Toyota Prius tops list of most stolen car model in France in 2021
Over 120,000 cars and motorbikes were stolen last year, the equivalent of 336 every day
Ile-de-France is the region in France where most vehicle thefts take place
Daniel Jedzura / Shutterstock
The most stolen type of car in France in 2021 was the Japanese-made Toyota Prius, according to an annual report by car magazine Auto Plus, published yesterday (February 4).
It was based on an assessment of 16 million insured cars in the country.
It noted that the use of rare materials in the car, including platinum, palladium and rhodium, makes it popular with thieves.
It comes as a bit of a surprise, as the car did not feature in the top 50 most stolen cars of 2020.
In second place is the DS7 Crossback, which was the most stolen car in 2020. Auto Plus noted that its vulnerable locking system makes it a target.
The Renault Mégane RS completes the top three.
Read more: How to report a stolen car in France
In total, 122,700 cars and motorbikes were stolen in France last year, the equivalent of 336 every day.
The coronavirus pandemic has meant lower rates of vehicle thefts. In 2019, around 140,200 cars and motorbikes were stolen in France, some 20,000 more than in 2020 and 2021.
Top 10 most stolen cars in France in 2021:
Toyota Prius
DS7 Crossback
Renault Mégane RS
Renault Clio IV
Renault Mégane IV
Peugeot 3008
Toyota CH-R
DS3
Peugeot 208
Smart Fortwo
Where in France did most thefts take place?
Ile-de-France is the region in France where most cars are stolen, undoubtedly due to the fact that it is also the most populous region.
Around 55,000 vehicles were stolen from there in 2021.
However, the number of thefts in Paris did drop last year compared to 2020.
This was also the case for the Massif Central, the Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Gironde and Hérault.
On the contrary, thefts have risen sharply over the past year in Loir-et-Cher, Meuse, Orne, Guyana and Vendée.
They have also risen a little in Rhône, Loire-Atlantique, Bouches-du-Rhône, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne and Isère.
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