Worst cities for car theft impact in Ontario
Published June 3, 2024 at 1:02 pm
As a result of a relentless uptick in criminal activity surrounding auto theft in Ontario, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has, for the first time in history, released a detailed list of the costliest cities in the province when it comes to stolen vehicles.
According to newly released data from the ICB, auto theft costs have increased by a staggering 524% across Ontario since 2018 — surpassing $1 billion for the first time in 2023. Between 2018 and 2023, the number of people making insurance claims due to the theft of their vehicles also increased by 165%.
“Ontario is seeing an alarming increase in auto theft claims and costs. As IBC’s numbers reveal, the Greater Toronto Area has been hit particularly hard by the auto theft crisis. These claims costs speak to the growing severity of the auto theft crisis in Ontario — a crisis that is having a material impact on auto insurance premiums, to say nothing of the concern and trauma it is causing Ontarians,” said VP of both the Ontario and Atlantic branches of the IBC Amanda Dean, in an official statement.
Based on data from a five-year window between 2018 and 2023, the IBC broke down which cities in Ontario have endured the most costs concerning auto theft.
Information provided by the IBC is as follows:
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| City | 2023 Costs ($) | 2018 Costs ($) | Cost Increase (%)
2018 – 2023 |
| Toronto | $371,815,072 | $56,223,067 | 561 % |
| Brampton | $93,186,518 | $11,378,590 | 719 % |
| Mississauga | $89,980,735 | $14,226,190 | 533 % |
| Vaughan | $62,443,717 | $7,023,115 | 789 % |
| Markham | $43,633,553 | $4,005,428 | 989 % |
| Ottawa | $41,304,357 | $6,743,194 | 513 % |
| Oakville | $30,797,587 | $3,163,240 | 874 % |
| Richmond Hill | $25,672,053 | $2,814,457 | 812 % |
| Hamilton | $19,978,117 | $7,390,338 | 170 % |
| London | $13,823,739 | $4,394,111 | 215 % |
According to data from the ICB, Ontario’s largest municipalities tend to have the highest claims costs. However, several smaller cities throughout the province have seen major increases in theft claims and their surrounding costs.
Smaller municipalities that have been severely impacted include:
| City | 2023 Costs ($) | 2018 Costs ($) | Cost Increase (%)
2018 – 2023 |
| Whitby | $12,145,932 | $512,751 | 2269 % |
| Pickering | $10,653,759 | $802,520 | 1228 % |
| Milton | 11,976,316 | $1,078,885 | 1010 % |
| Markham | $43,633,553 | $4,005,428 | 989 % |
| Oakville | $30,797,597 | $3,163,240 | 874 % |
| Richmond Hill | $25,672,053 | $2,814,457 | 812 % |
| Ajax | $13,159,562 | $1,451,427 | 807 % |
| Vaughan | $62,443,717 | $7,023,115 | 789 % |
| Clarington | $5,810,278 | $688,689 | 744 % |
| Brampton | $93,186,518 | $11,378,590 | 719 % |
When addressing the solutions based on the data provided, Dean remained relatively straightforward in her approach, as she referenced a unified government response by stating, “We urge all orders of government — including the province and municipalities — not to delay in working with the federal government to implement the recommendations in the National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft. This initiative must include measures that make it more difficult to transport and export stolen cars.”
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