The top 10 most stolen vehicles in Canada were revealed and there's a new #1

Each year, Canadians get a glimpse into the riskiest rides to own, and the results for last year are finally in.

Équité Association just dropped its annual list of the top 10 most stolen vehicles in Canada, and for the first time in years, there's a major shake-up at the top.

If you're rolling in a certain popular SUV, you might want to pay extra attention because it just snagged the dubious honour of being the highest-theft car in the country.

For three of the last four years, this ranking has been dominated by the popular Honda CR-V, but that vehicle has now slipped to fourth place.

In first place this year is the Toyota Highlander, shooting up from fifth last year to become the most stolen vehicle of 2023.

Here's the full breakdown of the top 10 highest-theft vehicles in Canada for 2023:

1. Toyota Highlander — 3,414 thefts
2. Dodge Ram 1500 Series — 3,078 thefts
3. Lexus RX Series — 3,037 thefts
4. Honda CR-V — 2,988 thefts
5. Toyota RAV4 — 2,690 thefts
6. Honda Civic — 1,654 thefts
7. Jeep Wrangler — 1,641 thefts
8. Land Rover Range Rover Series — 1,533 thefts
9. Chevrolet/GMC Suburban/Yukon/Tahoe Series — 1,488 thefts
10. Chevrolet/GMC Silverado/Sierra 1500 Series — 1,383 thefts

It should be noted that the list is based on the overall number of thefts, so the most popular vehicles tend to rank higher simply because there are so many of them on the road. That doesn't necessarily mean they're poorly secured, but high demand and keyless ignition vulnerabilities are making them easy targets for thieves, according to Équité Association.

Looking purely at theft frequency — measured as a percentage of total insured vehicles on the road — the Land Rover Range Rover Series takes the top spot with an eye-watering 4.43% theft rate.

Regional trends also reveal some interesting differences. For example, in Alberta, the Chevrolet/GMC Silverado/Sierra 1500 Series was the most stolen, while Quebec saw the Toyota RAV4 topping its list. Meanwhile, Ontario's most stolen vehicle in 2023 was the Lexus RX Series, and in Atlantic Canada, it was the Dodge Ram 1500 Series.

The Toyota Highlander's rise to the top of the national list might not surprise industry experts, as its popularity and high resale value make it a tempting target for criminals. Équité Association noted that most vehicles on the list are newer models from 2019 or later, and keyless ignitions without proper anti-theft measures continue to be a major vulnerability.

"One of the most common trends we're seeing on the Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles list includes newer vehicles with keyless ignitions," said Bryan Gast, Vice President of Investigative Services at Équité Association.

The association also highlighted that auto theft across Canada has been on the rise, with Quebec and Ontario seeing the largest jumps between 2021 and 2023. It's calling for updated safety regulations, such as aligning vehicle security standards with the ULC 338 Anti-theft Standards, to curb the trend.

"In order to sustainably address the auto theft crisis in Canada, solutions must evolve from focusing on the recovery of stolen vehicles to preventing vehicles from being stolen in the first place, starting with updating Canada's outdated Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations," said President and CEO of Équité Association President and CEO Terri O'Brien.

For now, the association recommends drivers take a layered approach to vehicle security, including simple steps like parking in well-lit areas, using anti-theft devices and investing in tracking technology. After all, the best way to avoid becoming a statistic is to stay one step ahead of the thieves.

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.

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