Good news for car owners in South Africa

Vehicle-related crimes in South Africa have been trending downwards in recent years.

This is according to SAPS crime data for the second quarter of 2025/26, which shows that when comparing the quarter’s numbers to the same period over previous years, fewer vehicle-related crimes are being processed by the police year-on-year.

For example: there were 4,778 carjackings between July 2025 and September 2025, compared to 5,447 during the same period last year.

Thefts of motor vehicles and motorcycles over the same three months were down from 8,597 last year to 7,726 this year – a decrease of 10.1%.

Furthermore, theft out of or from motor vehicles was down from 20,820 last year to 18,793 this year.

The one exception is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which was up from 16,051 last year to 20,442 this year.

Crime data across these vehicle-related crimes for the past five years is detailed below.

Being careful

While it is a good sign that most vehicle-related crime numbers are declining, they are still too high.

For example, 4,778 carjackings over a 3-month period translates to over 50 carjackings per day in South Africa.

According to MoneyToday, the 10 most commonly stolen vehicles in South Africa this year include the following:

1. Toyota Hilux – 8,742 thefts
2. VW Polo Vivo – 6,834 thefts
3. Ford Ranger – 5,923 thefts
4. Toyota Corolla – 4,756 thefts
5. Hyundai Grand i10 – 4,234 thefts
6. Isuzu D-Max – 3,892 thefts
7. Nissan NP200 – 3,445 thefts
8. BMW 3 Series – 2,987 thefts
9. Renault Kwid 2,756 thefts
10. Kia Picanto – 2,534 thefts

Furthermore, Toyota Corolla Cross owners living in Gauteng should be particularly vigilant, as security group Blue Hawk Tactical says a group of hijackers has been targeting the Toyota Corolla Cross in Gauteng in recent months months.

The most stolen cars generally have one thing in common – they are popular, yet inconspicuous – making them either to both steal and resell.

According to Naked Insurance, hijackers appear to be operating earlier in the day compared to historical trends.

Incidents tend to peak around lunchtime from 11h00 to 13h00 and on Fridays and Saturdays.

“This suggested that hijacking risk is elevated during busy but non-peak periods, when there are still enough vehicles on the road to create opportunities, but fewer traffic delays that could complicate a quick getaway,” said co-founder of Naked Insurance, Ernest North. 

Tracker has also noted that there has been a shift in the time and location of car thefts, adding that these trends vary per region.

“Crime trends change over time, and the shifting pattern of hijackings shows that they can happen anytime, anywhere, making it essential to remain alert to your surroundings,” said Tracker COO Duma Ngcobo.