Victoria continues to lead Australia in motor vehicle theft insurance claims, with new figures showing car crime is rising sharply in the state even as theft rates decline elsewhere across the country.
Data released by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) reveals motor vehicle theft claims in Victoria increased by 25 per cent between 2024 and 2025, while the cost of those claims jumped by 37 per cent.
According to Insurance Statistics Australia (ISA), Victoria recorded more than 12,500 theft-related claims worth $243 million during the year. The total exceeds the combined cost of claims across Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.
The majority of claims were concentrated in metropolitan areas, where more than 10,400 theft claims were lodged at a cost of $205 million. Compared with the previous year, claim volumes in metropolitan Victoria rose by 30 per cent, while costs increased by 42 per cent.
The figures contrast sharply with trends in other states. Western Australia recorded a 15 per cent decline in motor theft claims, South Australia saw claims fall by 14 per cent, and Queensland reported a 12 per cent decrease, its largest reduction on record. New South Wales experienced a modest decline of 1.6 per cent.
Nationally, motor vehicle theft claims increased by 2.5 per cent to around 29,000 in 2025, with total incurred costs reaching $485 million. However, excluding Victoria, claims across the rest of Australia would have fallen by 10 per cent, while costs would have declined by 8 per cent.
The frequency of theft claims, measured as a proportion of total motor vehicle insurance policies, also fell in every state except Victoria. In metropolitan Victoria, theft claim frequency increased by 31 per cent, rising from 0.35 per cent to 0.46 per cent.
ICA chief executive Andrew Hall said Victoria’s car theft problem remained a significant concern.
“A car is stolen or broken into every 42 minutes in Victoria. This level of crime is not acceptable,” Mr Hall said.
“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.”
The report comes despite a 2.2 per cent increase in the number of comprehensive motor vehicle insurance policies across Australia during 2025.
