Toronto, Ontario -- Canada and the U.S. have come together to deter auto theft.
The countries recently harmonized standards for vehicle theft deterrence referred to the Équité Association, the national body representing Canadian property and casualty insurers in the fight against insurance crime, calls a “tremendous milestone” in tackling rising auto theft.
The ULC 338 standard set out technical requirements for systems to prevent or delay unauthorized use of vehicles, aligning Canadian and American certification protocols for the first time. The goal is to make it easier for manufacturers to meet both countries' regulatory expectations while giving consumers more confidence in the security features built into their vehicles.
It was developed by the Standards Council of Canada and the Underwriters’ Laboratories of Canada, in coordination with U.S. counterparts. It replaces older, inconsistent standards and opens the door to shared best practices across North America.
"With vehicles being the second largest purchase most Canadians make, the ULC 338 anti-theft standard is designed to provide much greater peace of mind to vehicle owners,” said Bryan Gast, vice-president of investigative services at the Équité Association. “Putting this new standard into action will undoubtedly contribute to a more secure automotive landscape in both Canada and the United States."
Vehicle theft rates have surged in Canada in recent years, straining insurers, frustrating police and causing headaches for repairers stuck waiting on replacement vehicles or assessing stolen-and-recovered cars.
