The Toyota Aqua has replaced the Mazda Demio as the most frequently stolen vehicle in the country, according to AMI, as car theft claims skyrocketed in 2022.
Despite only comprising 1.47% of the nation's fleet, the Aqua, also known as the Toyota Prius C, was responsible for 11% of AMI's vehicle theft claims in 2022.
The Toyota Aqua has surpassed the Mazda Demio, which is now the second most stolen vehicle, closely followed by the Nissan Tiida. The Mazda Atenza (Mazda 6), Toyota MarkX, Toyota Vitz, Subaru Legacy, Toyota Corolla, Subaru Impreza, and Mazda Familia round out the
top ten.
An interesting entry into the top 10 is the Toyota MarkX, with theft claims surging in recent years from 21 claims in 2020 to 441 claims in 2022, an increase of 2000% in just three years.
The theft claims surged to new highs in 2022, up 43% from the previous year, and this pattern is reflected in the rest of the AMI data. This is a growing trend, despite a Covid-related dip in 2020, the firm said.
Wayne Tippet, AMI’s executive general manager for claims, said rising thefts made it more important to review insurance details.
“Across New Zealand, we received 8,492 claims for vehicle thefts in 2022, up 43% on the year before, and up 54% from 2019.
“There are some things you can do to make your car less attractive to thieves, such as locking it, removing any valuables, and parking off-street or in a busy, well-lit area. Immobilisers are good, but if your car doesn’t have one installed, steering locks are effective deterrents too.
“I’d also urge people to check the sum insured on their insurance policy is up to date. Second hand cars are generally holding their value better than they used to, due to supply chain delays, parts shortages, and other factors,” Tippet added.
“So, if the worst happens and your car is stolen and written off, you want to make sure that your sum insured is at an appropriate level for your car.”
With almost 3,000 claims for vehicle theft in the past year, Auckland significantly outpaced second-place Canterbury, which had 1,214 claims.
Recovery rates remain high, with 94% of all Aquas recovered, 93% of Demios recovered, and 91% of Vitzes recovered, indicating that the majority of cars are stolen for joyrides.
“Virtually all of these cars are recovered, so it’s likely they’re being stolen for joy rides or to commit other crimes, such as burglaries,” Tippet added.
