QuestGates has reported an improvement in key UK motor theft indicators based on its initial analysis of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) lost or stolen (LoS) data for 2025.
According to the report, "all vehicle" thefts fell by 11.36% from 102,240 in 2024 to 90,625 in 2025. When motorcycles, vans, HGVs and other vehicle types are excluded, the improvement is even more marked for private cars, where thefts dropped 13.30% from 61,857 in 2024 to 53,629 last year.
This initial trends point towards a reduction in private car thefts and modest improvements in recovery and write-off outcomes in 2025. These figures provide insurers and brokers some counterbalance to ongoing pressures from repair cost inflation, parts availability and increasingly complex vehicle technology and are likely to inform underwriting, pricing and claims strategies in the year ahead.
Ford, BMW and Toyota top list of most stolen makes
The top three stolen makes in 2025 were Ford, BMW and Toyota, which entered the top three replacing Land Rover, which recorded almost 30% fewer thefts than in 2024.
At model level, the most stolen vehicles were the Ford Fiesta, followed by the Volkswagen Golf and the Ford Focus. These remain among the UK’s best-selling models and are widely used across private and small business fleets. Philip Swift, technical director – motor at QuestGates, said the most stolen models are being targeted for parts.
The report also highlighted that criminals seem to be focusing on older, mass-market vehicles because demand for replacement parts is high and security systems may be less sohphisticated than on newer models.
Recoveries improve and write-offs fall
Furthermore, QuestGates' review of the DVLA LoS data indicated that outcomes where thefts did occur also improved year-on-year.
"The percentage of stolen cars successfully recovered increased from 42.48% to 44.94%, while the average time from theft to recovery reduced, from 27.1 days in 2024 to 25.6% last year," Swift said. "Less recovered cars were subsequently deemed total losses, with reductions across all four write-off categories. The findings will be welcomed by insurers, brokers and claims professionals.”
Higher recovery rates and shorter average recovery times can reduce the number of total loss claims and the duration of hire or replacement vehicle costs, while more vehicles being repairable rather than written off helps contain overall claim severity. For claims and counter-fraud teams, better recovery performance also provides more scope to verify circumstances, inspect damage and identify suspicious patterns.
Regional differences and rating implications
QuestGates said it plans to explore regional variations in greater depth in the coming weeks, combining the DVLA figures with other datasets. Early indications, however, point to notable improvements in certain areas.
For motor insurers, such regional differences are a key input into postcode rating, risk selection and localised counter-fraud strategies. Stronger performance in particular police force areas may reflect targeted vehicle crime initiatives, better use of ANPR and tracking technology, or closer collaboration between insurers and law enforcement.
