Most stolen vehicles revealed in new DVLA data

A utility vehicle is stolen every 46 minutes in the UK, with only two out of five (39%) recovered by the police, according to a new analysis by Direct Line Van Insurance.

The figures of the driver and vehicles licensing Agency (DVLA), obtained by a request for freedom of information (sheets), reveals that 11,273 vehicles, worth 200 million pounds, were reported stolen in England, Wales and Scotland in 2024, on average, 31 days per day.

While the vehicle theft decreased in 2024 compared to 2023, the large number of thefts highlight the problem in the process of security of the utility vehicle and the need to increase preventive measures, says directly Line.

Among those stolen vehicles, Ford Transit was the most targeted model, with almost 6,000 stolen (5.906), representing more than half (52%) of all thefts.

Despite this fact, over 2,000 (2,041) Ford transit were successfully recovered by the police, comprising almost half (46%) of the total vehicles taken.

Among the first five most stolen vehicles models, the Peugeot boxer had the highest stolen vehicle proportion compared to the number of vehicles authorized on the road, with 7.7 thefts per 1,000 authorized vehicles.

Most stolen vehicle models from the UK

Source: Dvla and Direct Line Business Insurance 2025

Eva Sandstra-Bennett, Van product manager at Direct Line Business Insurance, said: “Van theft has a devastating impact on enterprises and people based on their trades for their daily lives and work.

“It is not just the cost of replacing a utility vehicle, there is the lost income if the companies cannot make deliveries or if the traders cannot reach the site.”

She added: “While police efforts in recovering stolen vehicles are commendable, individual prevention remains the most effective way to discourage thieves.

“This includes keeping the keys in a Faraday bag, parking in well-lit areas, using a steering wheel lock and installing a tracker or immobilizer.

“In addition, eliminating valuables such as overnight instruments can still reduce the risk of theft.

As for cars, a separate analysis with which car?, Published last month (February)revealed that Ford Fiesta was the most stolen car in the UK in 2024.