According to information from the Équité Association website, a vehicle is stolen every five minutes in Canada. Car theft is a serious problem in Canada, particularly in the province of Quebec. In addition to creating a substantial economic burden, the rise in car theft directly affects the overall cost of auto insurance premiums for consumers.

Below are the data on the car models most coveted by thieves in Quebec, Canada in 2023.

Here is the Top 10 List:

1. Toyota RAV4
2. Honda CR-V
3. Honda Civic
4. Toyota Highlander
5. Jeep Wrangler
6. Dodge Ram 1500
7. Hyundai Tucson
8. Acura RDX
9. Chevrolet/GMC Suburban/Yukon/Tahoe series
10. Kia Sportage

In the table below, you’ll find the characteristics of the most stolen cars in Quebec, Canada. This table includes the make and model, the year of manufacture, the number of insured units in the province, the number of thefts recorded in 2023, the theft frequency in percentage, as well as the vehicle type (e.g., car, SUV, pickup, etc.).

The Impact of Theft Frequency on Insurance Premiums

Insurance companies evaluate various factors when determining premium costs, and the theft frequency of a specific model is one of these factors. Certain vehicles are more attractive to thieves due to their popularity, resale value, or vulnerability. This trend is especially pronounced in larger urban areas, where the risk of theft is higher. As a result, a frequently stolen model typically leads to a higher insurance premium.

Alarming Increase in Vehicle Thefts in Quebec and Canada

Quebec has experienced a significant rise in vehicle thefts in recent years. In 2023 and 2024, thefts reached historic highs, with a 50% increase compared to the previous year. This trend places Canada among the top ten countries most affected by car theft.

*This graph shows the number of stolen cars in Canada from 2012 to 2023.

Preventive Measures and Reducing Premiums

To reduce the risk of theft, experts recommend equipping vehicles with anti-theft systems, such as immobilizers (standard on newer models), as well as marking or tracking devices. While these measures are not foolproof, they make theft more difficult, and you may even qualify for insurance premium discounts as a result.

Consequences of Vehicle Theft

Vehicle theft increasingly involves organized criminal groups, who use the proceeds of these thefts to fund other illegal activities. Stolen vehicles may face various fates: they can be sold to unsuspecting buyers, dismantled for parts, or used in other criminal activities. In many cases, they are exported illegally out of the country.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) recorded a 290% increase in seizures of stolen vehicles over five years: the Agency seized 463 stolen vehicles in 2018 and over 1,800 in 2023. In Canada, it is primarily at the Port of Montreal that containers filled with stolen vehicles from Quebec and Ontario are shipped overseas, most often to Africa and the Middle East.

Upcoming Change: Vehicle Theft Summit

In response to this issue, a summit was held in Ottawa on February 9, 2024, resulting in a 28-million-dollar investment by the Government of Canada into the CBSA to combat the export of stolen vehicles. Additional measures are being studied to ban devices that enable vehicle theft and to strengthen the Criminal Code regarding penalties for this type of crime.

To consult the French version of this content, please visit : https://www.clicassure.com/assurance-auto/blogue/top-10-des-automobiles-les-plus-volees