Young people 'three times' more likely to have their car stolen

Monday, 14 November 2022

Drivers under the age of 25 are three times more likely to have their cars stolen, AMI says.

New data from AMI Insurance has found that people under the age of 25 have their cars stolen at a rate “approximately three times higher” than the general population.

According to the research, 26% of AMI’s car theft claims were for vehicles owned by people under 25 years of age, despite them making up less than 10% of the customer base.

Part of the problem is that young people tend to drive older cars, like the Mazda Demio, which came with little to no security measures.

Part of this is due to the fact that young people tend to smaller and older cars, which are more of a target for thieves.

“Compared to the rest of the population, younger drivers are more likely to drive an older, second-hand car that won’t break the budget – an older Mazda Demio or Suzuki Swift are both good examples,” said AMI’s executive general manager, Wayne Tippet.

It takes a group of youths less than a minute to break into a car, hot-wire it and drive off - a crime that is part of a spree among young people in Christchurch. (Video first published in May, 2022)

* The Mazda Demio is (still) the most stolen car in NZ

* Despite the pandemic, New Zealand saw a drop in car thefts over 2020

* Honda Torneo is the most stolen car - and thieves prefer to pinch older vehicles

“Unfortunately, that also makes young drivers more susceptible to theft. Many older, imported vehicles lack security features such as car alarms and immobilisers which deter thieves from attempting to steal a car in the first place.”

The cars most popular with young drivers are the Mazda Axela, Toyota Corolla, Suzuki Swift, Mazda Demio, and Subaru Legacy.

Two of those – the Mazda Demio and the Subaru Legacy – also feature on AMI’s list of New Zealand’s top 10 stolen cars.

When asked why he thought the Demio was so targeted, Tippet said that AMI could not be completely sure, “but like many of the models on the list, the Demio can often be perceived as easy to steal,” thanks partially due to their lack of security measures.

Interestingly, AMI’s research shows that the Demio is also the most likely vehicle to be recovered. Over the past three years, 94 per cent of stolen Demios were recovered – the highest rate out of the top 10 stolen vehicles and well above the average of 70 per cent across all vehicle models.

Compounding the problem is that while some of these badges are still on sale as brand-new cars, under 25s are unlikely to be driving the latest versions. AMI says that, on average, young people drive 16-year-old cars, built between 2005 and 2007.

If your car is getting on a bit, Tippet recommends taking extra precautions to prevent it being stolen. “Consider getting an immobiliser installed. A steering wheel lock is another effective and affordable option that will help deter thieves.”