System to help reduce car theft
RACQ has partnered with the National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO) to fast-track the rollout of its internationally acclaimed Vehicle Security Standard (VSS) as Australia faces soaring car theft rates.
The first system of its kind, the VSS gives motorists a clear, independent rating of how well vehicle models are protected from theft. It is similar to ANCAP ratings, but instead of safety, it focuses on security.
RACQ Head of Public Policy Dr Michael Kane said the eight-tier framework spans basic protections, such as door locks and immobilisers, through to future technology where vehicles could autonomously detect and respond to theft attempts.
“The VSS fills a longstanding knowledge gap, giving drivers clarity about how secure their vehicles are,” Dr Kane said. “Ultimately, our aim is to completely eliminate car theft – just as advances in technology have done for bank robberies and payroll fraud.”
Michael Kane holding the FIA award with Road Safety and Technical Manager Joel Tucker and Principal Technical Researcher Andrew Kirk.
The ratings system has already gained global recognition, winning the 2025 Region II Innovation Challenge, a prestigious international award from the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) that highlights RACQ’s leadership in vehicle security innovation.
The initiative comes as RACQ Insurance recorded 1,243 stolen vehicle claims in 2025. Brisbane accounted for 305 of those claims, with the southside hardest hit (134), followed by the north (60), inner city (57), west (34) and east (20). Theft hotspots also included the Gold Coast (137 claims), Logan (119) and Townsville (114).
Dr Kane said the VSS would empower consumers and drive improvements within the automotive industry.
“The VSS will give motorists the clear, consistent benchmark they have been waiting for and sets a roadmap for manufacturers to design vehicles that are harder to steal and easier to recover,” he said.
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