November 21, 2006
Honda Civics continue to top the list of Canada’s Top Ten Stolen Vehicles

TORONTO – Canada’s car insurers announced today that, for the second year running, the 1999 and 2000 Honda Civics SiR 2-door hold the dubious distinction of topping this year’s most frequently stolen vehicles list. The two models also had the third and fourth highest theft claims cost per vehicle. The highest theft claim cost per vehicle “honour” went to the third most frequently stolen vehicle, the 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX/WRX STi 4-door all-wheel-drive.

The Top Ten Stolen Vehicles are:

1. 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
2. 1999 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
3. 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX/WRX STi 4-door AWD
4. 1999 Acura Integra 2-door
5. 1994 Honda Civic Si 2-door Hatchback
6. 1998 Acura Integra 2-door
7. 1993 Dodge Shadow Convertible
8. 1996 Honda Civic Si 2-door Hatchback
9. 2000 Audi TT Quattro 2-door Coupe
10. 1996 Chev/GMC Blazer/Jimmy S Series 2-door 4WD

Once again, none of the vehicles making the top ten most frequently stolen vehicles list had an Insurance Bureau of Canada-approved immobilizer system.

“The stats prove time and again that theft deterrent systems work. This year, we see that auto thieves continue to find it easier to steal older vehicles lacking an IBC-approved immobilizer,” says Rick Dubin, Vice-President, Investigations, IBC. “We’ve seen this trend developing for several years, and these results confirm it,” adds Dubin.

Electronic immobilizers are systems that prevent a vehicle from starting unless the engine computer recognizes the specific electronic code embedded in the key. IBC, along with vehicle manufacturers, after-market manufacturers, and other interested stakeholders, developed a Canadian standard for automobile theft-deterrent systems that was approved by the Standards Council of Canada in 1998. Many insurance companies provide premium discounts on automobile policies to customers whose vehicles are equipped with an IBC-approved, factory-installed or aftermarket immobilizer system.

“Immobilizers are highly effective at deterring car thieves. In terms of this year’s stats, you have to go down the list to the 28th most-frequently stolen spot to find a vehicle, the 2001 Audi S4 Quattro 4-door, that registered a high theft frequency despite the fact that it is protected by an immobilizer. It just underlines the reality that theft is much more likely when a vehicle is not equipped with an immobilizer,” Dubin adds. For this reason Transport Canada has made it mandatory that all new cars, light trucks and SUV’s are required to be equipped with an electronic immobilizer as of September 2007.

In contrast, all but three of the least stolen vehicles last year were models that featured IBC-approved immobilizer systems. These vehicles were best insurance bets as far as auto theft is concerned.

The Least Stolen Vehicles were:

(tie) 2000 Saab 9-5 4-door
1. (tie) 2002 Volvo S60 4-door AWD

1. (tie) 2002 Pontiac Bonneville 4-door

1. (tie) 1998 Lincoln Continental 4-door

1. (tie) 2001 Ford/Mercury Taurus/Sable Wagon

1. (tie) 2001 Pontiac Bonneville 4-door

1. (tie) 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette

1. (tie) 1997 Saturn SW1 Wagon

9. 1998 Toyota Avalon XLS 4-door

10. (tie) 2000 Lincoln Continental 4-door

(tie) 2005 Saturn Ion 4-door Sedan
(tie) 1996 Buick Le Sabre 4-door

The first eight models shared the lowest frequency of theft claims, the vehicle in 9th spot, had the second lowest, and the last three tied for the third lowest frequency.

Data on vehicle theft frequency is based wholly on actual insurance claims information collected from companies that write almost 100% of all automobile insurance in Canada.

This data is also found in this year’s edition of IBC’s How Cars Measure Up, which compares the insurance claim records of the most popular models of cars, passenger vans, SUVs and pickup trucks across the country. Consumers can also access information on the best and worst models according to collision, comprehensive and theft cost experience. This information can be extremely useful to consumers before they actually buy either a new or used car. How Cars Measure Up is designed to help consumers understand how theft, collision and other claim costs affect insurance premiums. For more information, visit IBC’s web site at www.ibc.ca and click on “How Cars Measure Up” under “Quick Links.”

In 2005, 160,000 vehicles were stolen in Canada. Theft of vehicles (and their components) costs Canadian policyholders more than $540 million annually in insurance premiums and more than $1 billion when other costs such as ambulance, police, and court costs are included. The safety and security of our communities are at risk considering that, on average, 40 people die each year and 65 are seriously injured as a result of auto theft.

Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national trade association of the private property and casualty insurance industry. It represents more than 90% of the non-government home, car and business insurance in Canada. IBC is highly regarded as a provider of automobile insurance rating information and a creator of the Canadian automobile theft-deterrent standard.