Auto theft drops nearly 20% in Canada, but recovery challenges persist

The newly released report shows particularly sharp declines in Ontario and Quebec, which saw numbers drop by 25.9% and 22.2%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2024. Équité credits this improvement in part to the federal government’s National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft, a multi-agency strategy led by Public Safety Canada and supported by insurers and law enforcement.

However, while the latest numbers suggest that recent efforts are working, experts warn that criminal tactics are evolving, and the concerted effort to fight auto theft needs to continue.

Sharpest gains in hardest-hit provinces

Across the country, 23,094 private passenger vehicles were stolen in the first half of 2025. That’s down from 28,549 during the same period last year. In Ontario and Quebec, the two provinces that experienced the biggest spike in auto theft during the crisis years of 2021 to 2023, have now registered the biggest declines.

Alberta saw a more modest 12.5% decline, while Atlantic Canada and Western Canada recorded drops of 9.0% and 9.4%, respectively.

“Auto theft returning to pre-crisis levels demonstrates the effectiveness of Équité’s unified voice on behalf of our members,” Équité CEO Terri O’Brien said in a statement, adding that coordinated action has been key in reversing the trend.

The insurance industry, she said, has focused on minimizing the impact of organized crime on everyday Canadians, and it seems that mission is beginning to bear fruit.

Evolving threats, and a call for prevention

Despite these signs of progress, however, Équité has warned that criminal organizations are adapting their tactics. In recent months, investigators have noted a rise in thefts intended not for export, but for dismantling in chop shops or resale under false vehicle identification numbers, called re-VINs, making recovery and enforcement more challenging.

The report also notes that due to the uncertainty around automotive and steel tariffs, the market for used and after-market parts may become more lucrative.

To address the growing sophistication of vehicle crime, Équité recently helped shape the first harmonized Canada-U.S. standard for theft deterrent systems called the UL Standards & Engagement Advisory Committee. The next step, according to the agency, is pushing for implementation of that standard to prevent more thefts.

“Canadians have endured the significant impacts of vehicle crime,” said Bryan Gast, Équité’s national VP of investigative services, in a statement. “While these numbers are encouraging, the fight is far from over.”