Auto theft claims prices in Toronto have surged by practically 1,000% up to now 5 years, totalling $371,815,072 in 2023, a brand new record by the Insurance coverage Bureau of Canada finds.
Toronto takes first place as the most expensive metropolis in Ontario for auto theft claims, according to IBC data.
But it’s Whitby that’s seen the biggest total surge, with a rise of two,269% over the past 5 years.
“As IBC’s numbers reveal, the Higher Toronto Space has been hit significantly exhausting by the auto theft disaster,” stated Amanda Dean, IBC’s Ontario and Atlantic vp.
“These claims prices communicate to the rising severity of the auto theft disaster in Ontario – a disaster that’s having a cloth influence on auto insurance coverage premiums, to say nothing of the priority and trauma it’s inflicting Ontarians.”
The highest costliest cities in 2023
Second to Toronto, Brampton clocks in as the subsequent costliest metropolis for auto theft claims at $93,186,518 in 2023. This compares with $11,378,590 in 2018 (a 719% rise).
The third costliest metropolis is Mississauga at $89,980,735 in 2023 — in contrast with $14,226,190 in 2018 (a 533% enhance).
The fourth costliest is Vaughan with $62,443,717 in auto theft claims in 2023 — a 789% enhance in comparison with $7,023,115 in 2018. The fifth costliest metropolis is Markham, with $43,633,553 in auto theft claims in 2023 — a 561% enhance in comparison with 2018’s $4,005,428.
Virtually all of the cities on the record are within the Higher Toronto Space.
Departing from the GTA, Ottawa ranks the sixth costliest metropolis for auto theft claims within the province. The nation’s capital totalled $41,304,357 in auto theft claims in 2023. This accounts for a 513% enhance from $6,743,194 in 2018.
Rounding out the Prime 10, Oakville ($30,797,587), Richmond Hill ($25,672,053), Hamilton ($19,978,117) and London ($13,823,739) rank as the underside 4 costliest Ontario cities for auto theft.
Whereas these findings present Ontario’s greatest cities — significantly within the GTA — are inclined to have the very best claims prices, IBC sees much more staggering jumps over the past 5 years in mid-sized cities.
Cities with largest will increase in claims prices
Whitby noticed a 2,269% surge in auto theft claims prices from $512,751 in 2018 to $12,145,932 in 2023.
Pickering clocks in as the town with the second highest surge (1,228%) from $802,520 in 2018, to $10,653,759 in 2023.
Milton’s seen the third highest enhance (1,010%) to $11,976,316 in 2023, from $1,078,885 in 2018.
Then, Markham locations fourth with a 989% enhance over the past 5 years. It additionally ranked fifth on the highest costliest cities for auto theft record in 2023 ($43,633,553).
And, Oakville (which ranked seventh on the highest costliest cities record), noticed a five-year enhance of 874%.
Richmond Hill (812%), Ajax (807%), Vaughan (789%), Clarington (744%) and Brampton (719%), are the remaining cities with the very best claims prices will increase over a five-year interval.
Prevention efforts
Nationally, the price of insurance coverage claims for changing stolen autos in Canada skyrocketed to a record-breaking $1.5 billion, IBC reported earlier this month.
And 2023 marked the second yr in a row that auto theft claims prices topped $1 billion.
That’s why Dean says auto theft is a nationwide emergency.
“We applaud the Ontario authorities for the numerous investments it has made to assist mitigate the disaster. Nonetheless, extra have to be completed to tighten the car registration course of to make it tougher for criminals to re-VIN and promote stolen autos to unsuspecting Ontarians,” she says.
The federal authorities recently released its National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft sooner than anticipated.
“We urge all orders of presidency — together with the province and municipalities — to not delay in working with the federal authorities to implement the suggestions within the Nationwide Motion Plan on Combatting Auto Theft,” says Dean.
“This initiative should embrace measures that make it tougher to move and export stolen automobiles.”
Characteristic picture by iStock.com/Bilanol