Toyota Aqua wins infamous NZ award, again
The Toyota Aqua was the most stolen car in NZ, according to AMI. Photo: Stock
For the third consecutive year, the Toyota Aqua has claimed the title of New Zealand's most stolen car, AMI reveals.
AMI's new insurance data - sourced from the largest general insurance dataset in the country - reported almost 12,000 vehicle theft claims throughout 2024, including claims relating to attempted vehicle theft.
Last year, the Toyota Aqua made up 8% of all stolen vehicle claims, followed by the Toyota Corolla (6%) and the Nissan Tiida (5%).
Regions where vehicle theft occurred the most rank from Auckland, Canterbury, Waikato, Wellington, and the Bay of Plenty.
AMI Executive General Manager Claims Wayne Tippet notes that stolen vehicle claims have begun to decrease for the first time in four years, with stolen vehicle claims related to ram raids down by 50% compared to 2023.
The Toyota Hilux was targetted for its parts. Photo: Liz Dobson
“This might suggest that, among unprecedented vehicle theft rates, New Zealanders have put security measures and practices in place, and are being more mindful about where they park their cars.”
Despite its popularity among car thieves, 2024 saw a record number of insurance policies for the Toyota Aqua, highlighting the enduring demand for the reliable hybrid hatchback.
Wayne Tippet says AMI’s top 10 list underscores New Zealanders' love for the Toyota brand, with five different models ranking within the top nine.
“The Toyota Hilux ute climbed four spots on the list, indicating its increasing value, rural and urban appeal, and strong resale value, driven by high demand for its parts.”
While 30% of stolen vehicles were not recovered in 2024, 52% of recovered stolen vehicles were repairable.
The AMI top 10 stolen cars list:
Toyota Aqua
Toyota Corolla
Nissan Tiida
Mazda Demio
Mazda Atenza
Toyota Hilux
Toyota Vitz
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Mark X
Mazda Axela
The most frequently stolen vehicle in each region (regions ranked by claims volume)
Auckland - Toyota Aqua
Canterbury - Toyota Aqua
Waikato - Nissan Tiida
Wellington - Toyota Aqua
Bay of Plenty - Mazda Demio
Manawatū - Mazda Demio
Northland - Toyota Corolla
Hawke’s Bay - Mazda Demio
Otago - Nissan Tiida
Southland - Nissan Tiida
Gisborne - Toyota Corolla
Taranaki - Toyota Corolla
Nelson - Mazda Demio
Tasman - Ford Ranger
Marlborough - Audi A4
West Coast - Nissan Tiida
Toyota Aqua
Toyota Corolla
Nissan Tiida
Mazda Demio
Mazda Atenza
Toyota Hilux
Toyota Vitz
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Mark X
Mazda Axela
The most frequently stolen vehicle in each region (regions ranked by claims volume)
Auckland - Toyota Aqua
Canterbury - Toyota Aqua
Waikato - Nissan Tiida
Wellington - Toyota Aqua
Bay of Plenty - Mazda Demio
Manawatū - Mazda Demio
Northland - Toyota Corolla
Hawke’s Bay - Mazda Demio
Otago - Nissan Tiida
Southland - Nissan Tiida
Gisborne - Toyota Corolla
Taranaki - Toyota Corolla
Nelson - Mazda Demio
Tasman - Ford Ranger
Marlborough - Audi A4
West Coast - Nissan Tiida
