An authority on insurance crime and fraud in Canada has unveiled a list of the most-stolen vehicles in 2023.
The Equite Association’s 2023 Auto Theft Report says for the past two years the Toyota Highlander has overtaken the Honda CR-V as the nation’s most-stolen vehicle.
In 2023, there were 123,532 Toyota Highlanders on Canadian roads and 3,414 were stolen, with the 2021 model the most popular.
There were 524,837 Dodge Ram 1500 Series and 3,078 were stolen, with the 2022 model topping the thieves’ list.
There were 96,400 Lexus RX Series and 3,037 were stolen, the 2022 model leading the way.
There were 487,962 Honda CR-V on the roads and 2,988 were stolen, topped by the 2021 model year.
Of the 507,451 Toyota RAV4, 2,690 were stolen, with the 2021 version leading the way.
“In order to sustainably address the auto theft crisis in Canada, solutions must evolve from focusing on the recovery of stolen vehicles to preventing vehicles from being stolen in the first place, starting with updating Canada’s outdated Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations,” says Terri O’Brien, President and CEO of Equite Association.
“Insurance crime, including auto theft, can have a devastating physical and financial impact for victims. On behalf of the property and casualty insurance industry, Equite works to combat insurance crime and keep Canadians safe.”
Between 2021-2023, auto theft increased 48.2% in Ontario, 57.9% in Quebec, 34% in Atlantic Canada, and 5.5% in Alberta.
“The most crucial step in fighting auto theft is stopping it before it starts. One of the most common trends we’re seeing on the most stolen vehicles list includes newer vehicles with keyless ignitions. The provincial and federal governments have already committed hundreds of millions of dollars in investments to respond to the auto theft crisis with positive results through enforcement,” says Bryan Gast, vice president of investigative services at Equite Association.
“However, there is much more to be done to combat auto theft. The crisis is far from over in Canada. A modernized vehicle security standard aligned to the ULC 338 Standards (standard for automobile theft deterrent equipment and systems) is needed to address current methods of theft across all manufacturers.”