Collision-related rental lengths in Canada declined again in the first quarter of 2026, continuing a gradual easing from post-pandemic highs but remaining above pre-2020 norms.
Enterprise Mobility reports average length of rental (LOR) reached 15.7 days in Q1 2026, down 0.5 days from 16.2 days a year earlier. The result follows a 0.9-day drop in Q1 2025 and continues a steady decline from the 17.1-day peak recorded in 2022. Even with those gains, LOR remains 3.0 days higher than Q1 2020, when it stood at 12.7 days.
Provincial results show mixed movement. Newfoundland and Labrador recorded the highest LOR at 18.3 days, up 1.2 days year over year. Ontario posted 16.8 days, down 0.1 days, while Nova Scotia reached 16.7 days, down 0.3 days.
Prince Edward Island recorded the lowest result at 13.4 days, down 0.9 days. New Brunswick posted 15.9 days, down 0.1 days, while Alberta saw the largest decline, falling 2.7 days to 16.1 days. Quebec rose 0.4 days to 16.5 days.
Enterprise notes the provincial data exclude British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan due to crown insurance systems.
Breakdowns by claim type show continued improvement. LOR for drivable claims fell 0.4 days to 12.4 days. Non-drivable claims declined 0.8 days to 26.8 days. Total loss-related rentals dropped 2.1 days to 19.5 days.
Regional variation remains pronounced. Non-drivable LOR reached 38.1 days in Newfoundland and Labrador, compared to 21.5 days in Quebec. For total loss claims, New Brunswick recorded 21.7 days, while Prince Edward Island posted 16.4 days.
Ryan Mandell, vice-president of strategy and market intelligence at Mitchell International, said parts usage trends continue to shift.
“The percentage of parts repaired rose slightly to 14.2% (undeveloped) compared to 14.1% in Q1 2025 (fully mature). The use of alternative parts increased to 29.0% in Q1 2026 (undeveloped), a rise from 26.0% (fully mature) in Q1 2025,” Mandell said.
“More consistent availability of both aftermarket and recycled parts has built more confidence in the use of these part types,” he added.
Mandell also pointed to rising costs and total loss activity.
“The average deductible continues to climb in Canada and reached an all-time high in Q1 2026 of $601, which is up from $540 in Q1 2025,” he said.
“Total loss frequency in Canada increased to 25.1%, up from 24.8% in Q1 2025.”
