New research reveals the most common car crimes and the areas where they are most prevalent.
Unsurprisingly, speeding is the most common car crime in the UK.
The research by GoShorty analysed data from a series of Freedom of Information requests and government sources.

The 10 most common car crimes in the UK

Rank

Offence

National total

1

Speeding offences

1,873,238

2

Theft from vehicle

192,824

3

Criminal damage to vehicle

150,041

4

Theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicle

89,016

5

Vehicle insurance offences

75,871

6

Neglect of traffic directions

53,797

7

Interfering with a motor vehicle

49,946

8

Seat belt offences

48,170

9

Breath test: positive or refused

43,074

10

Careless driving (excluding the use of mobile phone)

30,167
The most common motoring offence in the UK is speeding with over 1.8million offences. There was a substantial gap between speeding offences and second-placed ‘theft from a vehicle’, with the latter recording 192,824 offences.
Rather shockingly, many motorists are still driving without a seat belt on with seat belt offences coming in 8th with 48,170 offences.
It may surprise most readers that the use of mobile phones behind the wheel didn’t make the top 10. As has been noted in previous reports on the subject, anecdotal evidence is strong, but the numbers caught is low. Phone use behind the wheel comes in at number 15, with 17,857 offences recorded.

The five areas with the highest number of insurance offences

There were also 75,871 vehicle insurance offences, but which area was the biggest offender?

Rank

Area

Number of insurance offences per 100,000 people

1

Norfolk

292.23

2

Humberside

262.41

3

Leicestershire

228.42

4

London (Met & City)

219.05

5

Nottinghamshire

208.89
Norfolk is the area with the highest number of insurance offences per 100,000 people with 292.23. It is followed by Humberside and Leicestershire with 262.41 and 228.42.

Further top statistics from the research

  • Lincolnshire has the highest number of speeding offences with 13,420.07 per 100,000 people.

  • London saw the most thefts from a vehicle with 687.51 per 100,000.

  • Essex has the highest number of seat belt offences with 286.57 per 100,000.

  • Thames Valley saw the highest number of parking offences with 144.21 per 100,000 people.

  • Cumbria was the area with the most cases of using mobile phones whilst driving, with 80.03 per 100,000.

You can view the full research article here.