The theft of car parts—wheels, headlights, mirrors, or electric vehicle batteries—is now happening to one driver every three minutes in France, affecting more than 100,000 victims each year. But what explains this surge?

The high cost of new parts, combined with extremely long delivery times—two to three months for a simple body panel—has created a booming black market. For insurers, it has become a veritable epidemic that is difficult to contain.

The phenomenon is partly driven by the sharp rise in spare parts prices, up more than 15% since 2022. On the resale market, prices have soared: headlights, for example, have increased from an average of €486 to nearly €830 in five years—a 70% rise.

A new highly sought-after target has recently emerged: reversing cameras. According to the French National Police, thefts have risen by 10% over the past 12 months. And the trend is not limited to luxury cars—models such as the Renault Clio, Peugeot 208, and Citroën C3 are among the most affected.

The stolen parts market is estimated at €600 million per year. At the top of the list of most affected cities: Marseille, followed closely by Saint-Étienne and Villeurbanne. For victims, it has become a recurring ordeal.

The latest countermeasure: dashcams. These small cameras attached to rear-view mirrors activate automatically when someone approaches the vehicle, helping to deter would-be thieves.