Home / Statistics
Australian Vehicle Theft Statistics
Comprehensive data on vehicle theft across Australia, sourced from ABS, state police annual reports, and NMVTRC.
National Overview
Key figures on motor vehicle theft in Australia (2023 data)
54,000+
Vehicles stolen annually
148
Vehicles stolen per day
~70%
National recovery rate
11 days
Average time to recovery
$1.5B
Annual cost to economy
1 every 10 min
Frequency of theft
Theft by State / Territory
Estimated annual vehicle thefts by jurisdiction. NSW leads in volume, NT leads per capita.
| State | Est. Annual Thefts | Per Capita Rate | Recovery Rate | Top Stolen Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 16,500 | 199 per 100k | 72% | Toyota HiLux |
| VIC | 13,200 | 195 per 100k | 74% | Hyundai i30 |
| QLD | 11,800 | 222 per 100k | 68% | Toyota HiLux |
| WA | 5,400 | 195 per 100k | 65% | Toyota HiLux |
| SA | 3,800 | 210 per 100k | 71% | Holden Commodore |
| NT | 1,900 | 760 per 100k | 58% | Toyota LandCruiser |
| TAS | 950 | 168 per 100k | 73% | Toyota Corolla |
| ACT | 750 | 162 per 100k | 76% | Hyundai i30 |
Sources: ABS Recorded Crime, NMVTRC Annual Report, State Police Annual Reports (2022-2023)
Most Stolen Vehicles in Australia
The 10 most frequently stolen vehicle models nationally, based on NMVTRC and police data.
1
Toyota HiLux
Australia's best selling vehicle and #1 theft target. High resale value for parts.
2
Hyundai i30
Popular hatchback, often stolen for joyrides. Older models lack immobilisers.
3
Toyota Corolla
Widespread availability makes parts valuable. Targeted across all states.
4
Mazda 3
High theft rate relative to fleet size. Commonly stripped for parts.
5
Toyota LandCruiser
High value target, especially in regional and remote areas. Often shipped overseas.
6
Ford Ranger
Growing in popularity as a theft target alongside the HiLux.
7
Holden Commodore
Legacy vehicle still heavily stolen, particularly in SA and VIC.
8
Nissan Navara
Popular ute with strong demand for parts in the aftermarket.
9
Mitsubishi Triton
Commonly targeted in QLD and NSW, especially work vehicles.
10
Subaru Impreza / WRX
Performance variants are high value targets for organised theft rings.
Time of Day Patterns
When vehicles are most likely to be stolen
Seasonal & Weekly Patterns
Theft trends across the week and year
Peak days:
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights see the highest theft rates.
Lowest day:
Monday has the lowest reported theft rate nationally.
Peak months:
December and January (holiday period) see spikes due to unattended vehicles.
School holidays:
Juvenile joyriding spikes during school holiday periods, especially in regional areas.
Event periods:
Large public events and festivals create opportunities for car park theft.
Recovery Timeline
Most recovered vehicles are found within 2 weeks
Year over Year Trends
National motor vehicle theft trends over the past decade
| Year | Total Thefts | Change | Recovery Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 54,200 | +8% | 70% | Post pandemic spike, supply chain issues inflate vehicle values |
| 2022 | 50,100 | +5% | 71% | Vehicle values up, theft for profit rises |
| 2021 | 47,700 | -3% | 72% | COVID restrictions reduced movement |
| 2020 | 49,200 | -12% | 73% | Lockdowns significantly reduced theft |
| 2019 | 55,900 | +2% | 69% | Pre pandemic baseline |
| 2018 | 54,800 | -1% | 70% | Stable year |
| 2017 | 55,400 | +3% | 68% | Spike in organised theft |
| 2016 | 53,800 | 0% | 69% | Baseline |
Sources: ABS Recorded Crime (Cat. 4519.0), NMVTRC Annual Reports, Insurance Council of Australia
Protect Your Vehicle
Report your stolen vehicle or check if a plate has been reported.