Police in Canada recorded 83,652 motor vehicle thefts in 2025, a rate of 201 per 100,000 people and 16% lower than in 2024. It was the second yearly decline after three years of increases. The highest rates were in Red Deer, Winnipeg, Moncton and Edmonton, while Toronto and Montréal, the two cities at the centre of the recent car-theft wave, both saw their rates fall by more than a quarter.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), incident-based crime tables by census metropolitan area and province. Figures are for the whole census metropolitan area (CMA) unless stated. Comparisons and percentages that are not in the release are our own arithmetic. Updated 5 October 2026.
How common is car theft in Canada?
In 2025 police-reported motor vehicle thefts came to 83,652, or about 229 a day on average (our arithmetic). The national rate was 201 per 100,000 people, down from 240 in 2024.
The longer view is more reassuring than the headlines of recent years suggest. The 2025 rate was 9% below 2015 and 64% below the peak recorded in 2003. Motor vehicle theft rose for three straight years before turning down in 2024 and again in 2025.
Car theft is still one of the offences that matters most for the Crime Severity Index, because it is relatively common and carries more weight than minor thefts. The 2025 fall was one of the reasons the national Crime Severity Index dropped 5% to 75.0.
Which Canadian cities have the most car thefts?
Measured by rate per 100,000 residents, the highest car-theft levels in 2025 were mostly in the Prairies and Alberta, with Moncton the exception in the east. The table shows the ten metro areas with the highest rates, plus Montréal for comparison.
| Census metropolitan area | Thefts per 100,000 (2025) | Rate in 2024 | Change (our arithmetic) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Deer | 361 | 495 | -27% |
| Winnipeg | 355 | 402 | -12% |
| Moncton | 339 | 295 | +15% |
| Edmonton | 335 | 398 | -16% |
| Brantford | 305 | not in our extract | – |
| Kamloops | 284 | not in our extract | – |
| Saskatoon | 265 | 266 | 0% |
| Hamilton | 261 | 303 | -14% |
| Calgary | 243 | 279 | -13% |
| Toronto | 238 | 325 | -27% |
| Montréal | 197 | 277 | -29% |
| Canada | 201 | 240 | -16% |
Moncton stands out as the only place in this list where the rate went up. Most other large metros fell, several by a fifth or more. Kelowna’s rate dropped by about 24% to 184, Windsor’s by about 27% to 138, and Regina’s by about 25% to 154 (our arithmetic).
At the other end, some metro areas recorded far fewer thefts per head. Victoria (71), Sherbrooke (61), Québec (83), Halifax (98) and Vancouver (103) were all at roughly half the national rate or less.
What happened in Toronto and Montréal?
Toronto and Montréal were at the centre of national concern about stolen vehicles in recent years. Both saw large drops in 2025.
- Toronto CMA: 16,711 vehicles stolen, a rate of 238 per 100,000, down from 325 in 2024 – a 27% fall. Even after the drop, the Toronto area alone accounted for about one in five vehicle thefts recorded in Canada (our arithmetic).
- Montréal CMA: 9,169 vehicles stolen, a rate of 197 per 100,000, down from 277 – a 29% fall, putting Montréal slightly below the national rate.
Statistics Canada’s data do not explain why thefts fell. They record what police report, not the reasons behind changes, so we do not attribute the decline to any particular policy or enforcement effort.
Which provinces have the highest car-theft rates?
| Province | Thefts per 100,000 (2025) |
|---|---|
| Saskatchewan | 424 |
| Manitoba | 352 |
| Alberta | 317 |
| New Brunswick | 253 |
| Ontario | 187 |
| Quebec | 153 |
| British Columbia | 138 |
| Nova Scotia | 134 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 119 |
| Prince Edward Island | 86 |
| Canada | 201 |
Saskatchewan’s rate was roughly five times Prince Edward Island’s (our arithmetic). Ontario fell from 234 in 2024 to 187 (about -20%) and Quebec from 204 to 153 (about -25%), which together account for much of the national decline.
Why do the rankings look so different from the “most dangerous cities” lists?
Car theft is a property crime, so it follows its own geography. Toronto, for example, has one of the lowest overall Crime Severity Index scores among large metros (55.0) but still a car-theft rate above the national average. Vancouver is the opposite: a higher overall index (83.5) but one of the lowest vehicle theft rates.
A few other points help when reading these numbers:
- CMA, not city. Figures cover the whole metro region, including suburbs, so they will not match a single police service’s numbers.
- Smaller places swing more. In a metro area of 100,000 to 200,000 people, a few dozen extra thefts can move the rate noticeably from one year to the next.
- Reported incidents only. Vehicle theft is better reported than most crimes, but Statistics Canada’s 2019 victimization survey still found only about half of vehicle thefts were reported to police.
How can I reduce the risk of my car being stolen?
These are general, common-sense steps. No single measure prevents every theft, but several together make a vehicle a less attractive target.
- Lock the car and close the windows every time, even for a quick stop. Never leave it running unattended, including to warm it up in winter.
- Park in a locked garage if you have one. Otherwise choose well-lit, busy spots and, at home, park the most valuable vehicle behind another.
- Keep keys and key fobs away from doors and windows inside your home, and do not leave spare keys in the vehicle.
- A visible steering-wheel lock or similar physical deterrent can encourage thieves to move on.
- Ask your dealer or insurer what anti-theft or tracking options exist for your model, and check whether any software or security updates are available.
- Keep a record of your licence plate and vehicle identification number (VIN) so you can report a theft quickly.
- Do not leave valuables, documents or garage door openers in view.
If your car is stolen, report it to police straight away and then contact your insurer. Our guide on how to protect your car from theft in Canada goes into more detail.
How do I check car theft near a specific address?
- Start with your local police service’s crime map or open-data portal, for example Toronto Police open data, Edmonton neighbourhood crime mapping or Winnipeg Police.
- Use our Canada crime map to see the metro-level picture alongside other crime types.
- Compare two areas you are considering over the same period, rather than reading one area in isolation.
- Remember the limits: maps show reported incidents, often placed at a nearby block or intersection, and short periods can be misleading.
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Car theft in Canada FAQ
How many cars were stolen in Canada in 2025?
Police reported 83,652 motor vehicle thefts in 2025, a rate of 201 per 100,000 people, down 16% from 2024.
Which city has the highest car-theft rate in Canada?
Among census metropolitan areas, Red Deer had the highest rate in 2025 at 361 per 100,000, just ahead of Winnipeg (355), Moncton (339) and Edmonton (335).
Is car theft still rising in Toronto?
No. The Toronto CMA rate fell from 325 per 100,000 in 2024 to 238 in 2025, a 27% drop, although 16,711 vehicles were still stolen.
Which province has the most car theft per person?
Saskatchewan, at 424 per 100,000 in 2025, followed by Manitoba (352) and Alberta (317). Prince Edward Island had the lowest rate at 86.
Is car theft higher now than in the past?
No. The 2025 national rate was 9% lower than in 2015 and 64% below the 2003 peak.
Related: How to protect your car from theft · Break-ins in Canada · Crime rate in Canada 2025 · Crime rate by province · Is Toronto safe? · Is Winnipeg safe?. Source: Statistics Canada, The Daily. In an emergency call 911.