Birmingham has been named the vehicle theft capital of the UK, with almost 1,000 cars stolen for every 100,000 on the road, according to new analysis of Home Office crime data.
The figures, compiled by Scrap Car Comparison, show 997 vehicles stolen per 100,000 in Birmingham — the highest rate of any UK city. Bristol followed close behind on 994, with Doncaster on 992 and London on 883, despite London recording far higher total theft numbers overall due to its much larger vehicle population.
The analysis also highlighted a problem that persists well after a stolen car is recovered: resale value. Scrap Car Comparison found that recovered vehicles can lose up to 30% of their resale value, even once they’re safely back with their owner.
Matt Clamp, from Scrap Car Comparison, said: “What many drivers don’t realise is that the impact of vehicle theft doesn’t stop once the car has been recovered. Even after a car is recovered, buyers are often more cautious because of concerns over what may have happened while it was missing. From the vehicles we inspect every day, we know that uncertainty can affect resale value, and if the vehicle is later written off and given a salvage classification, we typically see its value fall by around 30%.”
For anyone buying or selling a used vehicle in one of the UK’s theft hotspots, that’s a useful reminder to check a car’s history thoroughly before handing over any money.
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