One in four motorists across Britain has fallen victim to vehicle crime such as theft or vandalism over the past year, new figures reveal.
RAC research conducted in April 2025 with nearly 2,400 drivers found 26% of motorists nationwide have been targeted by vehicle crime, with stark differences observed between urban and rural locations.
Nearly half (45%) of drivers in towns and city centres reported experiencing vehicle crime in the past 12 months, compared with just 20% in suburban or outer town areas and 15% in the countryside.
The survey revealed that almost one in five (19%) urban motorists had their vehicle damaged "with deliberate scratches and dents", compared with just 7% in rural areas.
Additionally, 13% of drivers in towns and city centres had possessions stolen from their car in the past year, whilst the figure stood at 2% in the countryside, the survey found.
The analysis also revealed 11% of urban drivers reported vehicle theft, compared with 6% overall.
The RAC said despite the lower incidence of vehicle crime outside towns and cities, rural motorists "are equally, if not more, worried about being targeted by thieves and vandals".
Nearly two in five (39%) drivers in the countryside said they were concerned about their car being vandalised, compared with 34% of urban motorists.
RAC Insurance spokesperson Simon Williams said the survey findings are "very worrying". He remarked: "Having a vehicle vandalised is both unbelievably annoying and expensive but having one stolen is a horrible violation, incredibly stressful to resolve and inconvenient to cope with, given how important cars are to our daily lives.
"Every criminal incident like this contributes to the average cost of car insurance, which has already risen in recent years due to the higher costs of parts and labour, and the increasing complexity of modern vehicles.
"Having to claim on your insurance because of something you've accidentally done yourself is one thing, but when it's because of mindless, deliberate vandalism, it's beyond frustrating, not least because it will inevitably result in higher future premiums," he continued.
Last December, the Government reaffirmed its pledge to tackle the spiralling cost of motor insurance.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed that work would press ahead to combat vehicle-related crime and enhance road safety, whilst simultaneously addressing the mounting expenses within the motor insurance sector.
Jonathan Hewett, chief executive of Thatcham Research, observed: "Vehicle theft is no longer just opportunistic – it's increasingly driven by organised criminal gangs using sophisticated methods.
"Tackling the threat means not only making cars harder to steal, but also disrupting the networks behind high-volume, tech-enabled theft."
Both the Department for Transport and Home Office have been approached for comment.