Canadians Fear Their Cars Are Sitting Ducks for Thieves, New Survey Reveals

When you walk to your car, lock the doors and maybe even click a steering‑wheel lock, you probably feel a little safer. Yet a fresh survey suggests that comfort is fleeting for most Canadians. Roughly four‑fifths of the country now believe their vehicle could be the next victim of a sophisticated theft.

The numbers come from an Angus Reid study paid for by the Équité Association – a non‑profit that tracks fraud and auto‑theft trends. Conducted online in June, the poll asked a representative sample of adults from coast to coast whether they felt their car was vulnerable. The answer was almost uniformly “yes.” In the words of the report, “nearly 80 % of Canadians feel their vehicles could be a target for thieves.”

It isn’t just a vague unease. Respondents cited a laundry list of modern tricks that have made “simple” lock‑and‑key methods look archaic. Key‑fob relay attacks, where thieves amplify the signal from a nearby driver’s remote, and software hacks that re‑program a car’s computer to start without a physical key were top of mind. As Bryan Gast, Équité’s Vice‑President of Investigative Services, put it, “Organized crime has traded crowbars for technology‑based theft.”

People are not just worried – they’re vocal about solutions. When asked what would make them feel more protected, 60 % said they want the federal government to require anti‑theft technology in every new vehicle sold in Canada. Even higher – 75 % – think such safeguards are essential, regardless of cost.

Those numbers line up with another piece of the puzzle: the latest national auto‑theft statistics. A February 2025 report from Équité documented about 47,000 thefts across the country that year, with one‑third of the stolen vehicles never recovered. While some provinces have seen modest drops – Quebec down 25 % and Ontario 22 % compared with 2024 – the overall trend is still worrisome, especially in the West where the decline barely hit double digits.

Government officials have taken note. In late 2024, the federal cabinet rolled out a National Action Plan on Vehicle Theft, pledging funding for law‑enforcement training and a public‑education campaign about “smart” security habits. Yet critics argue the plan stops short of mandating the very technologies drivers are asking for.

Meanwhile, manufacturers are rolling out a mixed bag of features. Some new models ship with built‑in immobilisers that neutralise relay attacks, while premium trims boast biometric starters and encrypted key‑fob communications. For many owners, though, these upgrades come with a price tag that feels out of reach, especially when the average vehicle price in Canada nudged past $45,000 this year.

So where does that leave the everyday commuter? Experts recommend a layered approach: keep a physical lock (like a steering‑wheel or brake‑caliper lock) on top of any factory‑installed system, park in well‑lit areas, and, if possible, store the key‑fob in a signal‑blocking pouch when not in use. “It’s not a silver bullet,” admits Gast, “but every extra barrier raises the cost and risk for the thief, and that can be enough to make them move on.”

In short, while the technology race between car makers and thieves heats up, Canadians are clearly demanding more than hope and a deadbolt. As the survey shows, the feeling of vulnerability is real, and it's prompting a louder call for mandatory, smarter protections on the streets of Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and every town in between.