Victoria has emerged as Australia’s car-theft capital, with more than 12,300 insurance claims for stolen or broken-into vehicles costing insurers A$244 million in the 2025-26 financial year.
The figures, released by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), show that most claims came from metropolitan Melbourne, where more cars were stolen or broken into than in every other Australian capital city combined.
The data was published ahead of Victoria’s state election in November as the insurance industry called on the next government to introduce a statewide strategy to tackle vehicle theft and property crime.
ICA chief executive Andrew Hall said a car was stolen or broken into in Victoria every 43 minutes during the year. Almost 3,900 claims relating to property theft and burglary were also recorded, costing insurers more than A$56 million.
Every other Australian state and territory recorded a decline in motor theft claims over the same period, according to the council’s analysis of Insurance Statistics Australia data.
Mr Hall said insurers were increasingly concerned about organised criminal networks and an international black market in stolen vehicles and parts. He told the ABC that cars taken from Melbourne had been found in shipping containers in Dubai.
Victoria Police recorded 31,851 stolen cars in the year to March 2026, the highest figure in about 25 years and roughly double the total recorded four years earlier. The force said about 80 per cent of stolen vehicles were recovered each year.
The ICA’s election platform urges political parties to commit to stronger intelligence-sharing, targeted prevention measures and greater investment in specialist law enforcement capabilities.
Premier Ben Carroll said the figures were concerning and acknowledged that more needed to be done to reduce crime. He pointed to measures including putting protective service officers in shopping centres and shopping strips, increasing police numbers and closing illicit tobacco shops.
“Should we have done things quicker? Of course we should have. But we are doing it now,” Mr Carroll said.
