Your questions answered: what happens to stolen cars?

I had my beloved Holden Commodore SS stolen 12 months ago, and it hasn’t been recovered. Honestly, it really annoys me – scumbags who steal from people who’ve worked all their lives to buy something they always wanted, loved driving, and now it’s gone. I don’t know for sure if that’s what happened to mine, but it’s a real worry if cars can be stolen using simple devices available online. I tell you what: if I buy another one, I’ll get Mick from Wolf Creek to stand guard over it. – Jon

Answer: Hey Jon, I’m really sorry to hear about the loss of your car. It’s an absolute punch in the gut, especially given that it sounds like it was your pride and joy.

You’re not alone, sadly; more than 65,000 thefts were reported in 2024 (a jump of eight per cent more from the previous year), and it’s likely to be an even bigger number for 2025. More than half of those cars were stolen from driveways and garages, via keys stolen from houses or key fob-mimicking devices that make it all too easy for criminals to simply drive away.

If your fob is inside your house but still within range of your car, the device is able to intercept the wireless connection and mimic the car key’s signal to unlock the vehicle. It’s the modern equivalent of the screwdriver in the door lock, according to police.

In fact, Victorian police have confirmed that car thefts have almost doubled for certain makes and models including Holden, with thefts of Commodores made between 2013 and 2017 jumping by a staggering 93 per cent in the 12 months to January 2025.

If your car has a fob and a start button, the single easiest way to protect yourself is to keep your keys well out of range of your car, and preferably in what’s known as a Faraday box. This is a small, metal-lined container that blocks the fob’s signals and makes the crook’s device unusable. I use an old safe to keep our spare keys secure.

What happens to stolen cars in Australia? If it wasn’t recovered quickly, odds are it’s been processed for spares, or it’s made its way out of the country in a container.

What about my 40 years of no points lost? I get nothing... a bad driver gets a good behaviour point back every year, while good drivers don't get anything. – Derek

Answer: Hey Derek, thanks for the note. It’s an interesting point, and it’s an argument that potentially has two sides to it. It’s commendable that your driving record is spotless, and I bet your insurance company has rewarded you with a full no-claim bonus!

However, should we be rewarded just for doing what we should be doing anyway? Should drivers be rewarded with ‘get out of jail free’ status for good behaviour? Your spotless record meant that you would have enjoyed 50 per cent off your driving licence in NSW (awarded for a clean record over five years), but as you note, that program has been suspended. Whereas Victorians can get 25 per cent off their licence.

I’ve always thought that the three-year window until an offence clears from your record is a bit steep, to be honest, and a point back a year is at least a bit of a carrot to encourage drivers to stay focused on the job.

Please Ford, bring it in? – Daren

Answer: Hey Daren, I’m with you! This engine makes a lot of sense in terms of a range walk for both the Ranger and the Everest, and obviously it’s already designed to fit the T2.1 platform.

There are two things that stand in the way. The first is the potentially high price Ford would need to charge for a 2.7-litre turbocharged petrol Everest – although price doesn’t seem to be much of a barrier for the frankly exorbitant Ranger Raptor, right?

The other, more crucial one is how another high-output petrol engined car would affect Ford Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) liabilities. My guess is there would have to be a hefty loading added to the car’s manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) to help offset the emissions fines the company is already set to incur from its diesel-heavy lineup.

Ford Australia said it has no plans to introduce it, but as I’ve come to learn after 25 years in this game, that doesn’t mean much!

The views stated in this advice column are advisory only. Questions may be edited for clarity and length.

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