Auto theft claims costs in Ontario reached $485 million in 2025, down from $723 million in 2024, according to new data released by the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
According to the data, auto theft in Ontario remains well above historical levels. The number of auto theft-related claims was up 97% from 2017, while losses were up 330%.
Toronto recorded the highest auto theft claims costs in Ontario in 2025 at $114.5 million, compared with $32.5 million in 2017, an increase of 253%. Brampton ranked second at $43.2 million, up 565% from $6.5 million in 2017, followed by Mississauga at $31.6 million, up 216% from $10 million.
Ottawa ranked fourth at $19.8 million after moving up 2 places from the previous ranking. Hamilton ranked fifth at $19.4 million after moving up 4 places. Markham, Vaughan, Oakville, London and Richmond Hill rounded out the top 10.
Amanda Dean, vice-president, Ontario and Atlantic, IBC, said more work is needed from governments, law enforcement and insurers.
“While IBC applauds the efforts of provincial and municipal governments, law enforcement and insurers in helping to curb the auto theft crisis, there is still more work to be done by all stakeholders,” said Dean. “Ending auto theft requires a sustained, coordinated and whole-of-society approach.”
Several small and mid-sized communities recorded larger increases in claims costs than Ontario’s largest cities between 2017 and 2025.
Bowmanville/Clarington had the largest increase in auto theft claims costs over the period, up 1,261% to $2.7 million from $201,922. Whitchurch-Stouffville ranked second by increase, up 1,014% to $1.8 million from $161,168, followed by Peterborough, up 987% to $2.5 million from $225,340.
Richmond Hill, Barrie, Whitby, Oakville, Pickering, Markham and Milton also ranked among the top 10 Ontario communities by increase in auto theft claims costs between 2017 and 2025.
