Car theft is trending down in Canada. Unfortunately, this doesn’t necessarily mean your car insurance rates will trend down as well. Your location, driving record, the risk of your particular vehicle being stolen and overall claim costs can all affect your insurance rates.
For this guide, we reviewed Statistics Canada’s 2025 police-reported crime release and FSRA’s guidance on Ontario rating factors and optional physical-damage coverage.
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What Declining Auto Thefts Mean for Insurance
Your individual rate depends on your car, location, coverage, deductible and insurance company. Fewer theft claims can lower claim costs over time, but a nationwide drop doesn’t necessarily mean your insurance bill will decrease right away.
The numbers reflect police-reported crimes, not insurance claims, and national figures can mask large differences between vehicles, neighbourhoods and provinces.
Statistics Canada reported 83,652 motor vehicle thefts in 2025. That’s a rate of 201 thefts per 100,000 people, down 16% from 2024, following a 16% decrease the year before.
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How Does This Impact Your Insurance Rates?
In Ontario, vehicle theft is one factor used to determine auto insurance rates. Other factors include repair costs, the drivers’ claims histories, how the vehicle is used, coverage options and deductibles.
Areas and vehicles with high rates of theft may face higher insurance costs. Fewer theft claims could lower insurance costs for certain areas and vehicles over time.
Location
When comparing rates, make sure the coverage amounts and deductibles match. Your location affects your rate. Theft and claim rates vary by area, so ask the insurance company which area or zone it uses for your address.
Vehicle Type
Before buying a car, get a quote for its exact year, make, model and trim. Pricing may reflect its theft frequency, value, parts costs, safety features and repairability.
Insurance Provider Policies
Always get the quote in writing before buying an anti-theft device solely for an insurance discount.
Different insurers may quote different rates for the same driver and vehicle. They may also have conditions related to anti-theft devices, apply a theft surcharge or offer a discount for theft prevention. Ask what adjustments apply to your vehicle.
How to Check Your Renewal
There are four things to check:
- Check 1: Take out your last policy documents. Make sure the car, address, annual kilometres, drivers, coverage limits and deductibles are correct.
- Check 2: Ask whether your car’s theft rating has changed and whether there are any surcharges or requirements for theft-prevention or tracking devices. Also ask what change in coverage or rating factor accounts for the price change.
- Check 3: If your insurer suggests an anti-theft device, confirm that the device is eligible, where it must be installed, what proof is required, whether it has subscription fees and how much it would save.
- Check 4: Keep the drivers, limits and deductibles the same when comparing quotes. A lower-priced quote with less coverage is not a fair comparison.
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