73% fear their vehicle will be stolen

Auto theft is a crisis right across Ontario, but Brampton residents are feeling it most acutely, according to a poll commissioned by Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).

“The auto theft crisis is creating unsafe communities – 73% of Brampton residents are concerned that their car will be stolen. And with good reason. The number of theft claims in Brampton increased 133% between 2018 and 2022, and the cost of those claims skyrocketed nearly 400%,” said Amanda Dean, Interim Vice-President, Ontario, IBC. “Vehicle thefts in Brampton outpace the auto theft rate in other parts of Ontario by about 20%. That’s saying something considering Ontario has the highest rate of auto thefts in the country. While we need a whole-of-society approach that includes all levels of government, insurers and auto manufacturers to solve this crisis, there are steps you can take to prevent your vehicle from being stolen.”

IBC encourages drivers to follow Équité Association’s layered approach to protection, which consists of four categories: simple steps, anti-theft devices, vehicle immobilizers and tracking devices.

In general, the harder a car is to steal and the less expensive it is to repair, the less the car costs to insure. To help make an informed decision when purchasing a vehicle, speak to your insurance representative and check out Équité Association’s list of the top 10 most stolen vehicles in Canada.

Auto theft hurts everyone – when thieves steal, we all pay. It costs every Ontario driver an average of $130 a year; that’s how much of your auto insurance premium goes toward settling claims for stolen vehicles. But that’s only part of the story. Ontarians pay more than $1.6 billion to cover the societal costs associated with auto theft – from law enforcement and court resources, to the anguish of being victimized, to general economic costs.

For more information on how to help solve the auto theft crisis, visit endautotheft.ca.