Car theft is a global problem; however the rate of cars stolen in Canada is among the highest in the world. According to Statistics Canada, a car is stolen every three minutes, averaging about 400 cars a day.

Whether you drive an economy or a luxury car, it can be a target. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada's statistics for 2007, the top five most stolen cars in Canada were:

1. Honda Civic
2. Subaru Impreza
3. Acura Integra
4. Dodge Grand Caravan
5. Plymouth Voyager

These statistics show that economy cars are prominently among the highest stolen vehicles in Canada, outnumbering luxury brands, perhaps due to high resale value for parts.

Who is this costing?

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), car theft costs Canadians about $1.2 billion a year including health care expenses, court policing, legal and out of pocket costs such as deductibles. These loses are made up through insurance premiums, costing each Canadian policyholder about $37 on his or her insurance premium.

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Where is your vehicle most likely to be stolen in Canada?

The following is a list of cities in Canada with the highest rates of car theft per 100,000 population (Statistics Canada, 2007):

1. Winnipeg, MB     1,932
2. Abbotsford, BC    1,155
3. Edmonton, AB    1,076
4. Regina, SK         1,008
5. Vancouver, BC       745
6. Montreal, QC         646
7. London, ON           641
8. Calgary, AB           611
9. Saskatoon, SK      582
10. Hamilton, ON         503

*Toronto did not make it into the top ten, however, it placed 19th tying with Thunder Bay at 294 vehicle thefts per 100,000 population.

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Prevent your car from being targeted

There are some things that you can do to try to prevent car theft. The following are a few IBC suggestions:

• Always roll up your windows all the way when leaving your vehicle and lock it up.
• Put the key in your pocket or purse as soon as you lockup. Never leave keys in your vehicle or in the ignition. It only takes a moment for someone to jump in and drive away (20% of stolen cars have keys in them.)
• Keep your vehicle registration and proof of insurance on you, in a wallet or purse at all times- never leave these documents in the glove box.
• Never leave a parking lot claim stub in your car when parking at an airport or other large parking lot.
• Do not leave valuable items such as laptops, sports equipment or packages in clear view. Keep them in your trunk or out of sight.
• Make sure to park in a well lit, busy area.
• Get your car parts marked. This could deter thieves, as they resell car parts and this would make your car a less attractive target.
• To prevent having your car towed by thieves, park with your wheels sharply turned and apply the emergency brake.
• If you park in your own private garage, make sure you lock both the garage and your car.

As of 2007, the Canadian federal government made it mandatory for all Canadian manufacturers to install electronic immobilizers in new cars, vans, lights trucks and SUVs. If your car doesn't have one already, the smartest thing you can do to prevent auto theft is to install an electronic immobilizer in your car. The IBC highly recommends that you make sure it meets the National Standard of Canada (ULC-S338/98); meaning it cuts all three vital circuits - the starter, the ignition, and the fuel.

The harder you make it for someone to steal your car, the more you lower your chances of having it go missing. It never hurts to take precautions to prevent car theft.

Nevertheless, cars do get stolen. To ensure you are not overpaying for the car insurance coverage you need in the case that your car does vanish, make sure to compare auto insurance rates on Kanetix.ca, to find the best car insurance rate for your needs.