If your car is a target for thieves: high-theft vehicles, anti-theft discounts and car insurance surcharges (B.C. is different from other provinces)

1. First, let's be clear: where does "pay $500 more a year without a tracker" come from?

This is a rule of Sonnet Insurance in Ontario. Sonnet's web page says that in Ontario, a vehicle it identifies as a "high theft vehicle" (HTV) is charged an extra $500 a year. If a professional installs an aftermarket tracking and recovery device that Sonnet approves in the vehicle, the $500 is waived.

Sonnet does not sell car insurance in B.C. at all. The bottom of Sonnet's web page states that it sells car and home insurance in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and in B.C. and Alberta sells only home insurance, not car insurance. So if you live in B.C., you will not get a notice about a Sonnet car insurance surcharge.

This is not a national rule. It is a way of charging that individual insurance companies have set for themselves in individual provinces, and each company's list, amount and conditions for waiving it are different (section 10 gives a few examples). We did not find any law in Canada that requires all vehicle owners to install a tracker.

How car insurance works in B.C. In brief (for details, see section 5 of Guide No. 1, Insurance):

• Basic insurance (Basic Autoplan): By law, you must buy it to drive in B.C. It is underwritten only by ICBC (the insurance is ICBC's), and you buy it through an Autoplan insurance broker; BCAA is one such broker. BCAA's web page says that ICBC is the only provider of Basic car insurance in B.C., and that Basic insurance is provided by ICBC and can also be bought at BCAA.
• Optional insurance: for example, Collision, Comprehensive and Specified Perils coverage. These are not required by law, and you can buy them from ICBC or from a private insurance company. What BCAA's web page says is, in effect, that for optional coverage you can choose a private insurance company, such as BCAA.
• Car theft is covered by optional insurance. As section 7 explains, ICBC states that if your vehicle is stolen, it is covered only if you bought Comprehensive or Specified Perils coverage. If a vehicle has only Basic insurance and it is stolen, no one pays for the vehicle.

So for the same event, a stolen vehicle, there are two sides to look at in B.C.: how ICBC's side works (sections 2 and 3); and, if you bought your optional coverage from a private company, how that company works, which you need to ask it about (section 5 shows you how to ask).

Related: for who provides car insurance in each province and how to carry your car insurance over when you move between provinces, see section 5 of Guide No. 1, Insurance.

2. How the risk of theft is factored into car insurance in B.C.

We did not find a "high-theft vehicle list" on ICBC's website, nor anything about charging a fixed extra amount based on such a list. But ICBC does say what affects your premium, and several of those factors have to do with theft.

First, the vehicle itself. What ICBC says is, in effect, that your vehicle's model year, make, model and trim, and how much it costs to repair, affect your optional insurance premium. In other words, even for the same Comprehensive coverage, the price differs from one vehicle to another. ICBC does not publish how each vehicle is rated; to find out whether your vehicle is expensive to insure, ask an insurance broker for a quote on that vehicle (section 5).

Second, the area where the vehicle is kept. ICBC divides B.C. into 14 "territories", such as the Lower Mainland and Thompson/Okanagan. ICBC says the risks of driving differ from place to place, so the territory where your vehicle is kept affects your premium. If you move to a different territory, tell your insurance broker.

Third, how the vehicle is used. ICBC sorts vehicles into "rate classes" by use, for example "Pleasure" for everyday errands, taking the kids around and holidays, "Commuting" for driving to work or school, and business and delivery use. ICBC warns that if you declare the wrong use, it may affect whether you are covered, and you may have to pay out of your own pocket if something happens.

Fourth, anti-theft devices. If your vehicle has an approved anti-theft device, ICBC's optional insurance can cost a little less; section 3 explains this in detail.

Fifth, what you buy and the deductible you choose. The more optional coverage you buy, the more you pay; the higher the deductible you choose (the deductible is the part you pay yourself when you make a claim), the lower your premium.

Very expensive vehicles have their own rules. ICBC treats some luxury vehicles as "high-value vehicles": privately used luxury vehicles registered in B.C. with a manufacturer's suggested retail price over $150,000 and a model year within the last 7 years; or with a manufacturer's suggested retail price over $400,000 and a model year within the last 14 years. The Basic insurance premium for these vehicles is higher. For some luxury vehicles, if you want to buy Collision, Comprehensive or Specified Perils coverage from ICBC, you must first apply separately (for what is called a Special Risk Own Damage Policy), and the application must be submitted at least 5 business days before you buy the insurance; otherwise you may be without these coverages for a while. ICBC's web page has a list of luxury vehicles where you can check whether your vehicle is on it. In addition, ICBC's Basic insurance web page says that if your vehicle is worth $200,000 or more, you should talk with an insurance broker about how to buy your insurance.

