By Savannah Meacham
Australia’s worst regions for car theft have been revealed, with the number of stolen vehicles in one state more than doubling over a decade.
Queensland endured the nation’s biggest jump in car theft insurance claims from 2015-24, with rural and regional areas hit hard.
The “alarming” data on Tuesday prompted warnings that insurance premiums would rise, with the Insurance Council of Australia saying the theft of cars was a growing concern.
Car thieves were also rampant in Victoria, with the number of insurance claims rising 70 per cent in 2024.Credit: Victoria Police
New data revealed 6919 car theft claims were made in Queensland in 2024, compared with 3434 in 2015 – a 101 per cent increase.
This scourge cost victims $113 million in 2024, compared with $28 million nine years ago – a nation-leading 305 per cent increase.
Rural and regional Queenslanders most frequently made insurance claims, with more than 4000 in 2024, compared with 2000 in 2015.
But car thieves were also rampant in Victoria, with the number of claims rising 70 per cent in 2024 to a nation-leading 9816, compared with 5778 in 2015.
The cost of Victoria’s claims was $173 million in 2024, compared with $46 million in 2015, according to Insurance Council of Australia data.
In contrast, car theft claims fell by 20 per cent in Western Australia, where the 4316 claims cost $25 million.
In NSW, there were 5718 claims worth $101 million in 2024, while South Australia had 1473 claims worth $16 million.
The spike in thefts, combined with an increase in car prices and the cost of parts and labour, prompted warnings that insurance premiums would rise.
“This new data analysis shows alarming rates of motor vehicle theft claims in some parts of the country, which will ultimately cost us all,” said insurance council chief executive Kylie Macfarlane.
AAP