Quarter of drivers have suffered vehicle crime

RAC research reveals scope and impact of car thefts

A quarter of drivers (26%) have fallen victim to vehicle crime such as theft or vandalism in the past 12 months, according to RAC research.

Those who live in towns and city centres are much more likely to have been targeted, with 45% of motorists in these areas experiencing vehicle crime compared to just 15% in rural postcodes and one-in-five (20%) in the suburbs or the outskirts of towns.

Almost a fifth (19%) of urban drivers say their car has been vandalised with deliberate scratches and dents over the past year, while 13% have had possessions stolen from their vehicles. In rural areas, the corresponding rates are just 7% and 2% respectively. 

Other issues include vehicle theft (11% in urban areas and 6% overall); theft of vehicle parts such as catalytic converters, wheels or steering wheels (11% in urban areas versus 5% overall); other motorists failing to leave a note after causing minor damage (9% in urban areas and 8% overall); and vehicle cloning, where a numberplate from one vehicle is illegally used on another (9% in urban areas versus 5% overall).

Despite the lower incidence of vehicle crime in rural areas, drivers outside of Britain’s towns and cities are equally, if not more, worried about being targeted by thieves and vandals. 

Among drivers based in rural areas, 38% say they are concerned about their car being stolen, the same figure as urban drivers. Meanwhile, four-in-10 (39%) rural drivers are worried about vandalism compared to 34% of those in town or city centres. 

Drivers in rural locations are also considerably more concerned about other motorists failing to leave a note in the event they cause damage to a parked car: a worry for 34% of rural drivers but just 18% of those based in urban areas.

RAC Insurance spokesperson Simon Williams said: “It’s very worrying to see so many drivers have experienced some form of vehicle crime over a 12-month period. Having a vehicle vandalised is both unbelievably annoying and expensive but having one stolen is a horrible violation, incredibly stressful to resolve and inconvenient to cope with, given how important cars are to our daily lives.

“Every criminal incident like this contributes to the average cost of car insurance which has already risen in recent years due to the higher costs of parts and labour, and the increasing complexity of modern vehicles. Having to claim on your insurance because of something you’ve accidentally done yourself is one thing, but when it’s because of mindless, deliberate vandalism, it’s beyond frustrating, not least because it will inevitably result in higher future premiums.

“It’s little wonder why the cost of insuring a vehicle was named the second biggest motoring frustration in our annual Report on Motoring research, with 29% of drivers saying it was one of their top concerns.”

Jonathan Hewett, chief executive of automotive risk intelligence organisation Thatcham Research, said: “Vehicle theft is no longer just opportunistic – it’s increasingly driven by organised criminal gangs using sophisticated methods. Tackling the threat means not only making cars harder to steal, but also disrupting the networks behind high-volume, tech-enabled theft.”