Which Cars Are Most Likely to Be Stolen by Age? What DVLA Data Shows

It's easy to assume car thieves only want the newest, most expensive cars, or the opposite: that old, cheap cars are the easy ones. DVLA's stolen-vehicle records suggest neither is quite right.

We matched every car DVLA recorded as stolen in 2025, using its year of manufacture, against the number of cars of each age on the road (DfT licensing statistics). That gives a theft rate for each age group, which tells you how likely a car of that age is to be stolen. Counts alone mostly tell you how many cars of that age there are.

The numbers

The UK average across all cars was 1.56 per 1,000.

By number, 8 to 12-year-old cars are stolen most

More cars aged 8 to 12 were stolen in 2025 than any other age group: 18,649, about a third of all car thefts. But there are nearly 11 million cars of that age on the road, more than any other band. Their rate of 1.71 per 1,000 is only a little above average.

Per car, 4 to 7-year-olds are the most at risk

Cars 4 to 7 years old, first registered roughly between 2018 and 2021, were stolen at 1.99 per 1,000, the highest of any age and about 50% more than brand-new cars. Several things come together at this age:

• Keyless entry without the latest protection. Keyless entry and push-button start were widespread by then, but many cars from these years don't have the motion-sensing fobs and newer radio technology that make relay attacks harder.
• High value. They are still worth a lot, whole or in parts, so they are worth the effort for organised gangs who steal to order.
• Known weaknesses. Thieves have had years to work out how to defeat their security.

The newest cars are less at risk than you'd think

Cars up to 3 years old were stolen at 1.32 per 1,000, below the national average. Newer key technology that is harder to relay and connected-car apps that show where the car is both help. That isn't the same as safe: some new models, such as the Lexus NX, are still heavily targeted. Why hybrids are now Britain's most stolen cars explains why.

Older cars: less likely, but not safe

Cars over 13 years old had the lowest rates, at 1.24 per 1,000 for 13 to 20-year-olds and 1.16 for cars 21 years old and more. They are worth less, so organised gangs mostly ignore them.

They were still the target of more than 10,000 thefts in 2025, though. Older cars have simpler immobilisers and locks that opportunistic thieves can beat, and they are often stolen to be broken for parts, which can be worth more than the car.

How to protect your car, whatever its age

• 0–7 years (keyless): keep the fob in a signal-blocking pouch, switch off keyless entry if your car allows it, and use a visible steering wheel lock. A tracker or a second, PIN-code immobiliser adds real protection for high-risk models.
• 8–12 years: a steering wheel lock and an OBD port lock (which stops thieves programming a new key) are cheap and effective. Park in a garage or on a well-lit driveway where you can.
• 13+ years: a visible steering lock is the single best deterrent. Don't leave anything on show, and consider a hidden battery cut-off switch.

You can check your own model's theft rate on our car theft statistics page.

Buying a used car?

Cars in the most-stolen age bands are also the ones most often sold on after being stolen or cloned. Before you buy, run a free car check to confirm the DVLA details match the car, and consider a full history check for stolen, write-off and outstanding finance markers.