If you drive a Lexus or an Abarth, it might be time to double-check that your car's locked. New analysis of DVLA data shows these two brands are statistically the most likely to be stolen in the UK, and it’s not even close.
Sure, the Ford Fiesta had the highest number of reported thefts last year (4,719), but with over 1.5 million of them on the road, your odds of it getting nicked are actually quite low – around 1 in 312. Compare that to the Lexus ES 300, where owners face a shocking 1 in 30 chance of losing their car.
That makes it the most “stealable” car in Britain, followed closely by Lexus’s RX 450 SUV (1 in 39). In fact, five of the top ten most-stolen cars were Lexuses, with models like the LC 500 coupe and NX 300 SUV also making the list.
Meanwhile, Fiat’s performance arm Abarth has the highest theft rate of any car brand overall – with 1 in every 116 getting stolen last year. The Abarth 500 and 595 are especially hot targets.
So, why are thieves targeting these cars? In short: they’re stylish, powerful, and easy pickings for organised gangs using high-tech equipment to bypass modern security.
According to the firm behind the data, Loop, a staggering 168 cars were stolen every day in 2024 – that’s 7 an hour. And while brands like Lexus say they’re fighting back with immobilisers, trackers, and £10 million worth of security upgrades, it’s clear thieves are staying one step ahead.
Aside from Lexus and Abarth, these models are among the most commonly stolen based on the number on the road:
| Rank | Make | Model | Thefts | Registered | Proportion stolen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LEXUS | LEXUS ES 300 | 221 | 6,587 | 1-in-30 |
| 2 | LEXUS | LEXUS RX 450 | 717 | 27,837 | 1-in-39 |
| 3 | MERCEDES | MERCEDES GLS CLASS | 91 | 3,584 | 1-in-39 |
| 4 | ALFA ROMEO | ALFA ROMEO STELVIO | 87 | 4,734 | 1-in-54 |
| 5 | LEXUS | LEXUS LC 500 | 11 | 601 | 1-in-55 |
| 6 | LEXUS | LEXUS UX 250 | 335 | 20,625 | 1-in-62 |
| 7 | KIA | KIA STINGER | 34 | 2,226 | 1-in-65 |
| 8 | LEXUS | LEXUS NX 300 | 383 | 28,539 | 1-in-75 |
| 9 | ABARTH | ABARTH 500 | 69 | 6,015 | 1-in-87 |
| 10 | ALFA ROMEO | ALFA ROMEO GIULIA | 95 | 8,326 | 1-in-88 |
| 11 | AUDI | AUDI RS5 | 30 | 2,887 | 1-in-96 |
| 12 | KIA | KIA EV6 | 174 | 17,006 | 1-in-98 |
| 13 | MERCEDES | MERCEDES G CLASS | 20 | 1,955 | 1-in-98 |
| 14 | HYUNDAI | HYUNDAI IONIQ | 644 | 62,979 | 1-in-98 |
| 15 | AUDI | AUDI RS3 | 71 | 7,427 | 1-in-105 |
| 16 | MERCEDES | MERCEDES GLE CLASS | 358 | 39,093 | 1-in-109 |
| 17 | AUDI | AUDI RS7 | 8 | 882 | 1-in-110 |
| 18 | MASERATI | MASERATI LEVANTE | 30 | 3,328 | 1-in-111 |
| 19 | ABARTH | ABARTH 595 | 192 | 21,309 | 1-in-111 |
| 20 | BMW | BMW X6 | 162 | 18,053 | 1-in-111 |
Which Brands Are Most Targeted?
Based on proportionally how many get stolen, the top brands are:
- Abarth
- Lexus
- Land Rover
- Mitsubishi (even though they no longer sell new cars in the UK)
- Jaguar
- Maserati
- Mercedes
- BMW
- Alfa Romeo
- Bentley
So What’s Safe?
If you want the least likely car to vanish from your driveway, go electric. Tesla drivers had just a 1 in 7,000 chance of their car being stolen in 2024. Only 33 were taken nationwide last year. And weirdly, TVR – the old-school British sports car brand – beat even Tesla, with just one car reported stolen all year.
So, if you drive a Lexus, Abarth, or anything with serious performance appeal, your car is firmly on the radar of car thieves. Investing in additional security or talking to your dealer about upgrades might be a smart move, especially if your insurer’s already charging you a premium for the risk.
