Car Theft in 2026: How to Keep Your Vehicle Safe

It’s not just luxury models that are targeted by car thieves these days - some of the most stolen cars are normal family vehicles. Learn how to avoid being a victim of car theft in 2026, with our comprehensive guide.

Stolen cars: One taken every 10 minutes

Around 350 cars were stolen every day In England and Wales in 2024 - that’s one theft every 10 minutes, or 130,000 vehicle thefts a year.

And if all vehicle-related thefts are included, that figure rises to a shocking 695,000.

Many of these thefts involve electronic methods - with around 60% of London car thefts carried out this way.

Overall, a recent survey revealed one-third of all vehicle thefts involve some kind of keyless-entry signal manipulation.

What’s even more surprising, perhaps, is that these thefts are often orchestrated by organised criminal gangs, rather than opportunistic thieves.

Everyday family cars are also on thieves’ hitlists

Commonly stolen cars aren’t always luxury models. Indeed, regular, everyday cars are also sought after because they are so popular and parts are in constant demand. Some of the most stolen cars include the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus  - alongside premium vehicles.

Where do stolen cars end up?

Sadly, many cars are never recovered by the police. A lot end up in so-called “chop shops” - where they are dismantled for parts, while others are exported overseas. Certain models are even stolen to order by criminal networks - particularly Range Rover Sports/Vogues, Toyota RAV4s, and Lexus NXs.

But it’s not all bad news

Where you live has a huge impact on how likely you are to suffer a car theft or vehicle break-in. London and the West Midlands experience significantly higher car-related crime than other parts of the UK. 

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all have much lower rates of car theft than England:

And overall, such crimes have eased off since the mid-2010s. The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated vehicle-related theft fell by 14% in the year ending December 2025, compared with the previous year.

So how do I deter car thieves?

Get a steering wheel lock

A steering wheel lock is one of the simplest, most cost-effective, and most visible ways to deter criminals. Removing a steering wheel lock takes time and makes a lot of noise - so thieves often move on to an easier target if they see such a device has been installed.

A high quality steering wheel lock will cost you around £50.

Protect your keyless entry systems

As mentioned, many cars are stolen by circumventing keyless entry systems. The most common form of this is the ‘relay’ technique, where special equipment is used to make the car and the key believe they are close to each other.

With this in mind, keep your key fob away from windows and doors, thereby ensuring its signal is too weak to be ‘relayed’. You can also use a ‘Faraday pouch’ - which blocks signals from reaching the fob  (£5 - £15).

Some criminals also harness signal amplification or interception, which exploit weaknesses in how wireless signals are transmitted between the key and the vehicle; and CAN bus attacks, where exposed modules and wiring are used to access a vehicle’s systems.

If a vehicle’s systems have been hacked, it’s possible for a new key to be programmed - a higher level tactic used by professional criminal gangs.

Think about where you park

If you have a lockable garage, use it. Apart from the fact it won’t be obvious a car is present at all, thieves would need to break into the garage as well as access the car.

If you don’t have a garage, park in a well-lit, public area. And turn your wheels towards the kerb to make towing more difficult.

If you park on your driveway, think about installing CCTV or motion-sensor lighting to deter would-be thieves.

Fit a tracking device

A GPS or radio-frequency tracker won't stop a theft from happening, but it can significantly improve the chances of recovering the vehicle before it's dismantled or exported. Some insurers offer discounts for approved trackers.

Criminals may “soak” a vehicle if they think it has a tracker: this involves leaving it parked for hours or days, to see if it gets tracked down by the police, before moving it on.

Keep your car’s software up to date

Today’s cars are essentially computers on wheels, and just like your home computer, your vehicle’s software needs to be updated regularly. Whether updates are dealer-installed, or carried out over-the-air by the manufacturer, staying on top of them is critical in order to fix security issues and vulnerabilities soon after they become apparent.

Don’t leave valuables on display

Don’t make it easy for criminals by advertising what you've got inside your car. Hide steal-able items, or better still, remove them from your car altogether.

Take extra care if you have a high risk model

As mentioned, some models are targeted more often than others. If you have such a vehicle, consider installing a security bollard in your driveway. If you have a less sought-after second car, park the more desirable model behind it. You might also look at buying an aftermarket immobiliser, which requires  a specific sequence before the car will start.

Never leave the key in or near the vehicle

It goes without saying that you shouldn't make it easy from criminals by leaving your key where it can easily be taken.

The quickest, easiest and most effective security steps

Here’s a rundown of the simplest things you can do that will have the most impact on your vehicle’s security:

Most stolen vehicles in the UK

As this table below shows, some of the most commonly-stolen vehicles in the UK are actually normal, everyday models. With this in mind, it’s clear that car theft affects all kinds of motorists, underlining the importance of improving vehicle security.

Figures based on DVLA data.