Wondering if your car is a target for thieves? Our list of the most stolen cars in Canada has the answer. It’s worth considering when shopping for a car, because theft rates can affect auto insurance costs.

Nobody wants to go out to their garage or driveway and find their vehicle was stolen. If you find yourself in that nightmare scenario, making an auto insurance claim for a stolen vehicle, it’s important to have the right coverage to protect not just your car but any personal items inside as well.

The good news? There are ways to prevent vehicle theft. And, while auto theft remains a serious problem in Canada, costing Canadians billions of dollars per year, recent efforts by the federal government and stakeholders through the National Action Plan on Combating Auto Theft are working. Over $40 million has been spent at the federal level to beef up security and enforcement. The latest statistics show fewer cars were stolen last year - 57,359 nationwide, which is a major improvement compared to 2023’s record high of 70,457 vehicles stolen.

What is the most stolen car in Canada?

The most stolen car in Canada is the 2021 Toyota Highlander SUV. Some 3,414 Highlanders were stolen nationwide, out of 123,532 examples insured according to the latest available information from the Équité Association, Canada's national authority on insurance crime and fraud prevention. (All data below on specific makes and models was released by Équité.)

The 2021 Highlander recently overtook the 2021 Honda CR-V SUV, which topped the list in previous years, to claim this dubious honour.

But the vehicle with the highest rate of the theft is the Range Rover series of SUVs. Despite the fact only 34,615 were insured, 1,533 of them were stolen according to the latest data from Équité.

Top 10 stolen vehicles in Canada

Here’s the full list of the most commonly stolen vehicles in Canada:

Why are SUVs and trucks stolen more than other car models?

There are several reasons why thieves typically steal SUVs and trucks in Canada:

·      Popularity in Canada: Canadians love SUVs and pickups. Together, those two types of vehicles make up over 80 per cent of the new vehicle market, far outselling sedans, minivans and station wagons. There are simply more of them available to steal. 

·      Resale value: Thieves are clever. SUVs and pickups are typically more expensive and have a higher resale value than other types of vehicles, making them a more appealing target.

·      Utility: If thieves are stealing a vehicle for a purpose other than resale — for example, to commit another crime — then the added utility of SUVs and pickups is appealing.

·      Global demand: As the experts from Équité explained, “criminals continually shift demand to maximize their profits from the illegal sale of vehicles.” In other words, thieves steal whatever is in high-demand overseas. For example, the report noted, “The Toyota Highlander is a popular model in Canada, which is globally serviceable and has a high resale value both domestically and internationally.”

Does the most stolen vehicle vary by province?

Yes! The most commonly stolen vehicles in Canada are different in every province. Although there is a lot of overlap, there are clear patterns. For example, in Alberta and Western Canada, pickups top the most-stolen list. In Ontario, the trend is towards luxury SUVs. In Quebec, it’s smaller SUVs. 

Most stolen cars in Ontario

Here are the most stolen cars in Ontario. Vehicle thefts in the province dropped from 30,134 in 2023 to 24,877 in 2024, a decrease of 17.4 per cent. 

Most stolen cars in Alberta

Vehicle thefts in across Western Canada (which includes Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) dropped from 23,055 in 2023 to 20,130 in 2024, a decrease of 12.7 per cent.

Most stolen cars in British Columbia

While there aren’t specific stats for B.C., vehicle theft data for the province is included in the overall Western Canada statistics below:

Most stolen cars in Quebec

Quebec is a hotspot of auto theft. Despite a relatively small population compared to Ontario, Quebec saw 15,225 stolen in 2023. That figure dropped 32.4 per cent to 10,290 vehicles in 2024.

What cities have the highest stolen vehicle rates?

In terms of dollar-amount of vehicles stolen, Toronto unsurprisingly ranks highly as one of Canada’s worst cities for vehicle theft. In 2023 alone, auto insurance claims for theft totalled over $372 million, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Brampton and Mississauga racked up $93 million and $90 million in claims respectively, and Vaughan wasn’t far behind at $62 million.

As efforts to curb auto theft by police and governments initially focused on hotspots in Ontario and Quebec, Alberta has recently become the province with the highest per-capita rate of vehicle theft, according to a CTV news report. Calgary and Edmonton are the cities with the highest claims in that province, at $33 million and $26 million respectively.

How likely is it that my stolen car will be returned?

According to a new report by Équité, “The national recovery rates for stolen vehicles is 59.3 per cent, which means 40 per cent of vehicles stolen are not recovered.” So your odds that your stolen vehicle will be found are better than a coin flip, but still not great.

How can you protect your car from theft in Canada?

Don’t lose hope! There are several effective ways to prevent vehicle theft. The Insurance Bureau of Canada recommends a “layered” approach to protecting your car from thieves:

·      Layer 1, common sense: Take basic precautions like keeping the doors and windows closed and locked, never leave your keys in the ignition, and park in a secure and well-lit area if possible. Of course, try not to leave personal items — like phones or sporting equipment — in the vehicle either.

·      Layer 2, overt anti-theft: Drivers should consider installing visible or audible anti-theft devices. That includes audible alarms, steering wheel or brake pedal locks, theft-deterrent stickers/decals, and window etchings. Drivers are also advised to use an RFID signal-blocking pouch (like a Faraday Bag) to block signals from wireless key fobs.

·      Layer 3, hidden anti-theft: By installing a quality aftermarket immobilizer on your vehicle, it can protect against sophisticated relay attacks, reprogramming attacks and CAN bus attacks.

·      Layer 4, tracking: Drivers should also consider hiring a reputable vehicle tracking firm install hidden tracking devices throughout their vehicle. Be sure to check with your insurance provide before installing any aftermarket devices, and ask whether having an anti-theft device on a high-theft vehicle (HTV) could lower your insurance costs. 

Make sure your car is covered with Sonnet

Your auto insurance plan is the last and final line of defence, protecting you and your investment in a vehicle by helping you replace it in the unfortunate event it’s stolen. Depending on your coverage, if you have to make an auto insurance claim, your policy may also help cover the cost of a rental car.

If you have any questions about your insurance policy and what it covers, or how to make sure your car is covered against theft, get in touch with us. Our friendly team is here to help!