis carried out by temporary car insurance providers Tempcover found that the Toyota C-HR Dynamic hybrid was the most stolen model across the year with 437 thefts.
This was a 28% increase on the previous year while the Toyota C-HR Excel saw theft numbers surge by 39%. This suggests that criminals are increasingly hunting high-value hybrids, often targeted for their catalytic converters and the value of metals inside.
Ford models occupied the next three places with the Fiesta Zetec (425), Fiesta Titanium Turbo (328), and Fiesta Zetec Turbo (318) also common targets for thieves. The Nissan Juke Tenka was fifth with 290 thefts.
Wake-up call
Jake Lambert from Tempcover said: “The fact that a Toyota hybrid has topped the list is a wake-up call for motorists, particularly as EV adoption in the UK accelerates.
“If you own a C-HR or similar hybrid, standard security measures like steering locks are essential, but you can also be tactical. For example, keeping fobs in a Faraday pouch or signal-blocking box and parking your car ‘nose-in’ against a wall or garage door can act as a deterrent.
“This position blocks access to the front bumper and wheel arches, making it much harder for thieves to reach the headlight wiring often used to hack the vehicle’s computer.”
