One of the main reasons your car is being stolen is because it’s being stripped for its car parts; nowadays, parts are far more lucrative than trying to move and sell the whole vehicle. The best way to protect your car is to invest in car tracking solutions, because it adds an additional layer of safety to your car’s own safety features.
The ever-growing illicit market of car parts trading is a stark reflection of the current state of the country. Organised syndicates are quickly moving from opportunistic steals to well-planned, careful operations, pushing everyday motorists into the shadow economy and leaving them unknowingly supporting the very people who target them.
The safety of you, your family and your fleet drivers is non-negotiable, so make sure you invest in the best protection solutions. Learn more about car parts theft cases, understand the growing black market and see why Cartrack is your ideal partner in holistic safety.
High resale value and an easy level of access to your car make it a target for parts theft. If a car is a popular make and is neutral in colour (white, grey, silver, black or beige), it’s an easy, mass-market target that blends easily into traffic because it won’t draw too much attention.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), vehicles that are at the top of the sales charts create a high-volume and consistent demand for spare parts. Most of these parts can be easily stripped within just two minutes, without even setting off your car’s internal anti-theft devices.
The most stolen parts in South Africa are:
All of these parts are easy to remove, extremely useful on the market and often difficult for the police to track.
Data from MiWay shows premium alloy wheels and tyres are quickly becoming the most targeted part, especially because they’re an easy steal for both organised syndicates and opportunists. Batteries come in at a close second, being especially stolen from commercial fleet vehicles and older car models.
Some lesser-known parts growing in popularity amongst criminals are number plates! Criminals are starting to get into number plate theft so they can use them to avoid toll fees, clone vehicles, and partake in other illegal activities without leaving a trace.
Car parts are more frequently stolen than entire cars because they’re easier to transport and hide from the police and easier to sell. JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla shared the news that it takes criminals about 30 minutes to completely strip a vehicle.
When you consider that illegal chop shops have an estimated trade value of about R442 million, it makes sense why criminals would invest time into stealing and reselling car parts compared to a whole vehicle. Dealing purely with parts also makes the admin side of things easier for criminals.
The most stolen cars in South Africa are hatchbacks & compact SUVs, entry-level sedans, commercial bakkies and minibus taxis. Cartrack’s internal statistics over January to June 2026 show an overall incident split of 67% theft versus 33% hijacking cases across these car types. Vulnerability isn’t spread evenly, and they’re targeted for different reasons.
➡️ Hatchbacks and compact sedans usually have the highest numbers regarding theft incidents. Illegal chop shops are always looking for the parts these cars can provide; like engine, mechanical and body components that can be sold cheaply.
➡️ Commercial bakkies and utility vehicles are a massive target for criminals involved in cross-border and high-demand car parts trading. Most of the time, these cars aren’t even stolen/hijacked for their trading value but because of the cargo or equipment inside.
➡️ Minibus taxis are targeted because their parts are needed for quick turnarounds and affordable fixes (considering they’re often used as passenger transport). These vehicles are also on the serious wear & tear side, providing high-demand components like brake systems, gearboxes and body panels.
It seems as though there’s a clear split happening; every day motorists are being targeted for theft through methods like remote jamming, while fleet or commercial vehicles are typically hijacked because their routes are predictable AND they’re likely carrying precious cargo.
The lucrative market behind illicit car part trading will reveal just how massive its presence is in South Africa. What was once the playground for opportunistic thieves stealing radios and window wipers has now grown into curated, organised vehicle crime circles. And the tough truth? A theft syndicate is often selling right back to you without you even realising it.
Here’s a breakdown of why this market continues to grow rapidly:
Motorists are on the hunt for cheaper options for their car repairs, and it’s no surprise considering how expensive OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts are. Stolen parts unfortunately end up on online markets and legit-looking shops, driving motorists to buy parts that are actually stolen.
Stripping a vehicle down into smaller components makes it far easier to keep under the radar, because it’s likely these components are hard to trace. Criminals can quickly strip a car, sell the parts, and get the full profit. And because they aim for popular makes and colours, it’s easy to get the car back on the road and dump it elsewhere since it blends right in.
Higher-paying, more premium parts rarely stay in local circulation. These include parts like suspension systems and expansion engines. Criminals will then move these parts across to countries close to South Africa, especially because regulations aren’t very tight.
There’s a wide network of illegal mechanics that operate in different areas, like garages and warehouses. These teams can quickly sort the scrap metal from necessary, high-market parts and get them set up for sale within hours. These are usually sold through online channels and body shops that aren’t quite approved.
Unfortunately, a lot of mechanics are in on these illegal operations!
You can protect your car and its parts from being stolen by combining practical, passive safety methods with those provided by a car tracking company. Unfortunately, while it’s tough to guarantee your car won't be taken, partnering with a car tracking company can really help you handle post-incident issues and massively improve your chances of vehicle recovery.
Here’s how you unlock complete protection:
Cartrack can secure your vehicle’s safety by giving you the best in personal and fleet business safety. And while modern cars typically have advanced built-in safety solutions, the truth is they’re not enough. Having the support of a well-known, professional vehicle tracking company like Cartrack can take your safety to new heights.
Here are the solutions we have for you:
Car part theft is a well-thought-out, carefully planned operation that’s likely carried out by organised syndicates. And with both everyday motorists and commercial fleets being core targets, it’s not worth relying solely on lock-and-key methods.
You MUST take an extra safety approach; don’t wait until something happens before you take vehicle safety seriously. When you’re ready to upgrade your vehicle protection, our Cartrack team will be ready to take your call.
Get round-the-clock protection and the foolproof safety you deserve. Call Cartrack today!
Uncover why car parts theft drives vehicle crime. Learn how thieves target components for black-market demand and how smart tech protects your vehicle.