Car theft in B.C. ICBC's auto crime prevention web page cites police data showing that in 2020, 46,600 vehicles were broken into and 7,500 vehicles were stolen in B.C. These are the figures on ICBC's web page and they are fairly old; we did not find more recent B.C. figures published by ICBC.

Related: for how to check an insurance broker's licence and what to verify once you find it, see section 5 of Guide No. 1, Insurance.

3. ICBC's anti-theft discount: which devices count and what you can save

ICBC offers two benefits: a discount on your premium, and a refund of $100 of your deductible if something happens. ICBC does not say online how large the discount is; ask an insurance broker (ICBC calls them Autoplan brokers; they are the insurance agents who sell ICBC insurance).

First benefit: a premium discount

Which devices count. ICBC refers to a "passive electronic immobilizer". An electronic immobilizer means that after you turn off the engine, the engine is locked, and it can be started only when it recognizes a special key with a chip, or an electronic device (usually on your key ring). ICBC says this kind of device gives the highest level of protection.

What "passive" means. The key point is how the anti-theft protection is switched on:

• Passive: you do not have to do anything; the protection switches on automatically when you remove the key. Only this kind counts.
• Manual: you have to press a button to switch the protection on.

Where you save. What ICBC says is, in effect, that if your vehicle has a passive electronic immobilizer, you can save on your Comprehensive or Specified Perils coverage. For exactly how much you save, and whether your vehicle already has the discount, ask your insurance broker.

Vehicles it does not apply to. Motorcycles and trailers cannot get this discount.

Many vehicles come with an immobilizer from the factory. ICBC states that cars, vans, light trucks and SUVs made after September 1, 2007 are required to have an engine immobilizer. But ICBC's web page does not say whether a factory-installed one counts as "passive", or whether the discount has been applied on your policy; ask your insurance broker. A quick question when you renew is enough.

Second benefit: a $100 deductible refund

ICBC describes two situations in which you may get $100 of your deductible back:

1. Your anti-theft device was properly installed and switched on, it stopped the thief and the vehicle was not stolen, and there is evidence that someone tried to steal it.
2. The vehicle was stolen and then recovered, and there is evidence that the thief damaged the anti-theft device.

This does not apply to motorcycles and trailers either.

How to get it. ICBC's discounts page says to talk to your Autoplan broker and ask whether you are eligible for these discounts. You can find a broker near you by address on ICBC's website.

4. Which vehicles are stolen most often: how to read the national list

Who publishes the list. What people in Canada usually call the list of the "ten most stolen vehicles" is published by Équité Association, a non-profit organization that works for Canada's property insurance companies against insurance fraud and insurance crime. As of November 4, 2026, the latest list was released on November 18, 2025, and covers the whole of 2024 (Équité usually publishes the previous year's list in mid-November).

2024 national ranking by number of vehicles stolen:

Note: The list on Équité's website is an image, so the figures in this table are copied from an industry news report (Canadian Underwriter, November 18, 2025) republished on the Insurance Institute of Canada's website; the text of Équité's news release says the RAV4 was stolen more than 2,000 times across Canada, which matches the table.

How to read this table.

• Stolen often does not always mean most at risk. Vehicles that sell well are more common on the road, so naturally more of them are stolen in total. Look at the "theft rate": 2,080 RAV4s were stolen, but there are more than 550,000 insured RAV4s across Canada, so the theft rate is 0.38%; 1,129 Toyota Tundras were stolen, fewer in number, but the theft rate is 1.52%, several times higher.
• Nine of the ten are SUVs and pickup trucks; only the Civic is a car. Équité's news release says that newer SUVs, especially those with weaknesses in their keyless entry systems, are the main targets of organized crime groups, and that the problem is most serious in Quebec and Ontario.
• There is no separate list for B.C. Équité's regional lists cover only Alberta, Atlantic Canada (the four Atlantic provinces together), Ontario and Quebec, and the web page states that only regions that meet a minimum data threshold are listed separately. B.C. has no separate list, so the national list is only a reference and does not directly tell you the risk for your vehicle in B.C.
• This table does not decide your premium. Équité itself states that the list is for information only and must not be used as a basis for buying, selling, leasing or valuing a vehicle. How your premium is calculated depends on your own insurance company's rules; in B.C., that means the factors in section 2.

Fewer vehicles are being stolen across Canada. A Public Safety Canada update of September 21, 2026 says that police-reported vehicle thefts fell 16% in 2024 compared with the year before, and fell another 16% in 2025; and according to Équité's latest trend report, vehicle thefts across Canada in the first half of 2026 were 10% lower than in the first half of 2025.

