The cars most likely to be stolen: Motors most targeted by thieves are revealed and they’re NOT luxury Ferraris or Porsches – but will YOUR insurance actually pay out?

Theft of Ford vehicles now accounts for almost a fifth of UK car insurance claims – followed by Land Rovers, Mercedes, BMWs and Vauxhalls, it has been revealed.

According to data from Tesco Bank, black Land Rovers are now the most stolen vehicles, ahead of blue Fords, while 2016 cars are the most likely to be taken.

And Birmingham is the UK’s hotspot for car thefts, accounting for 8 per cent of all claims made – followed by London with 7 per cent and Sheffield with 6 per cent.

Research has also shown that black vehicles are the most likely color to be stolen, with most thefts happening at night between midnight and 7am, when many owners are sleeping.

Tesco Bank analysis of car insurance data shows that Fords are responsible for 17 percent of theft claims, ahead of Land Rovers at 11 percent and then Mercedes at 10 percent.

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BMWs and Opels are joint fourth with 8 percent, while the top ten is completed by Audis in sixth, Volkswagens seventh, Toyotas eighth, Kias ninth and Nissans tenth.

The data also shows that vehicles between five and eight years old are responsible for 40 percent of claims, with 2016 cars most likely to be stolen at 12 percent.

Black vehicles are the most reported stolen, accounting for 26 percent of all Tesco Bank claims in 2022/2023, followed by gray vehicles at 19 percent and white vehicles at 17 percent.

Thefts of black Land Rovers make up 4 percent of claims, followed by blue Fords. And 36 percent of claims indicate the thefts occurred between midnight and 7 a.m.

The data also confirms that BMWs are increasingly being broken into and having their steering wheels stolen, which can cost up to £3,000 to replace on more expensive cars.

Car insurance policies normally cover motorists if their vehicle is stolen, although claims may be denied if the keys are left in the ignition or a window is left open.

Dave Thompson, claims director at Tesco Bank, said: ‘Car thieves, and the tactics they use, are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

“With devices that can connect key fob signals and unlock cars remotely, thieves can steal a car from the driveway in seconds.

‘And it is the black Land Rovers and the blue Fords that the thieves have firmly in their sights. While Land Rovers are sought after and can be resold quickly, some models, such as Fords, can be torn down virtually overnight and resold for parts the next morning.

“And while the precious metals in catalytic converters no longer fetch as much as they used to, thieves are turning to other high-value parts, such as BMW steering wheels.”

He added that his top tips for drivers to reduce the risk of car theft included keeping keys in specially padded bags or wallets overnight; parking in a garage, driveway or well-lit area; and double check that the doors are locked and the windows closed.

Mr Thompson also advised removing personal items from the car; installing an alarm or tracker; and make sure you don’t leave your keys in the ignition when you leave your car unattended, as this could stop a claim from being paid.

In February, figures from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency shared exclusively with MailOnline suggested that Britain’s most owned car is also the most stolen – with Ford Fiesta thefts increasing by 53 percent in 2022.

DVLA data shows that 5,979 Fiestas were reported stolen last year, compared to 3,909 in 2021. This meant a criminal took them out on average every 88 minutes.

Experts warned the Fiesta could be at greater risk after Ford announced last year it would stop producing it, raising the cost of Fiesta parts.

These figures also suggested that thieves continued to target high-end motorcycles, with Range Rovers ranking second in terms of volume of stolen vehicles last year.

In 2022, there was a 47 percent increase in the number of stolen vehicles compared to the previous year, while Land Rover Discovery thefts also increased by more than half.

Over the summer, MailOnline reported how car insurance premiums were at an all-time high, with the average driver now paying £776 a year.

Car insurance rose in price by 18 percent in the three months to July, making it one of the most expensive household bills, according to comparison website Confused.com.

Confused.com calculated this figure after analyzing 6 million car insurance quotes.

However, the £776 figure is the average price and not the average premium driver actually pays.

This is because the premium charged by a price comparison website may change by the time a driver buys the policy, for example if they buy additional cover, but the data gives a good snapshot of current cover costs.

Confused.com said car insurance is now the third highest household bill, after council tax and energy.

It comes at a time when motorists already suffering from the cost of living crisis are also having to deal with Mayor Sadiq Khan’s controversial expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez).

** Has YOUR car been stolen? Send an email to: tips@dailymail.com **