The cost of auto theft in Alberta has jumped 65 per cent over the past three years, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada — and Ford pickup trucks are leading the list of the province’s most frequently stolen vehicles.
The Alberta Motor Association released its latest rankings on July 2, citing data from Équité Association, an insurance crime and fraud prevention organization.
The Ford F250 series ranked first, with a theft frequency of 1.48 per cent. The Ford F350 series followed at 1.21 per cent. Both vehicles are classified as trucks.
The third most-stolen vehicle in the province was the Chevrolet Silverado or GMC Sierra 2500 series, at 0.95 per cent.
“Targeted vehicles usually have a high resale value or are useful in committing other crimes,” AMA said in its July 2 post.
The association noted that even drivers whose vehicles don’t appear on the list are still at risk.
“Even if your vehicle isn’t on this list, you should always hide your stuff and lock your vehicle—although some thieves target specific models, many thefts are simple crimes of opportunity with an unlocked vehicle or items left in plain sight,” AMA stated.
Seven of the top 10 vehicles on the list were trucks. The remaining three were SUVs.
“Thieves are also becoming experts at exporting to the growing overseas market for trucks and SUVs,” AMA said.
Alberta’s top 10 most frequently stolen vehicles
Source: Alberta Motor Association, citing Équité Association
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Ford F250 Series – 1.48% (Truck)
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Ford F350 Series – 1.21% (Truck)
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Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 2500 Series – 0.95% (Truck)
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Lexus RX Series – 0.50% (SUV)
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Dodge Ram 2500 Series – 0.49% (SUV)
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Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 3500 Series – 0.41% (Truck)
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Dodge Ram 1500 Series – 0.37% (Truck)
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Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500 Series – 0.36% (Truck)
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Jeep Grand Cherokee – 0.34% (SUV)
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Dodge Ram 3500 Series – 0.30% (Truck)
The Insurance Bureau of Canada says the financial impact of auto theft is growing rapidly — and is now compounding pressure on Alberta’s strained insurance market.
In a July 3 bulletin, IBC reported that auto theft claims in Alberta totalled $110.3 million in 2024, up from $67.0 million in 2021 — a 65 per cent increase over three years. Since 2014, theft-related claims have risen 161 per cent province-wide.
“The auto theft crisis persists in Alberta at a time when the province’s auto insurance system is already under tremendous strain from tariffs, inflation, growing legal costs, and rising vehicle repair and replacement costs,” said Aaron Sutherland, Vice-President, Pacific and Western, IBC.
“The provincial government took an important step last fall when announcing significant auto insurance reforms. But much more is needed, including more measures to curb auto theft.”
According to IBC, Calgary and Edmonton were the hardest-hit cities between 2021 and 2024. Calgary’s auto theft claims rose from $20.6 million to $37.3 million — an 81 per cent increase. Edmonton saw a 79 per cent increase, from $16.0 million to $28.6 million.
Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray and Medicine Hat also experienced significant jumps in theft-related claims costs, at 59 per cent, 53 per cent, and 36 per cent, respectively.
IBC says the province has made “a positive early step” by restricting who can register a vehicle on someone else’s behalf. But insurers are calling for further reforms to prevent fraudulent registrations and reduce theft.
Among the group’s top recommendations:
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Prohibit registry agents from using the VIN override function
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Standardize vehicle bills of sale
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Restrict third-party vehicle registrations to licensed dealers
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Implement an Insurance Validation Program (IVP) for real-time insurance checks
“Addressing the auto theft crisis requires urgent action on multiple fronts,” Sutherland said. “By working together with governments, law enforcement, and other stakeholders, we can help ensure that Alberta’s drivers are better protected against the scourge of auto theft.”
AMA said some thefts happen when drivers leave obvious signs of valuables inside.
“If thieves can see anything that looks like it could be valuable, they’ll seize the opportunity,” the post read. “You might think it’s just a bag, electronics, or some loose change inside your vehicle, but it’s important to hide your stuff (and then lock the doors).”
“It doesn’t matter what vehicle you drive—if you’ve left your keys in the vehicle, you’ve made it easy for a thief to steal.”
“The best way to prevent vehicle theft? It’s actually quite simple: hide your stuff and lock your vehicle,” AMA said.
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