A STUDENT got the surprise of his life when he spotted an unlikely thief trying to take of with the family’s 4WD — with little success.

Sam Box told 9news.com.au he had just gotten off the bus after school when he found the koala “trying to drive”.

“We see them a fair bit here but never in the car,” the 15 year old said.

The teen from Maude near Geelong quickly snapped some photos.

“It was checking me out as much as I was checking him out,” he said.

“I opened the door and he just got out and walked away.”

Sam’s father, Michael, told 9news.com.au that he “couldn’t believe it” when he saw the snaps.

“We have a really long driveway and once I saw one crossing the driveway and I went and got him and put him back in the bush, he was just lost,” Mr Box said.