The UK’s most stolen cars of 2024 have been revealed as new data shows a staggering 61,343 vehicle thefts were reported last year.

On average one car was stolen every 8.5 minutes in 2024

While theft reports were down 6% on 2023, they still hit the third highest figure in the past decade and more than doubled the number in the whole of 2015.

And on average 168 cars were stolen every day, seven cars stolen every hour, or one every 8.5 minutes, according to What Car? research using DVLA data.

The Ford Fiesta was the most stolen model, with 4,446 examples taken. Not surprising considering the supermini, which was axed in 2023, was the UK’s top-selling new car for more than a decade and there are currently some 4.5 million Fiestas on the roads.

Other cars popular with thieves include the BMW 3 Series, Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf.

More SUVs were targeted in 2024 than 2023: eight of the top 20 were SUVs. The Toyota RAV4 made an appearance in the top 10 for the first time, along with the Nissan Juke crossover. Other SUVs stolen in greater numbers in 2024 included the Ford Kuga, Kia Sportage and Lexus RX.

More positively, there has been a decrease in the number of thefts for eight of the models in the top 10, and Land Rover has done best of all at stemming thefts. The number of Range Rover Sports stolen last year was down 47% on the previous year, while the number of Range Rover Evoques was down by 27%.

What Car? consumer editor Claire Evans, said: “With annual car theft figures continuing to be very high, car owners need to do all they can to keep their cars safe.

“Even simple measures such as parking your car in a well-lit area or somewhere with cameras, or fitting a steering lock, will act as a deterrent and make your car less appealing to opportunist thieves.”

Most stolen cars 2024

Rank Make and model and number stolen

1 Ford Fiesta — 4 446

2 Volkswagen Golf — 1,731

3 Ford Focus — 1,700

4 BMW 3 Series — 1,371

5 Toyota RAV4 — 1,260

6 Mercedes C-Class — 1,123

7 Range Rover Evoque — 1,087

8 Nissan Juke — 1,027

9 Vauxhall Corsa — 870

10 Range Rover Sport — 867

11 Land Rover Discovery Sport — 837

12 Mercedes E-Class — 802

13 Vauxhall Astra — 797

14 BMW 1 Series 753

15 Mercedes A-Class — 690

16 Lexus RX — 678

17 Kia Sportage — 654

18 BMW 5 Series — 651

19 Audi A3 — 641

20 Ford Kuga — 632

Most stolen car brands 2024

Rank Brand No. stolen

1 Ford — 8,233

2 BMW — 5,374

3 Land Rover — 4,691

4 Mercedes — 4,605

5 Toyota — 3,748

6 Audi — 3,448

7 Volkswagen — 3,293

8 Vauxhall — 2,697

9 Nissan — 2,108

10 Hyundai — 1,659

11 Kia — 1,609

12 Lexus — 1,608

13 Jaguar — 1,312

14 Peugeot — 982

15 Fiat — 799

16 Mitsubishi — 747

17 Renault — 700

18 Honda — 676

19 SEAT — 671

20 Volvo — 644