Between 2021 and 2024, Cyprus ranked among the top five global destinations for stolen cars from the UK, according to data by Thatcham Research and the UK’s National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS).

New findings reveal that despite the UK’s advanced vehicle security systems, one car was stolen every five minutes in 2024. Most of these vehicles ended up in international markets, often via intricate criminal networks.

The study identified the Democratic Republic of the Congo (38.5%), the United Arab Emirates (20.1%), Cyprus (6.7%), Jamaica (5.7%) and Georgia (5.1%) as the primary destinations for stolen vehicles during the 2021–2024 period.

Cyprus’s inclusion in the top five stems from its unique position as a left-hand-drive market—compatible with UK vehicles—and its geographic location at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

The island has become an attractive transit and resale hub for luxury SUVs, pick-ups and vehicle components. British high-spec models are particularly sought after, given the limited supply of right-hand-drive used cars locally.

Criminal groups exploit this demand and the island’s logistical advantages to dismantle and re-export stolen vehicles or parts to other markets across the region.

According to NaVCIS data, 79% of recovered stolen vehicles were SUVs, and more than half belonged to premium or luxury brands, underscoring the profitability of this illicit trade. In 2024 alone, UK insurers paid £640 million in compensation for stolen vehicles, according to the Association of British Insurers.