Honda CR-V Once Again Leads Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Canada
Bad news for Honda CR-V owners: the Japanese compact SUV ranks number one on the list of the most stolen vehicles in Canada for the second year in a row according to the latest annual report by Équité Association, a not-for-profit representing the Canadian property and casualty insurance industry.
Auto thefts in 2022 reached historical highs, with Ontario increasing by 48 percent and Quebec up 50 percent, putting Canada in the spotlight internationally as a source country for illegal trade.
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Notably, nine of the most popular model years stolen are 2019 or newer as criminals aim to maximize their profits by stealing newer vehicles to sell overseas or by re-VINing them to deceive unsuspecting Canadian buyers domestically.
The 2020 Honda CR-V was by far the most stolen vehicle in Canada last year with 5,620 reported thefts. A distant second and third are the 2022 Ram 1500 and 2020 Ford F-150 with 2,600 thefts and 1,833 thefts, respectively.
The CR-V also ranks first in Ontario and Quebec, while the Ram 1500 tops the list in both Alberta and the Atlantic provinces.
“The auto theft problem in our country is only getting worse,” said Bryan Gast, VP, Investigative Services at Équité Association. “Organized crime continues to look to Canada as a source nation for stolen vehicles where the financial reward is high and the risk of prosecution is low.”
For the first time in history, Canada’s private auto insurers paid out $1.2 billion in theft claims in 2022. At a time when inflation and affordability are putting excess strain on consumers, Canadians are paying more to cover the costs associated with auto theft.
“This problem will not be fixed in isolation. We need meaningful change and collaborative solutions adopted by auto manufacturers, all levels of government, and law enforcement,” said Terri O’Brien, President & CEO of Équité Association.