These are the most stolen cars in 2025

Not only will the number of passenger car thefts continue to increase in 2025, but the financial damage from them has also risen sharply again in the past year. The Vehicle Crime Insurance Bureau (VbV) Foundation reports a total damage burden of over 127.9 million euros in 2025, representing an average damage of more than 17,000 euros per stolen car – up 38 and 24 percent, respectively, from 2024.

This upward trend in the number of car thefts indicates that car thieves are becoming increasingly professional and are adapting to ever new security systems introduced by car manufacturers. Thus, one could conclude that the increase in vehicle crime is not only increasing quantitatively, but also qualitatively….

Top 10 most stolen cars in the Netherlands in 2025

According to the VbV – the source of all information on vehicle theft in the Netherlands – this is the top 10 most stolen passenger cars of all of 2025.

This list shows that SUVs, crossovers and crossover-like vehicles are still highly sought after by car thieves. Among the brands, it is Toyota and also Volkswagen models that score high. By the way, the Toyota RAV4 has been at the top of the list of most stolen cars in the Netherlands for several years now, and this year it is also by a large margin at number 1. So the thieves’ guild has a long-term preference for this type of car.

Decreases

Models whose percentage of thefts declined the most are the older Volkswagen Polo V, the Toyota C-HR (but it is still at 5 in the theft top-10), the BMW 1 Series, the Ford Kuga and the Lexus RX.

General trends and observations

VbV ‘s 2025 report reveals several clear trends.

• SUVs remain target number one for car thieves. Models such as the Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage and Toyota C-HR are not only popular with buyers, but also attract the attention of car thieves.
• Models from Volkswagen remain popular, with the Golf and Polo also topping the rankings this year.
• Older models or variants show a decline, while newer types rise – nothing is alien to car thieves either: after all, newer is more attractive. The sixth generation of the Volkswagen Polo has taken over the leading position of the older Polo generations, and the same can be seen with the Golf.
• Toyota’s models are in demand worldwide, in part because of the strong demand for parts. This makes it economically attractive for car thieves to steal these cars and export them abroad.

Regional differences in number of thefts

The VbV reports also show clear regional differences. For example, Eindhoven, Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht are recorded above average as locations of car theft. But that may be because (leasing and rental) companies often report their business address as the theft location.

Remarkably, in Eindhoven, the number of car thefts in the first half of 2025 was almost five times higher than in the same period of 2024. In contrast, Amsterdam actually showed a decrease in the number of car thefts in 2025: with 497 thefts, Amsterdam remained 121 thefts below 2024.

The other municipalities in the top 10 of car thefts are Nijmegen, Hoofddorp, Almere, Driebergen-Rijsenburg and Tilburg.

Are stolen cars still recovered?

This is a common question in car theft. According to the VbV report, most cars are recovered within a few days, though. Ultimately, some 55 percent of passenger cars are traced – thanks in part to improved cooperation between police, insurers and technical systems. Outside the Netherlands, stolen cars are recovered mainly in neighboring countries such as Germany and Belgium, but also in Bulgaria and Poland. Recovering a stolen car is thus by no means a guarantee: some end up in African countries or in containers to other international destinations, where they are difficult to recover.

Consequences for owner and insurer

The consequences of car theft are far-reaching. The owner/user experiences a lot of stress, has to report it, experiences administrative hassle and loses his mobility. If there is a deductible or depreciation, he receives less compensation than he needs. Insurers have a growing financial burden due to increasing numbers and ever higher damage claims. This can result in higher premiums or stricter policy conditions.

The combination of number of thefts and total claims underscores the importance of actively trying to prevent theft.

Preventing theft: this is how to secure your car

Preventing car theft requires targeted measures. The VbV and security experts advise:

• Secure car against theft with a CCV-approved alarm system and immobilizer;
• Use physical protection such as steering wheel or wheel clamps;
• park in well-lit and visible areas, preferably in a garage;
• install tracking and telematics systems that can relay your car’s location after theft.

Do the car theft check from the VbV and find out the risk of your specific model being stolen. This is because it is not true that every car in the theft top-10 has a high risk of theft. A popular car is sold a lot (and possibly stolen a lot), but may still offer little theft risk percentage-wise.