Fewer cars stolen across Australia — except in Victoria

Victoria Police says car theft has spiked in recent years. (Supplied)

Motor vehicle theft has declined in every mainland Australian state except Victoria, which has notched up a 25 per cent increase in claims.

Victorian vehicle theft claims are concentrated in greater Melbourne, which recorded 10,400 claims between 2024 and 2025, totalling $205 million.

Political analysts say crime is set to be a key topic ahead of the Victorian state election in November.

Motor vehicle theft claims have spiked in Victoria, according to new insurance data, bucking a decline in every other mainland state.

New analysis from the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) shows there was a 25 per cent increase in motor theft claims from 2024 to 2025, and a 37 per cent rise in incurred costs over the same period.

ICA chief executive Andrew Hall said the Insurance Statistics Australia (ISA) data showed Victoria's total bill — $243 million across more than 12,500 claims — was higher than the combined sum of all other mainland states.

Car theft insurance claims have risen by 25 per cent in Victoria between 2024 and 2025, according to new data. (ABC News)

"It's a startling figure and this data has taken us by surprise as well," he said.

"It's good news around the rest of the country where we have seen Queensland reduce its rates in the biggest drop since 2022, down 1 per cent. Western Australia is down 15 per cent.

Victorian claims were concentrated in metropolitan Melbourne, which recorded 10,400 claims totalling $205 million, up 30 per cent by volume and 42 per cent by value between 2024 and 2025.

By comparison, metropolitan Sydney notched up about 2,600 claims between 2024 and 2025, while Brisbane and Perth had about 2,700 and greater Adelaide about 1,000 claims during the same 12-month period.

Andrew Hall says Victoria is bucking a nationwide decline in vehicle theft rates. (ABC News: Craig Hansen)

"It's about 10,000 cars a year now being stolen or broken into in Melbourne — the equivalent of every car you can park at Tullamarine airport being stolen or broken into."

Victorian motorist Samantha Petrevski and her partner pulled over to help at the scene of a car crash in Melbourne's outer north in November last year.

A car ahead of them had flipped onto its roof and a man was trying to get himself free from the wreck.

Shortly after the man was extricated, he attempted to steal Ms Petrevski's vehicle.

"All of a sudden, I hear someone turn around and say, 'Whose red car is that? He's getting in it,' and I turn around and he's literally closing my driver's door, puts t