Nissan Silvia most stolen car - AAI

Nissan Silvia. Photo / Supplied

If you drive a Nissan Silvia, you might want to check if it's still where you parked it - the coupe is the most frequently stolen car in the country for the third year running according to an insurance company survey.

AA Insurance today published its list of the top 10 most frequently nicked cars, based on theft claims over the last four years.

Models which were mostly imported secondhand dominated the list, and over 80 per cent of the top stolen cars were more than 10 years old.

The Nissan Skyline and various Subaru models remained popular among thieves, while the Honda Torneo, Nissan Presea and Nissan Cefiro made their debut on the list this year.

The theft incidences were calculated as a percentage of the total number of policies AA Insurance held for each model of car.

AAI corporate affairs head Suzanne Wolton said older and imported vehicles had less security than new vehicles, which made it easier for thieves to choose their targets.

Owners of older cars could make them less attractive to thieves by installing an easily visible alarm or immobiliser.

"Thieves don't like the look of a flashing light or even an alarm sticker, and will usually move on to an easier target."

A driver survey conducted by AAI found that while 71 per cent of people would not buy a car they considered attractive to thieves, many were not aware of the risks associated with older imported vehicles.

Respondents were also less careful about their cars when they were at home, with a quarter of those who regularly leave their car unlocked saying they did not lock it at home, and 23 per cent saying they did not lock it when parked in their garage.

Only 30 per cent of the cars reported stolen to AAI were ever recovered.

The Top 10 stolen cars:

1. Nissan Silvia

2. Honda Torneo

3. Nissan Skyline

4. Subaru Impreza

5. Subaru Forester

6. Subaru Legacy

7. Nissan Presea

8. Honda Prelude

9. Honda Integra

10. Nissan Cefiro

- NZPA