New analysis from Temporary van insurance experts Tempcover reveals that Birmingham recorded the highest volume of van thefts in the UK over the past two years, with 1,446 incidents between 2024 and 2025.
Sheffield (695) and Guildford (577) follow, highlighting clear regional hotspots where van theft is most concentrated.
Across the UK, a van was still stolen every 52 minutes in 2025, despite a 16% year-on-year decline in overall incidents. The latest DVLA data, obtained via a Freedom of Information request, shows thefts fell from one every 44 minutes in 2024 to every 52 minutes in 2025.
Ford vans continue to dominate theft statistics, while white vehicles remain disproportionately targeted. However, the regional breakdown makes clear that van theft is not evenly distributed, with urban and densely populated areas bearing the highest burden.
High-demand commercial vehicles remain a consistent target for organised and opportunistic theft.
Van Theft Hotspots Across the UK
The data shows significant variation by postcode area, with thefts heavily concentrated in specific regions:
| Rank | Area | 2024 | 2025 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham | 797 | 649 | 1,446 |
| 2 | Sheffield | 384 | 311 | 695 |
| 3 | Guildford | 341 | 236 | 577 |
| 4 | Bristol | 287 | 270 | 557 |
| 5 | Walsall | 276 | 219 | 495 |
| 6 | Leeds | 258 | 222 | 480 |
| 7 | Slough | 269 | 193 | 462 |
| 8 | Manchester | 241 | 170 | 411 |
| 9 | Nottingham | 217 | 167 | 384 |
| 10 | Wolverhampton | 204 | 171 | 375 |
Ford accounted for the highest volume of thefts during the two-year period of 2024 and 2025, with over 11,700 incidents recorded. This represents 53% of all van thefts, nearly four times the total of Mercedes-Benz (2,935).
However, this dominance likely reflects Ford’s strong market presence. With 31,936 new registrations in 2025 (38% market share), Ford vans are more widely exposed on UK roads.
The Ford Transit 350 was the most stolen van model in the UK, with 1,309 thefts across 2024 and 2025. Ford Transit variants feature heavily across the top ten most targeted models, alongside the Mercedes Sprinter.
Notable movements include a 60.87% rise in thefts of the Ford Transit Custom 300 Base, while the Transit 100 T280 FWD saw the steepest decline (-46.50%).
White Vans Disproportionately Targeted
White vans accounted for 73% of all thefts over the two-year period, with 16,121 incidents recorded. This far exceeds silver (2,140), grey (1,286), blue (920), and black (818).
While white is the most common van colour in the UK, the data suggests these vehicles are still being targeted at a rate disproportionate to their market share.
Theft Peaks Still Cluster Around Key Months
Although overall thefts fell from 11,962 in 2024 to 10,013 in 2025, clear seasonal spikes remain. In 2024, January, March, and April saw the highest activity, while October, November, and July led in 2025.
Despite the downward trend, van theft continues to pose a persistent risk for tradespeople and fleet operators across the UK.
