The report analysed 13.2 million car insurance quotes run on the site over 12 months and found the Ilford postal area (IL) takes the top spot overall, followed by urban areas Romford (RM) and West London (W) where people are most likely to have made a claim for theft of vehicle, vandalism to their car or theft of contents from their car.

The research revealed the most common claim type is theft of vehicle making up over half of all claims (52%), followed by vandalism damage (41%), and theft of contents from a vehicle (seven per cent).

Motorists in the Scottish city of Perth (PH), historic market town Shrewsbury (SY) and county town Carlisle (CA) are among those least likely to have made a claim.

Peter Harrison, car insurance expert at MoneySupermarket, said: “While there are clearly some areas of the country with a higher proportion of insurance claims for car crime than others, this doesn’t actually mean the area is rife with crime.

“Thieves often specifically target areas with a high number of cars parked on the street, such as urban areas where space is at a premium and fewer houses have garages.

“Alternatively quieter areas can often be targeted, where there’s not a lot of passing traffic, where the rewards are potentially greater and the risk of being caught in the act may be lower. This year, the IL postal area of Romford has taken the top spot for car crime insurance claims.”

To keep vehicles safe, motorists are advised to always try and park in well-lit roads that tend to be busier. Ideally those who can should park in a garage or a driveway.

Harrison added: “Motorists should always secure their vehicle properly and hide any gadgets or bags left in the car; leaving expensive gadgets such as Sat Navs on display may encourage opportunistic thieves. Installing an alarm or steering wheel lock will also act as a deterrent for anyone looking for an easy target.

“Even if your area is in a car insurance claim hotspot, you can still save money on your insurance by doing your research and switching to a better deal online. Don’t just accept your renewal quote as shopping around can amount to savings of £405.”