New Zealand's most stolen car in 2023 revealed

AMI Insurance today released its list of the top 10 most stolen cars across the country last year, with 2023 the second highest year for vehicle theft in the past five years.

The data was sourced from the largest general insurance data set in New Zealand – almost 17,000 vehicle theft claims were lodged last year.

“It’s concerning to see another year of elevated vehicle theft claims, and unfortunately, the data highlights that we all need to adopt a security-minded approach when leaving our cars unattended,” said AMI executive general manager claims Wayne Tippet.

For the second year running, the Toyota Aqua has nabbed the top spot of New Zealand’s most stolen car.

The Mazda Demio, previous holder of the unwanted title, has slipped from the ranks as the Nissan Tiida becomes New Zealand’s second most stolen car.

The Toyota Corolla comes in at third place, a significant climb from last year’s eighth place ranking.

Tippet said that there is a consistent similarity in the price of commonly stolen vehicles, usually no more than $5k in value.

“These seemingly cost-friendly cars are typically 10 years or older.”

Cars manufactured in 2005 were the subject of the most theft insurance claims, followed by 2006 and 2014.

Auckland continues to see the most vehicle theft, with a third of claims coming from the City of Sails.

Canterbury and Waikato follow, with 17% and 12% of vehicle theft respectively.

Thieves are still looking for “quick takes”, said Tippet.

“Cars without advanced security features such as keyless ignitions, immobilisers, or alarms, or parked where a swift getaway is possible, have a higher risk of being stolen.”

Data shows that theft rates peak between 10pm and 5am.

“With theft increasing after dark, those who can, should always park their cars in the driveway, lock the gate if they have one, or opt for a well-lit area if on-street parking is the only option,” said Tippet.