London prestige car owners face rising theft and regulatory pressures

London is experiencing a significant rise in high-value vehicle crime and regulatory challenges for prestige car owners. The Metropolitan Police recorded over 87,000 vehicle offences in the year ending December 2025, with London accounting for more than one in four national offences. Approximately 65% of premium vehicle thefts in the city involve keyless relay attacks, targeting models such as Range Rovers, BMWs, and Mercedes. Additionally, the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to all London boroughs has imposed daily charges on non-compliant vehicles, prompting many owners of modern classics to move their cars to off-site storage outside the capital.

In a separate but related crackdown on antisocial driving, the Metropolitan Police seized 90 vehicles valued at approximately $10 million during a record-setting three-day operation. The seizure included luxury models such as the Ferrari Purosangue, Lamborghini Revuelto, and Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The most notable impound was a rare Ferrari Monza SP2, valued at $5 million, which was driven by an individual with only a provisional license and no valid insurance. The operation, concentrated in areas like Hyde Park, Kensington, and Chelsea, utilized enhanced policing powers to directly seize vehicles involved in dangerous or disruptive driving.