5. How to find out whether your vehicle is at high risk of theft, and how much of your premium is for that

In B.C., there is no "ICBC high-theft list" you can look up. The most reliable approach is to take this vehicle's details to an insurance broker and ask for a quote on the vehicle, explained item by item (you can check whether an insurance broker is licensed in the Insurance Council of British Columbia directory described in section 13).

Have these ready:

• The vehicle identification number (VIN): a string of letters and numbers. The B.C. RCMP says every vehicle has it in two places: one at the bottom of the windshield and one on the door frame on the driver's side; it is also on the vehicle registration documents. For a vehicle you have not bought yet, you can ask the dealer or seller for it.
• The model year, make, model and trim (for example, which version of the RAV4);
• Where the vehicle is usually parked overnight (the address);
• How the vehicle is used (only for everyday use, or also for driving to work, or for business);
• What anti-theft devices the vehicle has (a factory-installed passive immobilizer, a tracker you added yourself, and so on); bring proof of installation if you have it.

Ask your ICBC Autoplan broker:

1. Does my vehicle have a passive electronic immobilizer? Has the anti-theft discount been applied on my policy?
2. How much is Comprehensive (or Specified Perils) coverage for this vehicle for a year? Roughly how much would it differ for a different model?
3. How much would the premium differ with a higher or a lower deductible?

If you bought your optional coverage from a private insurance company (or plan to switch to one), ask a few more questions:

1. In B.C., is there a theft surcharge on this vehicle? If so, how much is it a year, and which coverage is it added to?
2. Can it be removed or reduced if I install a tracker or another anti-theft device? Which brands, models and installers are accepted? What proof do I need to provide?
3. If I install it partway through my policy, from what date does it count? Will I get a refund?

We did not find a consistent answer on private insurance companies' web pages about whether they charge this kind of surcharge in B.C., so you will have to ask each company one by one. Ask them to give you the quote in writing (email is fine), so that you can compare.

You can ask before you buy. Many people only find out after buying a vehicle that the insurance is much more expensive. When you find a vehicle you like, first give the VIN to an insurance broker for a quote, then decide whether to buy it.

6. How to prevent theft: start with what costs nothing

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) web page passes on Équité's advice: protect your vehicle "layer by layer". Below, the advice from IBC, ICBC and the B.C. RCMP is put together, from what costs nothing to what costs money.

First layer: free, every day

• Always lock the doors and close the windows. ICBC says to lock up even if you are leaving for only a few minutes.
• Do not leave your keys in the vehicle, and do not leave them in the ignition. IBC also says not to use remote start to let the vehicle idle and warm up on its own, even when it is cold.
• Treat your keys like cash. ICBC warns not to leave your keys lying around in places like the gym or the office.
• Do not keep a spare key in the vehicle; keep it at home or carry it with you.
• Park in a well-lit place, ideally one with plenty of people around; if you can, park in a locked garage.
• Do not leave valuables in the vehicle. ICBC says the items stolen most often are phones, followed by tablets, laptops and other electronics, tools, credit cards and ID, stereos, cash and coins, vehicle parts and accessories, garage door openers, sunglasses and keys. If you really must leave something, put it in the trunk.
• Do not leave your garage door opener where it can be seen; put it in the glove box or take it with you.
• When you drive into an underground parking garage, wait until the gate has closed behind you before you move on, so that no one can slip in after you.

Second layer: anti-theft devices that can be seen and heard

IBC lists: alarms, steering wheel locks or brake pedal locks, steering column collars, wheel locks, OBD2 port locks (OBD is the diagnostic port that a mechanic's computer plugs into; thieves may use it to program a new key), anti-theft decals, VIN etching on the windows, and identification markings on the vehicle.

Vehicles with keyless entry need special attention. IBC advises that when you are not using the vehicle, turn off the key fob if you can, or put it in a signal-blocking pouch (an RFID-blocking pouch, often called a Faraday bag), even at home.

A steering wheel lock helps, but do not rely on it alone. ICBC says a steering wheel lock works well to scare thieves off; but if your vehicle's risk of theft is moderate to high, a steering wheel lock alone may not be enough. ICBC also says older vehicles often have weaker door locks and fewer newer anti-theft features such as electronic immobilizers; for a vehicle made before 2007, you can add a steering wheel lock.

