Victoria’s alarming rate of automotive theft has topped the Insurance Council of Australia’s (ICA) state election motion list, after recent figures again identified it because the nation’s car-theft capital.
Greater than 12,300 motorized vehicle theft and burglary insurance claims were lodged in Victoria through the 12 months to June 30, 2026, costing insurers $244 million, nine per cent greater than through the previous financial 12 months.
The upward trend is especially concerning in metropolitan areas and contrasts with falling vehicle-theft claims across every other state and territory, in line with the ICA.
Throughout the first half of 2026, the variety of claims in Victoria increased by 28 per cent, while those in Recent South Wales fell by the identical proportion.
Queensland recorded more vehicle-theft claims than Victoria in 2023 but has since reduced them, while Victoria’s rate has continued to climb.
This saw the fee of Victorian vehicle-theft claims rise by 26 per cent through the first half of 2026, having increased by 168 per cent since 2022.
“In Victoria, a automotive is stolen or broken into every 43 minutes,” ICA CEO Andrew Hall said in a press release.
“While other jurisdictions have brought these losses down, Victoria has moved in the wrong way. There are actually more cars stolen or broken into in Melbourne in a 12 months than in every other capital city combined.”
The ICA is asking for motion from Victoria’s next government, outlining 10 policy recommendations in its report, A Safer and Stronger Victoria, released ahead of the state election scheduled for Saturday, November 28, 2026.
“This election is a chance for each party to commit to those practical reforms that can make Victoria safer, strengthen disaster recovery and put downward pressure on insurance costs, and we sit up for working with the following government on exactly that,” Mr Hall said.
“When cars are stolen or homes and businesses broken into, the targeted families and owners wear the disruption and anxiety, but the prices flow back to the entire community through higher premiums.”
The report said Victorian motorists pay the second-highest insurance premiums in Australia, with the typical comprehensive policy costing $1285.
The ICA’s proposed measures to cut back vehicle theft and property crime include a statewide strategy, stronger intelligence sharing, targeted prevention measures and investment in specialist law-enforcement capabilities.
Victoria Police officially launched a publicly accessible online stolen-vehicle database this week. The tool allows users to enter a vehicle’s registration, make and model to examine whether it has been reported stolen and notify police of its location.
It comes only days after Toyota Australia launched a brand new anti-theft device for 2 of its hottest models, the LandCruiser 300 Series and LandCruiser Prado 250 Series.
The device follows the introduction of a Toyota-branded steering-wheel lock earlier this 12 months and was developed amid significant thefts of Toyota vehicles, including the RAV4 SUV and HiLux ute.
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
