These are the five most stolen cars in Spain

Every day, around 90 vehicles are stolen in Spain, according to data from the Crime Report 2024 Published by the Ministry of the Interior. This report also points to Catalonia as the Spanish territory with the highest number of vehicle thefts, with a total of 8,543 vehicle thefts throughout 2024, equivalent to an average of 23 stolen vehicles per day.

Barcelona is the leading region in vehicle thefts, with a total of 2,850 vehicles stolen throughout 2024, although the total volume has decreased by 10% compared to 2023. The improvement in figures in the Catalan capital is overshadowed by the increase in major thefts in Tarragona, Girona, and Reus.

The most stolen cars

The five most stolen cars throughout 2024 were, in this order, the Seat Ibiza, Volkswagen Golf, Seat León, Ford Focus, and BMW 3 Series, mostly ten years old or older.

These are the most stolen cars in Spain. These vehicles were once best-sellers, and therefore there is a significant fleet in good condition. Many of them are stolen to obtain parts and spares for other models of the era, especially when the manufacturers no longer manufacture spares, as current legislation exempts manufacturers from having to produce spare parts ten years after they have ceased production. This explains why it is difficult to find an alternator, a flywheel, or a turbocharger for a 2008 Ford Focus or a 2009 Seat Ibiza, for example, despite being relatively new models.

The most stolen car in 2024 was the Seat Ibiza, especially those of the third generation and registered between 2005 and 2008.. For its part, the Seat Leon preferred by thieves is the first-generation model, especially vehicles manufactured between 2003 and 2004. Aspirational cars such as the fourth-generation Volkswagen Golf and the BMW 3 Series E46 are the other models most prized by car thieves, due to their value and worth.

What can I do to prevent my car from being stolen?

As data from the Ministry of the Interior shows, the most commonly stolen cars in Spain are popular vehicles over ten years old, models that are often parked on the street without extensive security measures. However, there are some deterrent methods to prevent car theft, such as trying to park in busy areas near businesses with surveillance cameras, avoiding leaving the car in the same parking space for long periods of time, installing security systems—such as a steering wheel lock, alarms, or GPS detection and tracking systems—and not leaving any items behind.

In any case, these systems do not provide an absolute guarantee of protection for our vehicle, but the added layers of security make theft more difficult and lengthy for criminals, making our car less attractive to organized gangs.