France Still Tops Europe for Car Thefts in 2025 as Gangs Rebrand Stolen Vehicles for Resale

Overview

• The Interior Ministry reports about 125,200 vehicles stolen in 2025, a 9% drop from 2024, averaging roughly one theft every four minutes.
• Most thefts now occur without forced entry using electronic tools such as relay attacks, OBD hacks and mouse jacking, according to police, insurers and Coyote data.
• Coyote’s 2025 observatory says 40% of tracked stolen cars located abroad were found in clandestine maquillage workshops in Belgium and Germany, with about 30% on export routes via major ports.
• Thieves target common mass‑market models and SUVs, with Coyote citing nearly 70% of thefts involving SUVs and about one in two involving hybrids, while EVs account for a small share.
• Theft is heavily concentrated in Île‑de‑France, and the Interior Ministry notes a 10% rise in stolen parts such as lights and cameras over the past year.