Motor vehicle theft claims have again surged in Victoria while declining in every other state, according to new analysis released today by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA).
Insurance Statistics Australia (ISA) data from Queensland, NSW, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia has painted a stark picture of the country’s car crime, with Victoria recording a 25% increase in motor theft claims and a 37% rise in incurred costs from 2024 to 2025.
Victoria’s total bill – $243 million across more than 12,500 claims – is higher than the combined sum of all other states analysed.
“A car is stolen or broken into every 42 minutes in Victoria. This level of crime is not acceptable,” said ICA CEO, Andrew Hall.
“Each year, Victoria’s numbers stand apart from the rest of the country, and that gap is widening.
“While every other State is effectively reducing car theft, in Victoria the volume of claims and the costs involved remain at unacceptable levels and that sustained pattern is what’s most concerning.”
The State’s claims are concentrated in metropolitan regions, which recorded 10,400 claims totalling $205 million, up 30% by volume and 42% by value compared to the previous year.
Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland all recorded significant reductions in motor theft claims – down 15%, 14% and 12% respectively. This is Queensland’s largest percentage decrease on record.
NSW car crime claims volumes were relatively stable, down 1.6% following a 3.7% increase the previous year.
At a national level, motor theft claims rose 2.5% to 29,000 in 2025, with total incurred costs of $485 million. Excluding Victoria, this figure would be a reduction of 10% in claims and 8% in costs.
Theft claim frequency (the incidence of motor vehicle theft as a percentage of total motor policies) fell across all states except Victoria where it rose 31%, climbing from 0.35% to 0.46% in metro areas.
Across all states analysed, there was an increase of 2.2% in the number of comprehensive motor vehicle policies in 2025.
