You can now buy an EV for $25,000 and there’s a wide range of electric cars and SUVs for less than $45K from BYD, MG, GWM, Chery and other brands. Here are the cheapest EVs to buy in Australia right now. Why electric vehicles and modern cars are harder to steal Are EVs harder to steal? Discover the security features that help protect modern cars, how thieves target vehicles today, and what drivers can do to reduce risk. Modern vehicles are generally harder to steal than older models because they have multiple layers of security. Some EVs may also include additional digital features, such as external camera monitoring systems. Tesla’s Sentry Mode is one example, though these features vary by make and model. Crime Statistics Agency data shows motor vehicle theft is rising in Victoria, with 32,013 incidents recorded in the year ending December 2025, up from 28,897 the previous year. By comparison, electric vehicles remain a relatively low target for thieves. Among EV-only brands, Tesla was the only marque to appear in Crime Statistics Agency theft data for the year ending December 2025, with four vehicles recorded stolen: two Model 3s and two Model Ss. No Model X or Model Y vehicles were listed. Other EV-focused brands, including Polestar, BYD, Leapmotor, Zeekr and GWM (Great Wall Motors), did not appear among the recorded stolen vehicle makes. That low number does not mean EVs or other modern vehicles are theft-proof. Owners of late-model petrol and diesel cars, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) still need to stay vigilant. RACV Head of Motor Insurance and Roadside Products Kirsty Hayes says that while many newer cars and EVs include advanced security technology, opportunistic theft can still occur. “That’s why it’s important for drivers to understand their vehicle’s security features and