Key Points
- The most stolen vehicles in New Zealand are commercial models: Toyota Hilux, Ford Courier and Toyota HiAce.
- The most stolen passenger vehicles are the: Toyota Corolla, Holden Commodore and Toyota Aqua.
- The vast majority of the cars and utes stolen were pre-2013 models (80%), which feature less sophisticated anti-theft systems.
Over the last six months (to 11/03/25), 4901 cars, motorbikes, trucks, trailers and utes were stolen in NZ, which is slightly down on the six months to February 2024 (4964).
Discard the bikes and trailers and the number is approximately 3543 vehicles, which averages out to about 10 cars, trucks and utes nicked every day. But which makes and models of cars are targeted most by thieves?
Most stolen cars in NZ
On the most-stolen car lists, the same popular family runabouts always place highly: the Toyota Corolla, the Mazda Atenza and Demio models and the Nissan Tiida. And, looking at the latest NZ Police figures, family cars are the most stolen. The most commonly stolen types of car are station wagons/SUVs, saloons and hatchbacks:
No. Thefts | Type of vehicle |
|---|---|
1064 | Station Wagons/SUV |
808 | Saloons |
775 | Hatchbacks |
590 | Utes |
324 | Motorbikes/ATVs |
293 | Vans/Trucks/Bus |
218 | Mopeds |
30 | Mobile Homes |
14 | Convertibles |
Most stolen car brands in NZ
And of the car, ute and van brands stolen, it's no surprise that the big names dominate:
Car Brand | No. Stolen |
|---|---|
Toyota | 918 |
Nissan | 490 |
Mazda | 440 |
Ford | 330 |
Holden | 203 |
Mitsubishi | 179 |
Honda | 148 |
Subaru | 149 |
BMW | 111 |
Suzuki | 90 |
Other brands stolen:
- Volkswagen (60)
- Mercedes-Benz (55)
- Audi (54)
- Hyundai (41)
- Isuzu (26)
- Jeep (22)
- Land Rover (20)
- Kia (14)
- Lexus (13)
- Daihatsu (12)
Most stolen car models in NZ
But, overall, tradies' vehicles are the biggest magnets for thieves, who target tools and work gear. But since utes are usually considered work vehicles, they're often left off many lists of most stolen passenger vehicles. This is despite the number of utes (especially twin cabs) being used as family wagons.
And, as you can see from our list of top stolen vehicles, two of the top three are utes, and the other, the HiAce, is your typical commercial white van.
The top makes and models targeted by thieves in the six months to March 11, 2025:
Car Brand/Model | No. Stolen |
|---|---|
Toyota Hilux | 176 |
Ford Courier | 109 |
Toyota HiAce | 96 |
Toyota Corolla | 90 |
Ford Ranger | Holden Commodore | Toyota Aqua | 81 |
Mazda Atenza | 73 |
Nissan Navara | 70 |
Nissan Tiida | 69 |
Mazda Demio | Subaru Legacy | 65 |
Suzuki Swift | 60 |
Ford Falcon | Mazda Axela | Subaru Impreza | 56 |
Toyota Landcruiser | 53 |
Mazda Bounty | 47 |
But before you despair about car crime, one important factor links all the car thefts listed above: the age of the cars taken. The vast majority of the cars and utes stolen were pre-2013 models (80%), 17% were registered between 2013-19, and just a few (3%) were recent 2020+ models.
What this says about the nature of car crime is that newer cars that feature sophisticated security systems are a lot harder to steal, and therefore less of a target for young joyriders.
How to deter car thieves
Of course, if you're a criminal looking to break into cars, you are going to target places where there are lots of unattended automobiles, and where your presence isn't going to attract too much attention: think busy car parks. But while the average motorist can't avoid parking in such places, there are steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim of car crime:
- If you've an older car without an immobiliser or alarm use a steering-wheel lock. In fact, a steering-wheel lock is a good deterrent for modern cars, too. As keyless entry systems can be hacked by tech-savvy car thieves
- Always ensure your car is locked
- Try to park in a busy area, with surveillance cameras if possible
- Park in a secure garage overnight, rather than on the street
- Never leave valuables in your car
- Don't leave worthless items in your car that could attract thieves - for example, an empty bag or briefcase
