Car theft claims just jumped nearly 60 per cent! Should drivers everywhere be worried?
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Car theft is leaving thousands of Australians shaken as new figures reveal one state has surged ahead as the nation’s hotspot.
The staggering rise in claims has drained insurers of hundreds of millions of dollars in just 12 months.
Experts say thieves are becoming more sophisticated—leaving everyday drivers at risk.
Victoria was officially named Australia’s car crime capital, with theft claims climbing by 59 per cent in the past year.
A report by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) revealed more than 12,000 cars were stolen across the state, with losses topping $200 million.
The majority of these thefts were concentrated in Melbourne and surrounding metropolitan areas, costing insurers about $183 million.
Nationally, motor theft claims rose by 11 per cent to 30,000, pushing total claim costs to $466 million—an increase of 20 per cent on the previous year.
Source: Facebook/Crime Stoppers Victoria
While Victoria recorded a sharp surge, other states saw declines.
Queensland posted its largest drop in over a decade, with claims down 11 per cent to 6000 and losses falling by 10 per cent.
Western Australia and South Australia each had a 10 per cent reduction, while New South Wales dropped by 3 per cent.
ICA chief executive Andrew Hall said the figures showed a troubling trend.
'Motor theft claims have been climbing significantly over the last decade, and while they only make up a small part of overall motor claims, this is a growing concern,' he said.
'Everyone pays for car theft, through increased costs of policing, courts and ultimately insurance. We cannot accept this level of car crime as normal in Australia.'
Experts warned that offenders were increasingly using advanced technology to bypass security systems, creating fresh challenges for law enforcement and insurers alike.
Car theft isn’t just hitting the headlines in crime statistics—it’s also playing out in everyday situations that catch people off guard.
One recent case showed how even something as simple as selling a vehicle online can turn into a costly ordeal.
It’s a reminder that thieves aren’t just targeting cars parked on the street, but also exploiting new ways to take advantage of unsuspecting sellers.
Read more: Facebook Marketplace $120,000 car theft turns into seller’s worst nightmare
If car theft keeps climbing at this pace, how safe will your vehicle really be in the years ahead?
The staggering rise in claims has drained insurers of hundreds of millions of dollars in just 12 months.
Experts say thieves are becoming more sophisticated—leaving everyday drivers at risk.
Victoria was officially named Australia’s car crime capital, with theft claims climbing by 59 per cent in the past year.
A report by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) revealed more than 12,000 cars were stolen across the state, with losses topping $200 million.
The majority of these thefts were concentrated in Melbourne and surrounding metropolitan areas, costing insurers about $183 million.
Victoria leads nation in rising car thefts. Image source: Facebook/David Sullivan
Nationally, motor theft claims rose by 11 per cent to 30,000, pushing total claim costs to $466 million—an increase of 20 per cent on the previous year.
Source: Facebook/Crime Stoppers Victoria
While Victoria recorded a sharp surge, other states saw declines.
Queensland posted its largest drop in over a decade, with claims down 11 per cent to 6000 and losses falling by 10 per cent.
Western Australia and South Australia each had a 10 per cent reduction, while New South Wales dropped by 3 per cent.
ICA chief executive Andrew Hall said the figures showed a troubling trend.
'Motor theft claims have been climbing significantly over the last decade, and while they only make up a small part of overall motor claims, this is a growing concern,' he said.
'Everyone pays for car theft, through increased costs of policing, courts and ultimately insurance. We cannot accept this level of car crime as normal in Australia.'
Experts warned that offenders were increasingly using advanced technology to bypass security systems, creating fresh challenges for law enforcement and insurers alike.
Car theft isn’t just hitting the headlines in crime statistics—it’s also playing out in everyday situations that catch people off guard.
One recent case showed how even something as simple as selling a vehicle online can turn into a costly ordeal.
It’s a reminder that thieves aren’t just targeting cars parked on the street, but also exploiting new ways to take advantage of unsuspecting sellers.
Read more: Facebook Marketplace $120,000 car theft turns into seller’s worst nightmare
If car theft keeps climbing at this pace, how safe will your vehicle really be in the years ahead?
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