[Auto] Vehicle thefts rose by 88% in just two years in Ontario
Good to know
- 20,700 vehicle theft claims were registered in 2022 by insurance companies in Ontario, this is 48% more than in 2021
- In Canada, vehicle thefts have cost $1.2 billion to insurance companies nationwide, a number that tripled in comparison with 2019
- The Ontario vehicle thefts ratio have grown from 9.8 per 10,000 inhabitants in 2021 to 13.8 this year - a 4 points increase in only one year
- In 2022, the Land Rover / Range Rover has been the car model preferred by thieves in Ontario, with a 5.9% theft ratio!
- The Cadillac XT5 on top of vehicles least likely to be stolen in Ontario, with a 0.009% theft ratio in 2022
Car thefts have increased by 48% between 2021 and 2022 in Ontario
In Ontario, the number of vehicle theft claims has increased by 48% in just one year, from around 14,000 in 2020 to close to 20,700 in 2021*. But is Ontario more or less affected its neighbors? When looking at the 2021 vehicle thefts ratio of the provinces that have a private car insurance system, we find out that :
- With a ratio of 9.8 vehicles stolen per 10,000 inhabitants in 2021, Ontario ranks better than Alberta, which has a 11.9 ratio
- This represents a 2.5 points increase in comparison with 2020, back when the Ontario vehicle thefts ratio was 7.3
- However, this is more than Quebec (with a ratio of 8.6 stolen vehicles per inhabitants) and the Atlantic provinces (with a 4.5 ratio)
- In 2021, Alberta is the only province that had its vehicle thefts ratio declining.
Source: Équité Association
Good to know
*Those numbers sere provided to us by Équité Association. The organization asked us not to disclose the exact numbers, which is why we do not unveil them.
$1.2 billion: the cost of vehicle thefts for insurance companies nationwide in 2022
The data presented below indicates a significant and escalating financial burden for insurance companies in Canada due to vehicle thefts. In 2019, the cost stood at $400 million, which in itself is a substantial figure. However, there was a notable increase to $542 million in 2021, suggesting a worrying trend. This upward trajectory in costs became even more pronounced in 2022, with the figure more than doubling to an alarming $1,200 million. This drastic increase over a span of three years not only highlights the growing severity and frequency of vehicle thefts but also underscores the increasing challenges faced by insurance companies in managing these risks. The escalating cost is likely to have a cascading effect on insurance premiums and policies, potentially impacting both the insurance sector and consumers.
Sources : IBC, Equité Association
Good to know
We have chosen not to present figures for 2020 because the Covid-19 pandemic makes that this year is not representative of the figures we present in this graph.
Expert advice
Bryan Gast, VP Investigative Services of Équité Association
“Auto theft is a complex national problem that costs Canadians millions of dollars each year,” says Bryan Gast, VP, Investigative Services of Équité Association, a not-for-profit organization supporting Canadian property and casualty insurers in the fight against insurance fraud. “Canada has become a source nation for the theft and exportation of high-value vehicles. Vehicles across the country are being stolen in greater volume for export internationally by organized crime networks. The proceeds of this illegal activity are being used to fund organized crime and terrorism, both domestically and internationally,” says Gast. “Thieves continue to exploit technology to steal vehicles through relay attacks and reprograming”.
Land Rover and Range Rover are the vehicle models most likely to be stolen in Ontario in 2022
In Ontario for the year 2021, the theft ratio of vehicles showcased notable trends. The Land Rover/Range Rover led the list with a significant theft ratio of 5.9%, indicating a higher likelihood of being stolen compared to other models. Jeep models, particularly the Gladiator and Grand Cherokee, also showed high theft ratios of 4.1% and 1.6%, respectively. The Lexus RX Series, Toyota Highlander, and Acura RDX were also prominent on the list, with theft ratios ranging from 3.0% to 1.2%. Additionally, the Honda CR-V, Dodge Durango, Land Rover Discovery, and Jeep Wrangler each had theft ratios close to 1.2% or 1.1%, reflecting a moderate but notable risk of theft.
Source: Équité Association
The Cadillac XT5 on top of vehicles least likely to be stolen in Ontario
The data pertaining to the least stolen vehicles in Ontario for the year 2022 provides a nuanced insight into vehicle theft trends and their implications for insurance companies and vehicle owners. The theft ratio for these models is remarkably low, with the Cadillac XT5 leading the list at a mere 0.009%, which translates to only 9 thefts per 100,000 vehicles. This low theft ratio is consistent across the board, with the Ford/Lincoln Escape/Corsair and the Buick/Chevrolet Encore/Trax showing theft ratios of 0.031% and 0.033%, respectively. Notably, even the highest theft ratios in this dataset, for the Ford Ranger and the Chevrolet/GMC Colorado/Canyon, stand at just 0.048%.
Source : Equité Association
Methodology
In addition to its expert editorial line around insurance and financial products, HelloSafe explores broader topics relating to global consumption in Canada and around the world. The aim is to decipher certain complex subjects for consumers and to provide everyone with the latest information. It is within this framework that HelloSafe regularly carries out studies on trends relating to current personal finance in Canada.
This study is based on figures shareed by Équité Association, a not-for-profit organization supporting Canadian property and casualty insurers in the fight against insurance fraud. Some numbers sourced from the IBC have also been used in this report. The figures used are therefore based on thefts that have been declared to insurance companies, which explains why the numbers presented may be lower than those disclosed by the police.
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