Government grants are putting more new EVs on drivers' drives, but are the cars protected?
GPSBob, the UK vehicle tracker and immobiliser retailer, is warning new EV and hybrid buyers to budget for security as the government's Electric Car Grant brings more first-time buyers into the market. At least five of the ten most stolen car variants in the UK in January to June 2026 were hybrid or electric, according to DVLA figures analysed by Tempcover. The Nissan Juke Tekna was the most stolen overall, with the Toyota C-HR Dynamic Hybrid (160 thefts), C-HR Excel Hybrid (125), Prius Hybrid (115), Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate EV (115) and Ioniq Premium Hybrid (110) among the hybrids and EVs in the top ten. Four pure electric variants in the top 20 account for 368 thefts. The Electric Car Grant offers up to £3,750 off eligible new electric cars costing £37,000 or less, with a £1,500 tier for others. It launched in July 2025, has been extended with an extra £1.3 billion of funding and has helped more than 100,000 drivers buy a new EV by mid-2026. The grant helps drivers buy the car; it does not help them protect it. Causes of theft include demand for parts, CAN injection attacks that switch off the immobiliser, and keyless entry relay devices, which are used in around 40% of UK vehicle thefts (60% in London, per Met Police estimates). The Crime and Policing Act 2026 makes it an offence to possess or supply these devices, but it does not protect cars already on the road. GPSBob advises new owners to keep keys in a signal-blocking pouch, park in a garage or well-lit spot, consider a tracker and independent immobiliser (checking the insurer accepts them), use a competent installer, tell their insurer about security changes, and ask the dealer what security is fitted as standard.
- At least five of the ten most stolen car variants in the UK in H1 2026 were hybrid or electric (DVLA data, analysed by Tempcover)
- The Electric Car Grant offers up to £3,750 off eligible new EVs costing £37,000 or less, and has helped more than 100,000 drivers buy a new EV
- The grant helps drivers buy the car, but does not help them protect it
- Keyless entry relay devices are used in around 40% of UK vehicle thefts, rising to 60% in London
- GPSBob advises new EV and hybrid owners to build security, such as a tracker and independent immobiliser, into the budget from day one
"The grant is a welcome help with the purchase price, and a lot of buyers will be moving into a new EV for the first time. It's worth building security into the budget from day one. Tracking in particular is relatively inexpensive compared with the value of the car, and it can make a real difference to getting a stolen vehicle back." - Jamie Wilkinson, Chief Operating Officer, GPSBob.com
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is GPSBob announcing?
GPSBob, the UK vehicle tracker and immobiliser retailer, is warning new EV and hybrid buyers to budget for security as the government's Electric Car Grant brings more first-time buyers into the market. At least five of the ten most stolen car variants in the UK in January to June 2026 were hybrid or electric, according to DVLA figures analysed by Tempcover. The Nissan Juke Tekna was the most stolen overall, with the Toyota C-HR Dynamic Hybrid (160 thefts), C-HR Excel Hybrid (125), Prius Hybrid (115), Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate EV (115) and Ioniq Premium Hybrid (110) among the hybrids and EVs in the top ten. Four pure electric variants in the top 20 account for 368 thefts. The Electric Car Grant offers up to £3,750 off eligible new electric cars costing £37,000 or less, with a £1,500 tier for others. It launched in July 2025, has been extended with an extra £1.3 billion of funding and has helped more than 100,000 drivers buy a new EV by mid-2026. The grant helps drivers buy the car; it does not help them protect it. Causes of theft include demand for parts, CAN injection attacks that switch off the immobiliser, and keyless entry relay devices, which are used in around 40% of UK vehicle thefts (60% in London, per Met Police estimates). The Crime and Policing Act 2026 makes it an offence to possess or supply these devices, but it does not protect cars already on the road. GPSBob advises new owners to keep keys in a signal-blocking pouch, park in a garage or well-lit spot, consider a tracker and independent immobiliser (checking the insurer accepts them), use a competent installer, tell their insurer about security changes, and ask the dealer what security is fitted as standard.
When was this announcement made?
This announcement was made on 2026-10-13.
Who should I contact for more information?
For press inquiries, contact Jamie Wilkinson at hello@gpsbob.com.
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