A Car Is Stolen In Australia Every Eight Minutes.

Here’s where, how, and why.

65,603

Victims of motor vehicle theft nationally in 2025 – up 8% year-on-year.

~220,000

Households with items stolen from a motor vehicle in a single year.

86%

Of vehicle thefts reported to police – the highest reporting rate of any crime type surveyed

But the headline numbers don’t tell the full story.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) counted 65,603 victims of motor vehicle theft in 2025, an 8% rise on 2024. But theft of the car itself is only part of the problem. About 220,000 people also had items stolen from their vehicles in the same year.

One State Is Driving Almost The Entire National Increase.

Victoria recorded 22,504 victims of car crime in 2024. This is up 41% on the prior year – and the state’s highest total since 2003. By the 12 months to September 2025, more than 33,000 vehicles had been stolen across the state. Car theft in NSW also rose, but by a more modest 6%. Queensland, surprisingly, went the other way entirely, with insurance theft claims falling 12%. This was the largest single drop on record in Australia, and is widely attributed to the state’s free engine immobiliser program.

The ugly truth about Victoria’s car theft problem.

$243M

Total sum of motor theft insurance claims paid in Victoria in 2025, across 12,500+ claims.

0.45%

Claim frequency in Victoria. The number is from 0.26% – a 73% jump in one year.

~80%

Percentage of stolen Victorian vehicles police eventually recovers, with most suffering damage.

10,172

Cars stolen in Victoria from public streets and footpaths – up 32% from the year before.


According to data from Insurance Council of Australia, Victora’s car theft surge cost insurers $243 million in 2025. This is more than every other state and territory combined.

Which Methods Do Thieves Use Most Frequently To Steal Cars?

Police believe 30–40% of thefts are done using electronic methods (e.g., key cloning and OBD-port reprogramming). Yes, the days of robbers using physical car keys are over. Electronic tools are widely available on the black market. Ironically, they work best on cars people consider the safest – newest luxury models with keyless entry.

Key Cloning & OBD Reprogramming

Thieves plug a 3rd-party programming device into the car’s diagnostic port to program a clone key. No need to hotwire anything.

Relay And FM/AM Frequency Attacks

Signal boosters intercept your key fob’s transmission from inside your home and relay it to your car in the driveway. The car opens.

Key Theft Via Break-And-Enter Burglaries

Thieves enter through an open rear door or bedroom window to steal the garage remote and key fob – then drive away with the car.

Which Cars Are Most Frequently Stolen?

Do you believe that thieves target clapped-out rustbuckets? Think again. The most common targets are mainstream and premium models with electronic vulnerabilities. Notably, no EVs appeared in Victoria’s top 10 most stolen list in 2024 or 2025.

  • Holden Commodore (2013–17). Holds the dubious title of Australia’s most stolen car.
  • Subaru (multiple models). Keyless-entry vulnerabilities exploited by thieves
  • Toyota (multiple models). Prado and Land Cruiser targeted by export syndicates.