Following the Mirror’s Freedom of Information request to the DVLA, the UK’s most stolen car in 2025 has been named and shame – but there’s more to the story than you’d think
The UK’s top 10 stolen cars in 2025 have been revealed – and seven models all belong to one major brand.
Last month, the Mirror submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) – asking for the total number of vehicles that had been stolen from January 1, 2025, to July 1, 2025. It found that during the six month period, a staggering 23,189 cars had been targeted by thieves.
While this might seem like a sky-high number, it reflects a sharp decrease compared to 2024, when reports suggest a whopping 61,343 vehicles were stolen. It’s an even bigger drop from 2023, which saw an alarming 104,000 vehicles reported stolen – despite advances in security. It comes after UK drivers were warned over ‘avoiding’ road instead of having to follow new rule.
READ MORE: ‘I’m paying £500 a week to do my job after my car was recalled for deadly fault’
Coming in at the top of the league tables is the Ford Fiesta Zetec, a ‘timeless favourite’ that is often praised for its practical features, classic design and reliability. “Zetec is a step above Style, and you get quite a lot of bang for your buck, including alloy wheels and a heated windscreen,” say experts at Cinch.
“This car also gets a significant lighting upgrade, with stylish LED daytime running lights and front fog lights that illuminate individually when cornering. The Zetec model also comes with the company’s slick, easy-to-use SYNC 3 touchscreen infotainment system, which works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.”
At the time of writing, there are currently 3,241 second-hand Ford Fiesta Zetecs for sale on Auto Trader, with prices ranging from £695 to over £20,000. It is this affordable price point that has made the vehicle so popular, particularly amongst first-time drivers.
Want big news with big heart? Get the top headlines sent straight to your inbox with our Daily Newsletter
According to the FOI, 211 of these vehicles had been stolen during the first six months of 2025. This is followed by the Ford Fiesta Titanium Turbo (167), the Ford Fiesta Titanium X (165) and the Toyota C-HR Dynamic HEV CVT (162).
However, speaking to the Mirror about the findings, a Ford spokesperson insisted that the Ford Fiesta is no more ‘stolen’ than many other types of cars including the VW Polo or Vauxhall Corsa if you look at the percentage of total registrations and not just the volume of thefts. Despite production of the small hatchback being discontinued in 2023, it remained one of the country’s biggest-selling cars every year for more than a decade, with more than 4.8 million models registered to UK drivers.
“The Ford Fiesta is a victim of its own sales success between 1976 and 2023,” they added. “There are more Fiestas on the road in the UK than most other makes and models, and therefore the total number of thefts is higher as a result.”
Top 10 stolen cars in the UK
Back in 2023, Land Rover was hit with swathes of complaints following a surge in thefts – particularly in cities – which left many Brits unable to even insure their cars. However, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE has dropped to 15th on the list of recent stolen cars (with just 79 stolen vehicles) – thanks to its £17 million upgrade to update the security of its vehicles, including tweaking its key systems on 300,000 cars.
Land Rover’s parent company JLR also invested £1 million to fund proactive policing to tackle the organised crime groups targeting vehicles in the UK. Toyota has also invested millions in a ‘variety of solutions’ to help protect its customers from car theft, including protective plates, immobilisers, blockers and trackers.
Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured
