New data from Thatcham Research, in collaboration with the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS), reveals the international nature of UK vehicle crime.
Thatcham Research, the UK’s only not-for-profit automotive risk intelligence centre, has partnered with the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) on a new investigation that reveals the international scale of the UK’s stolen vehicle problem.
Despite the UK having the highest levels of on-vehicle security in the world, a vehicle was stolen every five minutes in 2024. In terms of standard features and optional extras, vehicles from the UK are often better equipped than those from other markets, making them a target for international organised crime groups.
Uncovering the major routes and countries used by organised criminal gangs to export a wide variety of luxury cars, SUVs and pickups, Thatcham Research’s new data also reveals the reasons why vehicles stolen in the UK are being exported to countries around the world. 52% of the vehicles intercepted by NaVCIS were from premium and luxury manufacturers, and 79% of all interceptions involved SUVs, indicating a strong demand for this class of vehicle for both usage and parts.
The top five countries identified by Thatcham Research and NAVCIS for stolen vehicle exports based on their new data (2021-2024) are the Democratic Republic of Congo (38.5%), the UAE (20.1%), Cyprus (6.7%), Jamaica (5.7%), and Georgia (5.1%). This illegal export market is driven by factors as wide-ranging as the scarcity of vehicle parts, the desirability of certain makes and models, geopolitical events and even natural disasters.
Geography is a key factor in the Democratic Republic of Congo being the number one destination for UK-stolen vehicles. With its central positioning on the African continent, deep seaport, and borders with nine countries, it makes an ideal distribution hub for other markets.
Flooding in the UAE last April is believed to have driven a surge in theft of one popular SUV model, with criminal enterprises exploiting the shortage of replacement vehicles and spare parts available through official channels by using stolen vehicles to fill the void. For example, dealerships of targeted brands were quoting three months for the delivery of a replacement vehicle. In contrast, a ship can travel from London Gateway to Jebel Ali in just 25 days.
Cyprus and Jamaica are both countries that drive on the left, making the high standard specification of UK vehicles and the steering wheel position key factors in these markets, which appear at third and fifth, respectively. Cyprus is also a gateway country to other destinations for parts and vehicles which border the Mediterranean, whilst Jamaica has seen a rise in part due to the imposition of an imported car tariff, which has made the trade more profitable.
Geopolitical factors also have an impact on the illegal vehicle markets, with Georgia being a key destination, potentially due to heavy sanctions and the withdrawal of an official presence by OEMs, which increases demand for vehicles and parts in neighbouring Russia.
The special military operation currently underway in the region has also altered the types of vehicles being stolen, with pickup trucks accounting for 16.78% of vehicles intercepted in 2024, up from 4.71% the previous year.
Chief Research and Operations Officer at Thatcham Research, Richard Billyeald, commented, “Thatcham Research has played a pivotal role in establishing security standards and conducts testing of vehicles for vehicle manufacturers, which has resulted in the UK having the highest levels of standard security equipment fitted to new vehicles. The result is that the casual theft and joy riding of the 80s and 90s has all but disappeared, with vehicle manufacturers having succeeded in making it very difficult for amateurs to steal modern vehicles.”
“However, the organised criminal gangs who have replaced them are well-funded and sophisticated in their approach, combining specialist electronic equipment with an international logistics network. Raising vehicle security alone will not prevent thefts; we believe that beating these criminals requires cooperation between government agencies, vehicle manufacturers and ourselves to reduce the value of stolen assets and, therefore, the incentive to steal them.
“Parts scarcity, vehicle desirability, natural disasters and geopolitical events are driving an illegal market in a wide variety of luxury cars, SUVs and pickups, with insurers settling claims worth £640m in 2024.
We will continue to work with vehicle makers to improve vehicle security and establish how to remotely disable stolen vehicles in a safe manner, as well as make stolen parts more difficult to reuse.”
Thatcham Research, based in Thatcham, Berkshire, developed the first widely adopted vehicle security standards in 1993 and has been conducting security, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), impact testing, and repair assessments for the insurance industry and vehicle manufacturers for over 50 years in its specially equipped, multidisciplinary testing facilities.
This unique skillset and the data it produces are being fed into the Thatcham Research Vehicle Risk Rating, the most comprehensive view of vehicle risk factors that inform the calculation of insurance premiums.
*2024 ABI Claims Data
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