A vehicle is stolen every hour in New Zealand. MoneyHub's latest analysis of Police data reveals 4,373 vehicles were taken between 22 June and 20 December 2025 - including an 83-year-old Ford Pickup, a Maserati Levante, and six pink cars.

MoneyHub's ongoing research reveals critical data on car theft trends across New Zealand, pinpointing the most frequently stolen models, theft hotspots, and protective measures for vehicle owners. This persistent issue continues to affect drivers nationwide, and car insurance costs and is one factor behind rising car insurance premiums.

Based on detailed Stolen Car Analysis, MoneyHub’s Head of Research Christopher Walsh isolates multiple trends for the six months ending 20 December 2025:

• “Hilux thefts now average more than one per day.
• Toyota dominates - eight of the top 20 most stolen vehicles are Toyotas, including four of the top five. Nearly one in three stolen cars is a Toyota - 30.7% of all car thefts, with 1,010 vehicles taken.
• Canterbury is the ute theft capital - the region is now the #1 location for Hilux, Courier, Landcruiser, Commodore, and Navara thefts
• Northland remains the highest-risk region per capita - 14 vehicles stolen per 10,000 people, nearly five times the rate of Southern (3 per 10,000)
• The average stolen car is 22 years old - the median age is 19 years, and 70% of stolen vehicles are 15+ years old (pre-2010). Only 2% are newer than five years.
• Silver, white, and black vehicles account for 64% of thefts - though this likely reflects their prevalence on the road.
• Monday is the worst day for car theft - 722 vehicles are stolen on Mondays, compared to 542 on Saturdays.
• Thefts climbed toward year-end - November recorded 823 thefts, the highest month in the six months surveyed.

Specific 'non-standard' thefts included:

• The oldest car stolen was a 1942 Ford Pickup - 83 years old - taken in the Bay of Plenty.
• 1971 Pontiac Le Mans and 1974 purple Ford Falcon XB stolen in Waikato - thieves going after classic "American muscle" in these cases.
• 1966 Holden Premier stolen in Waitematā - a 59-year-old Australian classic was poached.
• 90 BMWs stolen - the most targeted luxury manufacturer, followed by 54 Audis and 44 Mercedes-Benz.
• Three Porsches were taken, including a Panamera in Canterbury and two Cayennes.
• A 2017 Maserati Levante was stolen in Counties/Manukau.
• 26 Harley-Davidsons stolen - one every week on average.
• Six pink vehicles stolen - including a 1992 Toyota Corolla in Bay of Plenty and a 2004 Honda Fit in Counties/Manukau.
• 27 Nissan Skylines taken - the boy racer favourite is still on the target list.
• New cars aren't immune - Five brand-new 2025 models were stolen, including a Toyota RAV4 (Auckland City), Hyundai Tucson (Counties/Manukau), and MG ZS (Waikato)”

New Zealand's Most Stolen Cars - Average Frequency and Theft Locations

As outlined by MoneyHub in its dedicated stolen cars report:

A warning from MoneyHub Founder Christopher Walsh:

"If you're financing any car, especially a high-theft model like a Hilux or Ranger, make sure your insurance payout would actually cover what you owe. A lot of people don't realise there can be a gap between market value and their loan balance - and that gap needs to be paid by the borrower if and when a car is stolen, which can be significant”.

Car Theft Rates by Region and Population

Our analysis is grouped based on six months of police data, recognising that areas with higher populations have a correspondingly higher likelihood of theft. To add context to these figures, we’ve reported the riskiest and safest areas for car thefts in relation to population size.

About MoneyHub: 

MoneyHub is New Zealand's leading independent financial guidance website, offering free research, tools, and guides to help New Zealanders make better money decisions.

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