Car Theft Falls 10% In Canada In H1 2026 As Survey Finds 1 In 3 Canadians Affected By Auto Theft

Car theft falls 10% in Canada in H1 2026 as new survey finds 1 in 3 Canadians are affected by auto theft. 

72% feel mandatory anti-theft tech should be built into their vehicles and not sold to them as an after-market add-on.

A new Équité Association survey, the “2026 Canadian Auto Theft Impact Survey,” has found that more than one-third of Canadians have been personally affected by auto theft, while only 18% of respondents believe vehicles sold today are equipped to withstand modern, technology-based theft tactics.

While national auto theft has declined by 33% since 2023, following collaborative efforts under the federal government’s National Action Plan to Combat Auto Theft, the survey found that 55% of Canadians still point to the evolving tactics of organized crime as a major concern.

Additionally, two-thirds (66%) of respondents believe meaningful progress will require a coordinated effort among governments, automakers, law enforcement agencies, and vehicle owners, up from 61% in 2023.

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Reacting to the survey findings, Bryan Gast, National Vice President of Intelligence & Investigations at Équité Association, said Canadians are increasingly expecting vehicle security to be built into their cars rather than offered as an aftermarket add-on.

“Canadians are telling us clearly that they feel security protections should be built into their vehicles (72%), not sold to them as an after-market add-on,” Gast said.

According to data from the Équité Association, approximately 47,000 vehicles were reported stolen across Canada in 2025, down 18%, while, 20,759 private passenger vehicles were reported stolen during the first half (January–June) of 2026, a 10.1% decrease from the same period in 2025.

“Each of the 47,000 vehicles stolen last year represents a victim and a community affected. Canadians deserve protection and vehicle owners cannot solve this complex problem on their own. Effective anti-theft technology should be standard in every new vehicle,” said Gast.

“The reality of modern auto theft is that locking your car door is no longer enough. Organized crime has traded crowbars for technology-based theft such as key fob relay attacks and reprogramming to easily bypass a vehicle’s security system,” he added.

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