Theft of one type of car surges 40% as DVLA issues | Tech News

One common car model has seen a surge in car crime in 2025, with tons of of fashions focused by thieves. DVLA information analysed by Tempcover discovered that hybrid Toyota machines had been turning into a prime goal with a dramatic hike in thefts in comparison with final yr.

The Toyota C-HR Dynamic HEV topped the listing of automobiles stolen, with 437 fashions taken from homeowners in 2025. This was a 28% increase in thefts when in comparison with the 342 fashions of the identical car stolen from homeowners’ palms back in 2024. Another hybrid variant, the Toyota C-HR Excel, noticed an even steeper rise, with thefts rising by a whopping 39% year-on-year. The statistics show that 253 automobiles had been taken in 2025, up on the 182 fashions taken from homeowners final calendar yr.

The information was obtained and analysed by Tempcover as half of a Freedom of Information request submitted to the DVLA. Jake Lambert, a non permanent car insurance coverage professional at Tempcover, confused that homeowners ought to take a vary of precautions to stop themselves from turning into victims.

Jake stated: “The fact that a Toyota hybrid has topped the list is a wake-up call for motorists, particularly as EV adoption in the UK accelerates.”

“If you own a C-HR or similar hybrid, standard security measures like steering locks are essential, but you can also be tactical. For example, keeping fobs in a Faraday pouch or signal-blocking box and parking your car ‘nose-in’ against a wall or garage door can act as a deterrent. This position blocks access to the front bumper and wheel arches, making it much harder for thieves to reach the headlight wiring often used to hack the vehicle’s computer.

“We also urge owners to double-check their insurance covers ‘parts theft,’ not just the vehicle itself. If the worst does happen, temporary car insurance can be the fastest, most flexible way to get behind the wheel of a borrowed vehicle while you resolve your claim.”

In whole, the new information reveals that round 54,145 automobiles throughout all producers had been recorded as stolen in 2025, that means 148 automobiles are pinched daily on average, one roughly each 10 minutes.

While the whole quantity remained comparatively static year-on-year, with 53,955 automobiles taken final yr, it’s notable that thieves have pivoted in the direction of higher-value hybrid systems.

Express.co.uk has contacted Toyota for remark.