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Monday, 12 January 2026 - 12:50

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Vehicle thefts rise sharply in the Netherlands in 2025, Toyota RAV4 and Kia most stolen

The Netherlands saw a sharp rise in vehicle thefts in 2025, with both passenger cars and light commercial vehicles increasingly targeted, according to annual data from Stichting Verzekeringsbureau Voertuigcriminaliteit (VbV), the Dutch organization that collects and analyzes vehicle crime data from insurers, police, and other authorities. The five most stolen passenger cars were the Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage, Fiat 500, Volkswagen Polo VI, and Toyota C-HR.

A total of 7,497 passenger cars were stolen last year, a 12 percent increase from 2024. Financial losses from these thefts topped 127 million euros, up 38 percent. The average loss per stolen car rose nearly 24 percent, to 17,061 euros.

The Toyota RAV4, model years 2019 to present, remained the most stolen passenger car, with 387 thefts, a 13 percent increase from 2024. The Kia Sportage, model years 2021 – present, saw the largest rise, with 162 thefts, up 119 percent. The Fiat 500, Volkswagen Polo VI, and Toyota C-HR completed the top five most stolen passenger cars.

Despite a decline in thefts from 267 in 2024 to 149 in 2025, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter continued to be the most targeted among light commercial vehicles.

The theft of light commercial vehicles also increased, climbing 6 percent to 2,055. In contrast, motorcycle and moped thefts declined. Stolen motorcycles fell 7 percent to 1,866, while mopeds dropped 3 percent to 10,018.

Of the 6,945 stolen passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, and motorcycles recovered in 2025, the location of recovery was known for three-quarters of the vehicles. Most were recovered in the Netherlands. Abroad, 913 vehicles were found, a 20 percent increase over 2024. The most common countries where we found stolen vehicles were Germany, Belgium, and Bulgaria, with passenger cars accounting for the largest share.

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