For the second year in a row, the Honda CR-V was the most stolen vehicle in Canada, according to Équité Association.
The auto insurance fraud prevention organization today announced its Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Canada, which now includes theft frequency figures, regional breakdowns and a list of the least stolen vehicles.
In 2022, the insurance industry saw $1.2 billion in losses from auto theft — the highest loss year yet. Diligence will be required to prevent that figure from repeating, Bryan Gast, vice president, Investigative Services at Équité told Canadian Underwriter.
The first half of 2023 was trending higher than 2022.
Most stolen cars
- Honda CR-V (2022): 1.2% theft frequency
- Dodge RAM 1500 Series (2022) : 0.5%
- Ford F150 Series (2020): 0.3%
- Lexus RX Series (2020): 1.9%
- Toyota Highlander (2021): 1.5%
- Honda Civic (2019): 0.2%
- Jeep Grand Cherokee (2021): 1.1%
- Land Rover Range Rover (2020): 3.9%
- Chevrolet/GMC Silverado/Sierra 1500 Series (2006): 2%
- Jeep Wrangler (2021): 9%
Of note, trucks and SUVs account for nine of the top ten stolen cars.
Regionally, the most stolen car in Ontario and Quebec is the CR-V, while in Alberta and Atlantic Canada it’s the Dodge RAM 1500.
In Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic, vehicles tend to be stolen for overseas export, due to those provinces’ close proximity to ports. It has a lot to do with the high population of Ontario and Quebec, and the number of concentrated areas of higher-value vehicles in the GTA.
In Alberta and western Canada, cars tend to be stolen with the intent of being re-vinned and resold, or sent to chop shops for parts that are sold to fund other forms of crime.
Least stolen cars
Drivers who are shopping for cars with a low risk of theft may look to Équité’s new list, the Top 10 Least Stolen Vehicles of 2022.
- Chevrolet Volt: 0.006% theft rate
- Kia Niro 5DR: 0.027% theft rate
- Cadillac XT5: 0.019% theft rate
- Buick Envision: 0.028% theft rate
- Mini Cooper Countryman: 0.030% theft rate
- Volvo XC90: 0.031% theft rate
- Volkswagen Beetle: 0.040% theft rate
- Chevrolet Corvette: 0.051% theft rate
- Hyundai Ioniq: 0.058% theft rate
- Mazda Mazda2: 0.059% theft rate
Grassroots theft reduction
The industry’s been making efforts to reduce auto theft, where possible, by incentivizing consumers to install tracking devices or adding surcharges for vehicles at risk of theft.
But manufacturers, government and drivers themselves are also key pieces to the auto theft puzzle.
Standards for immobilizers, i.e., the devices that prevents a car’s engine from being started unless the correct key is present, haven’t been updated for decades. There are some techniques that criminals are using where they can steal a vehicle in 15 seconds. An individual shouldn’t spend $90,000 on a brand-new vehicle and then still have to rely on the insurance industry, or their own pay out of their own pocket to add certain features like an aftermarket immobilizer to protect the vehicle from being stolen.
Plus, there are layered consequences of a driver’s vehicle being stolen. Personal belongings and sensitive information are at risk. That means it’s on drivers to make sure they’re protecting their data when they drive.
Don’t leave your registration in the vehicle, and make sure that you have what’s required to present to law enforcement if you’re ever pulled over.”
