The IBC says auto theft costs Canadians more than $1 billion annually. These costs can trickle down to the average driver if your vehicle has a high theft rate, which can result in higher insurance premiums.  

As cars have become more sophisticated, so have thieves. Electronic auto theft is on the rise across Canada, as more vehicles are manufactured with technology for convenience, such as keyless entry with push-button start. Vehicles with keyless remote fobs are targeted, because thieves can capture a key fob signal through the door of a house using a wireless transmitter. This is called a “relay attack.”

High-end SUVs continue to make the most stolen list, sought after for export. The biggest reasons vehicles are stolen are:

• To resell them to unsuspecting consumers; vehicle identification numbers (VIN) are falsified and the vehicles are sold to unsuspecting consumers
• Criminals can resell vehicles abroad (export) for a much higher price than their initial market value in other countries
• Parts of the vehicle are sold by dismantling stolen cars
• A criminal needs a  “getaway” car
• Stolen vehicles that have been found abandoned and damaged within 48 hours have often been used to commit another crime

2021 top 10 stolen vehicles in Canada

According to the Équité Association 2021 Top 10 Stolen Vehicles in Canada List, pickup trucks are once again the top target for thieves. Below are the  top 10 most stolen vehicles in Canada in 2021:

#10. 2018 Honda Accord

#9. 2017 Toyota Corolla

#8. 2017 Chrysler/Dodge Town & Country Series/Grand Caravan Series/Caravan Series/Voyager Series

#7. 2019 Toyota Highlander

#6. 2019 Honda Civic

#5. 2017 Lexus RX350 Series/RX450 Series

#4. 2019 Dodge/Ram 1500 Series/2500 Series/3500 Series

#3. 2005 Chevrolet/GMC Silverado Series/Sierra 1500 Series/2500 Series/3500 Series

#2. Honda CR-V

#1. 2018 Ford F-150 Series/F-250 Series/F-350 Series/F-450 Series

Older model pickups rank high on the list because they don’t have the same theft-deterrent technologies that more recent models have.

2021 top 10 stolen vehicles in Ontario

High-end SUVs are the vehicle of choice among criminals in Ontario. According to Équité, these are the vehicle models thieves target most often:

#1. 2018 Lexus RX Series

#2. 2019 Honda CR-V Series

#3. 2019 Honda Civic Series

#4. 2019 Toyota Highlander Series

#5. 2017 Chevrolet/GMC Silverado Series/Sierra 1500 Series/2500 Series/3500 Series

#6. 2017 Ford F-150 Series/F-250 Series/F-350 Series/F-450 Series

#7. Dodge/Ram 1500 Series/2500 Series/3500 Series

#8. 2018 Honda Accord Series

#9. 2017 Toyota Corolla Series

#10. 2016 Land Rover Range Rover

2021 top 10 stolen vehicles in Toronto

The Toronto Police Service has released their list of stolen vehicles, year-to-date as of December 1, 2021 in Toronto. Their list contains the vehicle make and model, and number of reported incidents of theft.

Here are the top 10 stolen vehicles in Toronto in 2021:

#1. Honda CR-V: 654 incidents

#2. Lexus Rx350: 418 incidents

#3. Honda Civic: 260 incidents

#4. Land Rover Range Rover: 225 incidents

#5. Toyota Highlander: 200 incidents

#6. Ford F150: 176 incidents

#7. Honda Accord: 145 incidents

#8. Toyota Corolla: 123 incidents

#9. Toyota Rav4: 70 incidents

#10. Hyundai Elantra: 62 incidents.

How To Help Prevent The Theft Of Your Vehicle

No matter what vehicle you own, you can make it harder for thieves to target it. The Insurance Bureau of Canada encourages you to pay special attention to where you keep your car’s key fob. Don’t leave it in the car or near the front entrance of your home.

A Faraday key fob protector box or bag can prevent your fob from being detected by a thief, as it blocks the key fob’s signal from being hacked and copied. Just drop your keys inside and close it.

Other ways to deter theft of your vehicle include:

• Steering wheel locks won’t stop thieves from getting around your keyless entry, but they make getting away more of a challenge.
• Get a mechanical anti-theft device such as a steering wheel or brake pedal lock.
• Data port locks prevent thieves from accessing your car’s onboard diagnostic port and programming a new key. Physical versions cover the port itself; electronic locks prevent the diagnostics port from communicating with a car’s electronic control unit.
• A secure parking spot, like a locked or supervised garage, can be worth the expense. At the very least, park your vehicle in a garage or well-lit areas.
• Don’t keep valuables stored in your vehicle.
• Install an ignition immobilizer to prevent crooks from hot-wiring your vehicle.
• Close and lock windows, doors, and sunroofs anytime you leave the car.
• Don’t keep the engine running when the vehicle is unattended.

It's important to know that insurers will base your insurance premium on the frequency of theft of vehicles of the same brand or model as yours. You can consult the Canadian Loss Experience Automobile Rating (CLEAR) to see if your vehicle is at risk of being claimed for theft. This can then help you decide if you’re hesitating when buying between vehicles.

If you're looking for insurance for any of these most stolen cars or any other vehicles, you can find the best insurance rates online or by calling Best Buy Insurance at 877-813-5710.