Third layer: immobilizers

IBC recommends installing a good-quality aftermarket immobilizer with an ignition cut-off feature that protects against "relay" attacks (using a device to boost your key's signal so that the vehicle thinks the key is right beside it), "reprogramming" (programming a new key for the vehicle) and "CAN bus" attacks (connecting to the vehicle's wiring and sending commands to the vehicle directly).

IBC specifically reminds you to check with your insurance company before adding any aftermarket device to your vehicle.

Fourth layer: tracking systems

IBC says tracking services install several hard-to-find trackers in different places in the vehicle, which can help get the vehicle back if it is stolen. IBC reminds you to check with your dealer first about whether it could affect your warranty. In addition, Aviva Insurance's web page reminds you that for a leased vehicle, you should also check with the leasing company first. The registered owner of a leased vehicle is the leasing company, and a lease contract has many conditions and restrictions; for how a lease works, see section 3 of Guide No. 56, Buying, financing, leasing or renting a car.

Can a tracker lower your premium in B.C.? ICBC's discount mentions only passive electronic immobilizers, not trackers. Whether a private insurance company accepts a tracker, you have to ask that company (using the questions in section 5).

7. If your vehicle is stolen: what to do first, and how ICBC pays

First, check whether you have the right coverage

ICBC states that a stolen vehicle is covered only if you bought ICBC Comprehensive or Specified Perils coverage. The difference between the two:

• Comprehensive covers more: theft, vandalism, fire, earthquake, explosion, windshield damage from rocks, hitting an animal, lightning, storms, hail and flooding. ICBC states that a Comprehensive claim does not affect your premium.
• Specified Perils costs a bit less and covers only theft, fire, earthquake, explosion, and weather such as lightning, storms, hail and flooding; it does not cover vandalism, the windshield or hitting an animal.

If you have only Basic insurance and your vehicle is stolen, there is no insurance to pay for the vehicle. If you bought your optional coverage from a private company, make your claim with that company, and where its steps differ from those below, follow what it says.

Step 1: Report it to the police

ICBC states that every stolen vehicle must be reported to the police. After you report it, write down the police file number; you will need it when you make your claim with ICBC.

• If the thief is stealing it right now, or someone is in danger, call 911 right away.
• If the vehicle is already gone and no one is in danger: in the City of Victoria and Esquimalt, call the Victoria Police Department (VicPD) at 250-995-7654; if you live in Saanich, Oak Bay, the West Shore or elsewhere, contact your local police; for non-emergency numbers, see section 10 of Guide No. 20, Staying safe and getting help.
• VicPD has an online reporting system, but it states that it is only for reporting less serious incidents and that an online report does not bring an officer out; incidents that are happening now or that need police to attend cannot be reported online. VicPD's web page does not make clear whether a stolen vehicle can be reported online, so calling is the safest option.

On the phone, you could say: "I'd like to report a stolen vehicle. The licence plate is ___. It's a ___ (year, make, model, colour)." After you report it, ask: "Could I have the police file number, please?"

Step 2: Make a claim with ICBC

• Online: available 24 hours a day. You log in with your ICBC details, your BC Services Card or your online banking login. The online claim page first asks "What best describes you?"; if you are not the vehicle's registered owner, principal driver or lessee, the page will ask you to report by phone once you choose your answer; for how to do that, see section 3 of Guide No. 38, ICBC no-fault crash claims.
• By phone: every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Toll-free 1-800-910-4222; Vancouver 604-520-8222.
• You could say: "I'd like to make a theft claim for my vehicle. My police file number is ___."

Step 3: If you have no vehicle to drive

• Once ICBC has accepted your claim, starting 72 hours after you reported it, ICBC begins reimbursing your transportation costs: car rentals, taxis and transit all count, up to $40 a day and up to $800 in total; you pay first and are reimbursed with your receipts.
• If you bought Loss of Use coverage, or the RoadStar or Roadside Plus package, you can rent a vehicle right away when you need one, up to the limits on your policy. Loss of Use can be bought only together with Collision, Comprehensive or Specified Perils coverage; rental costs are covered only for a vehicle of about the same size as yours, and if you rent a bigger vehicle, the extra cost is not covered.

Step 4: Follow-up by the claims representative

• ICBC will assign you a claims representative, who may ask you for a written statement about the theft.
• Find all the keys to this vehicle and keep them safe. They will be needed when the vehicle is recovered.
• If the police tell you your vehicle has been found, tell your claims representative.

