> Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Canada
Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Canada
If you drive Canada's best-selling truck, a Ford F-Series pickup, you might be paying more for your auto insurance coverage because it's a common target for theft. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada's (IBC) annual list of the most stolen vehicles in Canada, nine of the 10 are Ford's popular pickup:
2007 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
2015 Lexus GX460 4-door AWD SUV
"Nationally, Ford F350 trucks hold the top five spots," said Henry Tso, Vice-President, Investigative Services, IBC.
In fact, it is the Lexus GX460 that stands out as the lone non-Ford vehicle as being one of the vehicles most stolen in Canada.
When thefts are broken down by region, however, there are some interesting differences in the types of vehicles most likely to be taken.
"In Ontario, thieves target high-end SUVs and trucks, including Chevrolet's Tahoe, Silverado and Suburban," continued Tso. "In Alberta, once again Ford's F250s and F350s dominate the list. In Atlantic Canada, the Nissan Maxima is stolen most often, followed by the Chevy Silverado and Jeep Liberty."
Top 10 stolen vehicles in Alberta
1. 2006 Ford F-250 Super Duty 4WD Pickup
8. 2000 Honda Civic 2-door Hatchback
10. 1999 Honda Civic 2-door Hatchback
Top 10 stolen vehicles in Ontario
1. 2004 Chevrolet/GMC Tahoe/Yukon 4WD SUV
2. 2006 Chevrolet/GMC Silverado/Sierra 2500 4WD Pickup
5. 2003 Chevrolet/GMC Suburban/Yukon XL 1500 4WD SUV
7. 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 4WD Pickup
10. 2002 Chevrolet/GMC Tahoe/Yukon 4WD SUV
Top 10 stolen vehicles in Quebec
1. 2017 Acura MDX 4WD SUV
2. 2015 Toyota 4Runner SUV
3. 2017 Honda CR-V AWD
5. 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4WD SUV
6. 2017 Honda Pilot 4WD SUV
9. 2015 Toyota Prius V 5-door
10. 2016 Toyota Prius V 5-door
Top 10 stolen vehicles in Atlantic Canada
1. 2009 Nissan Maxima
3. 2011 Jeep Liberty 4WD SUV
4. 2002 Chevrolet/GMC S10/Sonoma 4WD pickup
5. 2015 Mitsubishi RVR 2WD SUV
7. 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle 2-door
8. 2015 MINI Cooper 2-door
9. 2010 Ford Mustang 2-door
10. 2002 Dodge Dakota 2WD Pickup
About vehicle theft in Canada
Cars are stolen for many reasons, says the IBC. Once stolen, vehicles may be shipped overseas for resale, scrapped for parts, or used to commit another crime. It's also likely far more common than you may realize: there were almost 85,000 reported vehicle thefts last year, according to Statistics Canada, representing a six per cent increase from the previous year.
As a result, the IBC encourages drivers to be vigilant about deterring car thieves and recommends that you protect your vehicle by following these tips:
Never leave your vehicle running when unattended.
Park in well-lit areas.
When parking your car, always close the windows and lock the doors.
Put valuables and packages in the trunk, where they're out of sight.
Keep your car in the garage at night.
Also, to minimize the risk of identity theft, don't leave personal information in your glove box; take your insurance and ownership documents with you anytime you park your vehicle.
What does vehicle theft have to do with your car insurance premiums?
Coverage for theft is included under the 'comprehensive' or 'specified perils' part of your auto insurance policy. It's an optional coverage and if it's included on your policy, part of determining your premium requires the insurer to assess the likelihood your car will be stolen. This includes a review of theft rates in your region and how likely thieves are to target your vehicle. However, each insurer's assessment will differ because they will also take into account their own claims experience. As a result, your premiums with one insurer may be considerably different than with another, which is why it's important to shop around for the best car insurance price.