Popular models from Nissan, Toyota and Ford have been found to be among the most stolen in the UK in 2026, according to new figures.
And the car stolen the most is the Nissan Juke, the popular family-sized hatchback.
The data, analysed by Tempcover and sourced from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), covers cars stolen between January 1 and June 30.
A total of 25,050 cars were reported stolen during this period, equating to 138 thefts per day or one every 10 minutes and 24 seconds.
This represents a decline from the 27,831 cars stolen in the first six months of 2025.
Theft patterns also appear to be shifting, with more electric and hybrid vehicles now being targeted.
Top 10 stolen car models in the UK for 2026
According to the Tempcover analysis of DVLA data, the top 10 most stolen car models are:
In total, 1,309 cars were stolen, combining the figures of the top 10.
The Nissan Juke Tekna CVT (petrol) topped the list as the UK’s most stolen vehicle variant in 2026, up from fifth place in 2025.
There were 197 thefts of this model in the first half of the year, a 19% increase from 165 in the same period last year.
This put it 37 thefts ahead of the 2025 leader, the Toyota C-HR Dynamic HEV CVT, which dropped to second place with 160 thefts.
The Nissan Juke model being in the number one spot indicates a trend where criminals are increasingly targeting popular crossovers and zero-emission vehicles over older petrol hatchbacks.
Vehicles equipped with keyless entry and push-to-start ignition are frequently targeted using a relay device
The Ford Fiesta, once a dominant target, continues to fall in the rankings following Ford’s decision to discontinue the model in 2023.
Seven Fiesta variants remain in the national top 20, but thefts of these trims fell by 35.5% year-on-year, from 1,177 to 759.
The Ford Fiesta Titanium Turbo (140 thefts) was the highest-ranked Fiesta variant, placing third, while the Fiesta Zetec slipped from second place in 2025 to fifth in 2026.
EV models also showed up in the top 10, with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate EV (joint 6th overall with 115 thefts) having the most stolen.
Other EVs were in the top 20, which included the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Premium EV (89 thefts), the Kia Niro 2 EV (88 thefts), and the Kia Niro 4 EV (76 thefts)
How to stop your car from being stolen
Some criminals use relay attacks to unlock cars, so you can combat this by placing the keys inside a metal box or signal-blocking wallet to block the signal.
The RAC also recommends parking in a well-lit public area to reduce the chances.
It adds: “If you need to use a car park, try to find one that’s security patrolled, covered by CCTV, or that is in a secure area.”
Utilising a steering lock or brake lock can also be helpful, and it could be useful to install a tracking device in case a thief gets away with your car.
Jake Lambert, temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover, said: “With pure EVs entering the top 20, security must keep pace with the tech.
“Beyond Faraday pouches and parking nose-in to block wiring access, EV owners must secure their companion app.
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“If the app holds a digital key, set a PIN or biometric lock – a basic password isn’t enough.
“Lock charging cables to prevent component theft, and keep software updates active.
“But it’s still essential to get the basic habits right: don’t leave the app logged in on unlocked phones, and keep physical keys away from your front door.”
Have car thefts affected your area this year? Let us know in the comments.
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