Thefts of Ford vehicles now account for nearly one fifth of UK car insurance claims – followed by Land Rovers, Mercedes, BMWs and Vauxhalls, it has been revealed.
Black Land Rovers are the now most commonly stolen vehicles ahead of blue Fords while cars made in 2016 are most likely to be taken, according to Tesco Bank data.
And Birmingham has been billed the UK hotspot for car thefts, accounting for 8 per cent of all claims made – followed by London at 7 per cent and Sheffield 6 per cent.
Research also found black vehicles are the likeliest colour to be stolen, while most thefts happen overnight between midnight and 7am when many owners are asleep.
Analysis by Tesco Bank of its car insurance data found Fords make up 17 per cent of theft claims, ahead of Land Rovers at 11 per cent, then Mercedes at 10 per cent.
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Thefts of black Land Rovers make up 4 per cent of claims – the highest of any make and colour
BMWs and Vauxhalls are joint fourth at 8 per cent, while completing the top ten are Audis in sixth, Volkswagens seventh, Toyotas eighth, Kias ninth and Nissans tenth.
The data also found vehicles between five and eight years old are responsible for 40 per cent of claims, with cars made in 2016 most likely to be stolen at 12 per cent.
Black vehicles are mostly reported stolen, accounting for 26 per cent of all claims to Tesco Bank in 2022/23, followed by grey at 19 per cent and white at 17 per cent.
Thefts of black Land Rovers make up 4 per cent of claims, followed by blue Fords. And 36 per cent of claims indicate that thefts took place between midnight and 7am.
The data also confirms a rise in BMWs being broken into and having the steering wheel stolen, which can cost up to £3,000 to replace in high-end cars.
Car insurance policies normally cover motorists if their vehicle as stolen – although claims can be declined if keys have been left in the ignition or a window has been left open.
Dave Thompson, claims director at Tesco Bank, said: ‘Car thieves, and the tactics they adopt, are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
‘With devices that can connect key fob signals and unlock cars remotely, thieves can snatch a car off the driveway in a matter of seconds.
‘And it’s black Land Rovers and blue Fords that are firmly in thieves’ sights. While Land Rovers are sought after and can be sold on quickly, some models like Fords can be broken down pretty much overnight and sold on for parts the next morning.
‘And while the precious metals in catalytic converters aren’t fetching as much as they once did, thieves are turning to other high value parts such as the steering wheels in BMWs.’
He added that his top tips for drivers to reduce the risk of car theft included keeping keys stored in specially-lined bags or wallets at night; parking in a garage, driveway or well-lit area; and double checking the doors are locked and the windows closed.
Mr Thompson also advised removing personal items from the car; fitting an alarm or tracker; and ensuring you do not leave your keys in the ignition when you leave your car unattended, because this could otherwise stop a claim from being paid out.
In February, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency figures exclusively shared with MailOnline suggested Britain’s most-owned car is also the most stolen – with Ford Fiesta thefts increasing 53 per cent in 2022.
DVLA data showed 5,979 Fiestas were reported stolen last year compared to 3,909 in 2021. It meant a criminal made off with one every 88 minutes on average.
Experts warned the Fiesta could be at greater risk after Ford announced last year that it will stop making them, which would see the cost of Fiesta parts rise.
These figures also suggested thieves were continuing to target high-value motors, with Range Rovers second in the order of stolen vehicles by volume last year.
There was a 47 per cent rise in the number stolen in 2022 compared to the previous year, while Land Rover Discovery thefts also rose by more than half.
Birmingham is the UK hotspot for car thefts, accounting for 8 per cent of all claims made (file)
Over the summer, MailOnline reported how car insurance premiums were at their highest-ever level, with the average driver now paying £776 a year.
Motor cover rose in price by 18 per cent in the three months to July, making it one of the most expensive household bills, according to comparison website Confused.com.
Confused.com worked out this figure after analysing 6million car insurance quotes.
However, the £776 figure is the average quoted price, not the average premium drivers actually pay.
This is because the premium a price comparison website calculates can change by the time a driver buys the policy, for example if they buy additional cover – but the data gives a good snapshot of current cover costs.
Confused.com said car insurance is now the third highest household bill behind council tax and energy.
It comes at a time when motorists already suffering from the cost-of-living crisis are also enduring the controversial extension of Mayor Sadiq Khan’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez).
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