Atlantic Canada has become a preferred destination for car thieves.

According to data from Insurance Bureau of Canada, auto theft claims have shown an alarming rise in the Atlantic provinces, spiking 12.5% in the first half of 2024 — the nation’s largest increase.

And that’s not a new trend, IBC said in a news release. Over the past 10 years, auto theft claims in the region have increased by 116%.

The costs related to those claims were up 11.8% year-over-year during the first six months of 2024, and have soared by 265% over the past decade.

“Opportunistic car thieves are increasingly shifting their focus to Atlantic Canada and away from provinces such as Ontario and Quebec, which have invested significantly in combating auto theft,” said Amanda Dean, IBC vice-president for Ontario and Atlantic. “The growth in auto theft in Atlantic Canada is putting pressure on auto premiums and compromising the safety and security of residents.”

The data shows Nova Scotia with the region’s largest jump in auto theft claims for the first half of this year, up 26.6% from the first half of 2023 . New Brunswick’s claims were up 14.4% and Prince Edward Island’s were up 10.5%.

Claims in Newfoundland and Labrador actually decreased by 26%, though overall claims costs in the province still rose 4.2%.

Atlantic total New Brunswick Nova Scotia P.E.I. N.L.
Claims Count
% change in H1 2023-24 12.5 % 14.4 % 26.6 % 10.5 % (-26.1 %)
% change in H1 2014-24 116 % 203 % 87 % 200 % 4.8 %
Claims Costs
% change in H1 2023-24 11.8 % 10.7 % 15 % 20.1 % 4.2 %
% change in H1 2014-24 265 % 389 % 223 % 818 % 77 %

 

IBC has called on the region’s governments to implement the recommendations of the federal government’s National Action Plan on Combating Auto Theft. The plan, released in May, includes recommendations from the home, auto and business insurance industry.

“Atlantic Canada is in the midst of an auto theft crisis and without action it will only get worse,” Dean said. “We need provincial governments to work swiftly with the federal government to implement the recommendations in the national action plan.

“Specifically, we need investments in Atlantic ports to make it more difficult to export stolen vehicles. We also need the Atlantic provinces to provide more resources for inter-agency law enforcement that’s focused on auto theft.”

IBC said the value of insurance claims for auto theft reached $1.5 billion for the first time ever in 2023, and that record will be surpassed this year.