Image of a red car driving through the city as a decorative element for the information

• The most desired car models by vehicle thieves in Spain are the SEAT Ibiza, the Volkswagen Golf, and the SEAT León. The reasons: their versatility, good value for money, and market demand.
• On the other hand, the most coveted motorcycles by thieves are the Honda Scoopy, the SYM Symphony, and the KYMCO Super Dink, urban scooters valued for their finish, good price, and urban character.
• Despite the volume of thefts recorded in Spain, 22% of cars, 37% of vans, and 82% of motorcycles lack any insurance protection against this phenomenon, meaning that in the event of theft, the owners would not receive any compensation.
• According to official data from the Ministry of the Interior, between 2019 and 2023, more than 150,000 vehicle thefts occurred in Spain, of which nearly 70% remained unsolved. Additionally, although the increase in cases is moderating, the trend continues to rise: in 2024, more than 33,000 vehicles were stolen in Spain (+0.7%).
• Thieves no longer limit themselves to breaking the window and hot-wiring a car; they now have the latest technologies to achieve their goals: from frequency jammers and coding and diagnostic machines to the use of interfaces, devices that can be easily obtained on the Internet.
• The most common theft occurs on Mondays, in January, to a car of a certain age (11 years) and worth about €9,500. In partial thefts, the most stolen parts are mirrors, exhaust pipes, sound systems, and the car's own keys.
• The provinces where, proportionally, the most car thefts were recorded in the last 5 years were Seville, Madrid, and Tarragona. In the case of motorcycles, the "hottest" areas were the Balearic Islands, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and Barcelona.

Madrid, 1 April 2025. A car propped up on bricks and without wheels; a broken window, a busted lock, or vehicles that disappear without a trace to be sold whole or in parts. We all know similar cases, those of an illicit and dark "business" that is often linked to other crimes, some of them very serious and whose frequency seems to be increasing.

But what is behind a car theft? Experts are clear: usually, organized crime gangs that take the vehicle out of Spain or sell it for parts over the Internet; criminals who steal them for fun or to commit other crimes, such as ram-raiding, and people who fake a theft to claim insurance compensation. Additionally, Interpol points out that, in some cases, car thefts are used to finance organized crime, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, or terrorism.

In any case, thieves do not mainly target high-end vehicles. According to the report "Vehicle Theft in Spain (2019-2023)," conducted by Línea Directa Aseguradora, the most desired car models by vehicle thieves in Spain are the SEAT Ibiza, the Volkswagen Golf, and the SEAT León. The possible reasons: the versatility of these models, their good value for money, and their market demand. On the other hand, the most coveted motorcycles by thieves are the Honda Scoopy, the SYM Symphony, and the KYMCO Super Dink, urban scooters valued for their finish, good price, and urban character.

As for the top 10 most stolen car models in Spain in the last 5 years, they are as follows:
 

Rk	Brand	Model
1	SEAT	Ibiza
2	Volkswagen	Golf
3	SEAT	León
4	Ford	Focus
5	BMW	Serie 3
6	Renault	Megane
7	Opel	Astra
8	Volkswagen	Polo
9	Citroën	Xsara
10	Citroën	C3

As a major development, Línea Directa has also identified the most coveted motorcycles by thieves in the last five years: the Honda Scoopy, the SYM Symphony, and the KYMCO Super Dink; Asian scooters valued for their finish, price, and urban character. Here is the top 5:

Rk	Brand	Model
1	Honda	Scoopy
2	SYM	Symphony
3	KYMCO	Super Dink
4	Yamaha	TMax
5	Honda	PCX

 

150,000 vehicle thefts in five years

The theft figures are alarming: from 2019 to 2023, more than 150,000 vehicle thefts occurred in Spain, of which nearly 70% remained unsolved. On the other hand, preliminary figures for 2024 indicate that the increase in cases is moderating, although the numbers continue to rise, with more than 33,000 vehicle thefts, representing a 0.7% increase over the previous year.

Additionally, it is noteworthy that despite the increase in thefts, 22% of cars, 37% of vans, and 82% of motorcycles lack any insurance protection against this crime, meaning that in the event of a theft, they would not receive any compensation. This is a striking fact, considering that, according to the company's data, only 39% of vehicles were recovered by their owners. Furthermore, the economic difference between having or not having protection against this crime is very small: barely 20 euros.

