The misappropriation of rental vehicles is one of the fastest-growing crime fields in the automotive sector. According to figures from the Federal Criminal Police Office, more than 3,700 misappropriations were recorded in 2024 – a rise of around 31.2 percent compared to the previous year. For car rentals this is not an abstract statistic but an immediate economic risk.
Why the figures are rising
Organised perpetrator groups have recognised car rental as a worthwhile target. The principle is frighteningly simple: a vehicle is rented regularly with forged or misused ID documents and resold while the rental is still running. Because the rental contract initially runs properly, the absence of the vehicle often only comes to light late.
The share of misappropriations among all permanently lost cars rose, according to analyses, from 17.8 percent (2023) to 23.0 percent (2024). The trend clearly points upwards.
The real problem: the insurance gap
Unlike with theft, comprehensive insurance usually does not apply to misappropriation. The German Insurance Association (GDV) classifies the phenomenon as a known fraud pattern. For small and medium-sized rentals, a single misappropriated car can be existence-threatening, because the damage remains entirely with the company.
How rentals protect themselves
- Consistently check ID and driving licence documents for authenticity instead of just copying them
- Recognise conspicuous patterns: high-value SUVs, short-notice rental, cash payment, time pressure
- Seamless, legally secure documentation of every transaction
- Digital processes that make anomalies visible early
This is exactly where modern rental software comes in: an integrated ID checker detects forgeries before the key leaves the table – and thus closes the most common gateway for misappropriation.
Sources & further information
- Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), police crime statistics
- German Insurance Association (GDV)
- procontra: “Rental car misappropriation is booming” (2026)