Car Theft Insurance Claims up Nearly 60 Percent in Victoria: Council

A detail of the Victoria police badge on a police officer in Melbourne, Australia, on March 24, 2016. Scott Barbour/Getty ImagesInsurance premiums in Victoria are on the rise as the state faces an ongoing wave of crime and motor vehicle theft.A spokesperson from the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) told The Epoch Times that claims had more than doubled, and payouts had risen in Australia’s second most populous state.Higher payouts typically translate into higher premiums as well.“In the 2025 financial year, Victoria’s motor vehicle theft rates experienced the largest annual increase on record with claims up 59 percent and costs up 70 percent—with more than 12,000 claims lodged totalling $223 million [US$157.66 million],” the spokesperson said.Further, the ICA warned the price of car theft would ultimately be passed on to everyone.