MODEL	THIRD-PARTY INSURANCE	EXTENDED THIRD-PARTY INSURANCE*	DIFFERENCE
Seat Ibiza	337€	359€	22€
Volkswagen Golf	344€	364€	20€
Seat León	351€	373€	22€
MEDIA	344€	365€	21€

*Primas medias calculadas para los 3 coches más robados con una antigüedad de 11 años. El Terceros ampliado incluye protección contra Robo, Incendio y rotura de Lunas.

Most common theft and modus operandi

Línea Directa has identified which car and motorcycle brands and models are most desired by thieves. Generally, thieves do not usually choose high-end vehicles for their purposes but rather mid-range utility vehicles highly valued for their quality-price ratio and their demand in the black market. In fact, the most common theft is of a car of a certain age (11 years), worth about €9,500, which is usually stolen on Mondays and in January. Regarding partial thefts, the most stolen parts are mirrors, exhaust pipes, sound systems, and vehicle keys, although catalytic converter thefts seem to be on the rise due to their potential inclusion of metals like platinum.

Regarding the modus operandi, theft methods are very varied and increasingly sophisticated over the years. The State Security Forces warn that professional thieves use sophisticated and easily acquired tools, such as frequency jammers, which can block the central locking system; coding machines, which, once connected to the OBD port, allow a key to be coded in less than a minute; interfaces, which can disable the vehicle's immobilizers; and diagnostic machines, which can alter the chassis number, mileage, or faults.

According to Mar Garre, Director of People, Communication, and Sustainability at Línea Directa Aseguradora, “vehicle theft is usually linked to very dangerous plots and international gangs that pose a serious threat to society as a whole. Their activity can cause vehicle owners significant economic and personal harm, especially in times of inflation in car prices. Therefore, it is essential to have insurance with theft coverage to protect us against these crimes.”

Map of car theft insurance claims in Spain

Línea Directa has also mapped out car thefts in Spain according to its own portfolio, consisting of 2.5 million cars and motorcycles. In this regard, the territories with the highest frequency of car thefts are Seville, Madrid, and Tarragona, while the provinces with the lowest proportion are Lugo, Asturias, and Orense. In the case of motorcycles, the "hottest" areas are the Balearic Islands, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and Barcelona, while on the opposite side are Zamora, Teruel, and Soria, where thefts are practically negligible.

Tips to prevent vehicle thefts

It is important to be aware that there is no definitive remedy against vehicle theft, as many cases are perpetrated by specialized professional gangs. However, taking some precautions is essential to deter thieves. Here are some basic tips:

1. How to Act: Report the theft as soon as possible at the nearest police station and call your insurance company, to which you must send a copy of the report. Additionally, if your bag or wallet containing your car keys has been stolen, inform your insurance company as soon as possible.
2. Security Measures: Consider incorporating elements that deter thieves, including technological means that help geolocate your vehicle in case of theft. Also, do not rule out using more traditional measures such as steering wheel locks or anti-theft screws if your vehicle does not have them.
3. Always Ensure Your Car is Locked: Frequency jammers can neutralize the vehicle's central locking system.
4. Parking Tips: If you have your own garage, leave the car inside. If not, avoid parking in dark, isolated, or remote places. If you are going to be away or on vacation, arrange with a friend to move the vehicle periodically.

Methodological sheet
To prepare this report, all total and partial theft claims registered in Línea Directa Aseguradora's portfolio, consisting of 2.5 million vehicles (cars and motorcycles), between 2019 and 2023 were analyzed. This includes the most stolen car and motorcycle brands and models at the national, regional, and provincial levels, the most stolen parts in cars (partial thefts), the percentage of total theft claims over total open claims, the average age of stolen vehicles, average costs for partially stolen vehicles, the most frequent day and month for vehicle theft, and the recovery percentage. To establish the national theft rankings, the percentage of the portfolio with theft coverage that opened a claim for this guarantee between 2019 and 2023 was calculated. To determine the most stolen car and motorcycle models in Spain, the most stolen models by volume were chosen, unifying the motorization and finishes of each model to avoid fragmenting the result. To determine the quantitative evolution of vehicle theft in Spain, official data from the Ministry of the Interior's Crime Statistics Portal on known and solved cases in the field of vehicle theft (2019-2024) were used. The market value was established based on age valuations by GANVAM on coches.net.