Auto theft in Canada has seen a notable decline, with nearly every province reporting fewer stolen vehicles over the past year.
Équité Association, a national not-for-profit association supporting Canadian insurers in the fight against fraud, reported an 18.6% decrease in auto theft in 2024 compared to the previous year. The association has said it would harness the positive progress to drive more awareness of insurance fraud.
According to Betty Ng, director of investigative services, the positive shift in the auto theft crisis isn't accidental; it's the result of deliberate, large-scale coordination between multiple levels of government, industry stakeholders, and law enforcement agencies.
“Clear communication was essential in driving these efforts forward,” Ng told Insurance Business.
The turning point came with the National Auto Theft Summit on February 8, 2024. The summit brought key players to the table: auto manufacturers, insurers, law enforcement, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and transportation officials.
“Previously, stakeholders operated in silos, but the National Auto Theft Summit last year brought everyone to the table,” Ng told Insurance Business. Disjointed efforts in the past, she said, allowed organized crime to adapt and exploit weaknesses.
In a blog post, Terri O’Brien, president and CEO of Équité, praised the federal government’s $28 million investment in the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to detect and search shipping containers for stolen vehicles and enhance collaboration, and an additional $9.1 million to increase capacity for police to take custody of detained stolen vehicles from CBSA.
“The unprecedented awareness, investment and action on Canada’s auto theft crisis has built important momentum behind Équité’s mission to provide best-in-class prevention and defense against insurance crimes,” O’Brien wrote.
“In 2025, we will be using that momentum to expand awareness and prevention efforts for insurance crime, beyond auto theft.”
Despite this progress, the numbers remain staggering. Over 57,000 vehicles were stolen last year, according to Équité Association’s data. One of the core issues is that demand for stolen vehicles remains high, particularly in international markets.
Criminal networks, aware of the weak deterrents in place, also continue to exploit Canada’s legal framework. This includes taking advantage of current laws designed to protect young offenders.
"From a deterrence perspective, many of these crimes are carried out by highly organized groups that exploit outdated laws,” Ng said. “Since penalties are not a strong deterrent, these groups often use young offenders, knowing the legal system prioritizes their protection.”
Auto theft has evolved significantly over the years. In the early 2000s, many incidents were driven by individuals. Today, theft is a highly coordinated operation, often funding illicit activities far beyond the borders of Canada.
While Ontario and Quebec remain the primary targets due to their supply of in-demand vehicles, other regions are emerging as new battlegrounds. Alberta, in particular, has seen a concerning uptick.
The Équité report indicated that the recovery rate for stolen vehicles in Alberta fell from 87% in 2022 and 85% in 2023 to 77% in 2024. Nationally, the recovery rate increased from approximately 56% in 2023 to just under 60% in 2024. The lower national recovery rates are partly due to vehicles being stolen for export.
Still, Ng is optimistic about the trajectory of Canada’s war against auto theft. The key to reducing theft rates, she said, lies in maintaining momentum and deepening collaboration.
An obvious but difficult solution to preventing auto theft is improving vehicle security. Manufacturers and policymakers alike are being urged to take stronger action in this area. The success of another auto theft summit could play a crucial role in sustaining the efforts that have led to recent declines, according to Ng.
"The insurance industry has been supportive, but how do we bridge everyone and bring everyone to the table to continue these discussions?" she asked.
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