Vehicle crime affects one in four drivers

A quarter of motorists have fallen victim to vehicle crime such as theft or vandalism in the past year, according to new RAC research.

Those who live in towns and city centres are much more likely to have been targeted, with 45% of drivers in these areas experiencing vehicle crime, compared to just 15% in rural postcodes and one-in-five (20%) in the suburbs or the outskirts of towns.

Almost a fifth (19%) of urban drivers say their car has been vandalised with deliberate scratches and dents over the past 12 months, while 13% have had possessions stolen from their vehicles. In rural areas, the corresponding rates are just 7% and 2% respectively.

Other issues include vehicle theft (11% in urban areas and 6% overall); theft of vehicle parts​ such as catalytic converters, wheels or steering wheels (11% in urban areas versus 5% overall); other motorists failing to leave a note after causing minor damage (9% in urban areas and 8% overall); and vehicle cloning, where a numberplate from one vehicle is illegally used on another (9% in urban areas versus 5% overall).

“It’s very worrying to see so many drivers have experienced some form of vehicle crime over a 12-month period,” said RAC Insurance spokesperson Simon Williams.

“Having a vehicle vandalised is both unbelievably annoying and expensive but having one stolen is a horrible violation, incredibly stressful to resolve and inconvenient to cope with, given how important cars are to our daily lives.

“Every criminal incident like this contributes to the average cost of car insurance which has already risen in recent years due to the higher costs of parts and labour, and the increasing complexity of modern vehicles.

“Having to claim on your insurance because of something you’ve accidentally done yourself is one thing, but when it’s because of mindless, deliberate vandalism, it’s beyond frustrating, not least because it will inevitably result in higher future premiums.”