HYBRID HEIST

• New data reveals a specific Toyota C-HR Hybrid variant has surged past the Ford Fiesta Zetec to top the list of most stolen trims in 2025
• The figures highlight a distinct shift in criminal behaviour, with thieves moving away from older petrol favourites toward high-value hybrids
• As EV adoption accelerates, temporary insurance experts at Tempcover urge owners to combine standard security with ‘tactical’ measures like parking nose-in to outsmart thieves

The UK’s car theft epidemic has entered a new high-tech phase, with official figures revealing that a hybrid Toyota has surged past the long-standing favourite, the Ford Fiesta Zetec, to become the UK’s most targeted specific car variant.

According to DVLA data analysed by temporary insurance expert Tempcover, the Toyota C-HR Dynamic HEV has claimed the top spot in the 2025 theft league table.

The Ford Fiesta Zetec remains a standout target for thieves with 425 thefts in 2025, but it has now been pushed into second place by the Toyota C-HR Dynamic - a signal that criminals are increasingly hunting high-value hybrids, often targeted for their catalytic converters and the value of metals inside.*

Thieves stole 437 Toyota C-HR Dynamic HEV models in 2025 - a sharp 28% increase on the previous year. Another hybrid variant, the Toyota C-HR Excel, saw an even steeper rise, spiking 39% year-on-year.  In stark contrast, thefts plummeted for every Ford Fiesta variant in the top 10, with drops ranging from 16% to 43% as criminals turned their attention elsewhere.

The data confirms that 54,145 cars were recorded as stolen in 2025. This equates to 148 cars pinched every day on average - or one roughly every 10 minutes.

While the total volume remained relatively static year-on-year (53,955)**, the Top 10 reveals a pivot towards higher-value hybrid systems. The trend aligns with the rising black-market demand for hybrid parts, with vehicles frequently targeted for their high-value catalytic converters containing precious metals, or via sophisticated 'technical' attacks such as keyless entry signal amplification.*

Jake Lambert, a temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover says: “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.”

Official League Table: The Top 10 Most Stolen Car Variants of 2025 Based on specific Make, Model, and Trim reported to the DVLA (Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025)