Auto thefts down, costs still high

Auto theft across Canada declined 18 per cent in 2025 compared with the previous year, according to new data, but there are still nearly a billion dollars worth of claims.

The 2025 Auto Theft Trend Report published by Équité Association not that despite the drop in reported thefts, Canadian insurers estimated $900 million in claims related to stolen vehicles in last year.

The data, which was compiled from Canadian law enforcement agencies, show that national and industry efforts to counter auto theft have had measurable impact. However, the report highlighted a shift in criminal activity, with organized groups increasingly using sophisticated tactics, particularly vehicle finance fraud.

By region, the reported thefts were: Reported theft totals by region were as follows:

• Ontario: 19,319 thefts, down 22 per cent
• Quebec: 7,742 thefts, down 25 per cent
• Western Canada: 17,906 thefts, down 11 per cent
• Alberta: 8,980 thefts, down 14 per cent
• Atlantic Canada: 2,032 thefts, down 2 per cent
• National: 46,999 thefts in 2025, down from 57,359 in 2024

Recovery rates varied across regions. In Ontario and Quebec, fewer than half of stolen vehicles were recovered, at 51 per cent and 48 per cent, respectively. Alberta’s recovery rate dropped to 71 per cent, which the report suggests may reflect an increase in exports and re-VINed vehicles leaving the province.

The report also noted a significant increase in vehicle finance fraud at Canadian ports, particularly in Montreal and Halifax, where detection rose 72 per cent year over year. In Atlantic Canada, fraud related to vehicle financing at the Port of Halifax increased by more than 89 per cent.

“With collaborative government, law enforcement and industry initiatives successfully driving down auto theft rates, organized crime continues to shift to more complex methods to sustain their sources of funding,” said Bryan Gast, national vice president, intelligence and investigations at Équité Association.

He pointed to identity theft and synthetic IDs being used to obtain vehicles through fraudulent finance applications.

Gast added that such fraud is tied to larger criminal networks.

“These activities are not victimless; they directly fund drug and gun trafficking, and international terrorism,” he said.

Terri O’Brien, president and CEO of Équité Association, acknowledged the decline in thefts but noted the ongoing financial and emotional toll.

“While we have gained considerable ground in the fight against auto theft, we cannot lose sight of the fact that Canadians are still bearing a significant financial and emotional burden,” she said.

The report suggested that auto theft remains a complex issue, with progress in some areas counterbalanced by evolving criminal strategies that continue to affect vehicle owners and the insurance sector.

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