Canada’s auto theft numbers finally moved in the right direction last year – but industry experts say the issue is far from over.
Équité Association’s latest Auto Theft Trend Report shows an 18% year‑over‑year drop in private passenger vehicle thefts in 2025, to 46,999 incidents nationally. Ontario recorded a 22% decline and Quebec 25%, while Western Canada saw thefts fall 11% and Atlantic Canada 2%.
Despite that progress, estimated claims costs still sit at roughly $900 million a year, money that continues to flow into organized crime.
“It’s still concerning that organized crime are using Canada as a target country to steal vehicles,” said Bryan Gast (pictured), national vice president of investigative services at Équité Association.
Gast said organized crime remains active in the auto theft space and continues to affect public safety and local communities. He noted that the nearly $1 billion targeted through vehicle theft helps fund broader criminal operations, including firearms trafficking and drug activity, which ultimately impacts Canadian communities.
Gast said the national decline should be seen as a “report card” on the intensive public‑ and private‑sector efforts of the last two years, not as a sign that the problem is solved.
“It is great to show all the efforts that have gone into it – all the collaboration, all the government resources, all the law enforcement work, all the private‑public partnerships with our investigators across the country, not only domestically but internationally – is having an impact. And I think that’s the positive,” he said. “But not to think that everything’s fantastic and we can move on. We have to continue to do what we’re doing.”
National stolen vehicle recovery rates rose from 58% in 2024 to 59% in 2025. Regionally, recoveries stood at 51% in Ontario, 48% in Quebec, 63% in Atlantic Canada and 73% in Western Canada (71% in Alberta).
The report highlights a sharp rise in vehicle finance fraud linked to exports through the ports of Montreal and Halifax. Across those two ports, Équité recorded a 72% year‑over‑year increase in finance‑fraud‑related recoveries.
Criminals, the report notes, are increasingly using identity theft and synthetic IDs to fraudulently finance high-value vehicles, insure them, then ship them overseas or re‑VIN them for resale.
Gast said the estimates are largely based on trends investigators are seeing at ports, particularly involving stolen vehicles being exported out of the country. He noted authorities are observing a significant increase in both conventional vehicle thefts and cases where vehicles are fraudulently obtained.
He added that he tries to avoid providing a “how-to guide” for criminals but explained that one growing method involves vehicles being fraudulently purchased through dealerships and then exported. While the tactic is not new to investigators, Gast said criminals have increased their use of it, noting that enforcement agencies are actively working to disrupt the method.
Even as enforcement and intelligence‑sharing improve, the report warns that Canada’s vehicle security standards remain out of step with criminal tactics. Transport Canada has proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations to modernize immobilizer requirements in line with the new CAN/ULC 338:2025 standard.
“Criminals continue to target newer model vehicles,” the report notes, adding that many factory anti‑theft systems are “easily compromised” under current rules.
Gast said the regulatory work needs to go hand in hand with public awareness.
“Individuals still need to take precautions on how to protect their vehicle. We call it a layered approach. The more you can do to make it harder for these criminals – add more time for them to steal the car – is always important, that public awareness piece, as well as making the car harder to steal in the first place.”
Gast also pointed to ongoing consultations with Transport Canada as another important area of focus. He said discussions are underway around strengthening Canadian vehicle standards to address vulnerabilities and make vehicles harder to steal. He added that improving consumer awareness is also critical, noting the importance of educating drivers and owners about precautions they can take to better protect their vehicles.
“We have to continue to do what we are doing,” Gast concluded.