Step 5: If the vehicle is not found, or is found

• Not found: ICBC values the vehicle at its fair market value and pays you that amount.
• Found: the vehicle is towed to the repair shop of your choice to see what is damaged and how much the repairs will cost. If you choose a shop in the ICBC Repair Network, the repairs come with a certain warranty for as long as you own the vehicle.
• Found, but not worth repairing (the repairs would cost more than the vehicle is worth; this is called a total loss or write-off): you are generally paid the fair market value. ICBC will ask you to sign a Vehicle Ownership Transfer Agreement; you can sign it online, agree verbally by phone, or sign the PDF and send it by email. The sooner you sign, the sooner you get paid, and signing does not affect how much you get. ICBC uses a third-party company, Mitchell International, to value the vehicle: it compares vehicles of the same make and model in your area that have been sold or are for sale, and also looks at the year, mileage, condition and options. If your belongings are still in the vehicle, your claims representative will tell you how to collect them and by when (usually 72 hours); after that, they may be thrown away.
• If the vehicle is leased: the registered owner of a leased vehicle is the leasing company, and the insurance payout goes first to settle the account with the leasing company; if the vehicle is stolen or written off early in the lease, whether you get back any part of the down payment you made depends on the contract; see "Trap 2" in section 7 of Guide No. 56, Buying, financing, leasing or renting a car.

Step 6: Repairs and the deductible

• After the repairs, you may have to pay your deductible at the repair shop.
• If you bought the RoadsidePlus package, your theft deductible may be waived in full or in part; ask your claims representative.
• For parts or labour that wear out with use, you may have to pay the depreciation portion; ask the ICBC estimator.
• If the thief damaged your anti-theft device, the vehicle was recovered and there is evidence of this, you may get $100 of your deductible back (section 3).

If you are not satisfied with the payout

ICBC says that if you have new evidence or disagree with the valuation, first raise it with your claims representative. If you still cannot agree, ICBC has a "Filing a dispute" web page; under "What is your dispute about?", choose "The value of my vehicle" or "My vehicle claim" and follow the prompts.

Related: for how to report a crash to ICBC and how to ask for an interpreter in Chinese on the phone, see section 3 of Guide No. 38, ICBC no-fault crash claims; for repairs, the deductible and depreciation, see section 8 of the same guide.

8. If something is stolen from your vehicle, or your catalytic converter is cut off

If equipment is stolen from your vehicle

If you bought ICBC Comprehensive or Specified Perils coverage, you can claim for equipment "permanently attached" to your vehicle that is stolen, up to the limits of your policy. ICBC's examples are stereos, speakers and winter tires. ICBC states that if a stolen item was not permanently attached to the vehicle, it may not be covered. Phones, laptops and other things you carry with you are not permanently attached to the vehicle, so based on what ICBC says, they may not be covered by your car insurance; if you are not sure whether an item counts, call ICBC.

Steps:

1. Report it to the police first, and write down the police file number.
2. Make a claim with ICBC online or by phone. You do not need to wait until the items are found.
3. Provide proof: for items that were not original factory equipment, you need to prove that you really had them and how much they were worth. ICBC suggests keeping receipts together with each item's year, make, model and serial number, and providing photos if you have them. You can submit proof through ICBC's online claims.
4. If the damage needs to be looked at and the repair cost worked out, go to the repair shop of your choice; the rules on the deductible and depreciation are the same as for a stolen vehicle.
5. If the items are identified by their serial numbers: if ICBC has already paid you and has notified the police, the police will notify ICBC; if ICBC has not notified the police, the police will contact you.

If your wallet, bank cards or ID are stolen from your vehicle, besides reporting it to the police, call your bank right away to report your cards stolen; for what to do in the first hour after you spot a suspicious transaction, see section 7 of Guide No. 31, Card fraud and scam transfers.

If your keys are stolen. BCAA's optional car insurance states that it includes "Lock Re-Keyed": if your keys or keyless remote are stolen, it pays up to $1,500 to change or re-key the locks. This is a term of BCAA's own insurance; if you bought your coverage from ICBC or another company, ask your insurance broker whether replacing the locks is covered.

If your catalytic converter is cut off

A catalytic converter is the part on the exhaust pipe that cleans the exhaust; it contains precious metals, so it attracts thieves when metal prices go up. ICBC says SUVs and pickup trucks sit higher off the ground, so thieves can crawl under them and cut the converter off in a few minutes, which is why they are targeted more often.

• ICBC states that catalytic converter theft is covered by ICBC Comprehensive coverage. If yours is stolen, report it to the police first, then make a claim with ICBC.
• ICBC's prevention tips: park in a garage, an underground parkade or a locked, fenced area, or if you cannot, in a well-lit, busy place; park close to a wall or barrier when you can, so it is hard for anyone to get under the vehicle; ask your mechanic whether the VIN can be engraved on the catalytic converter; install a catalytic converter lock or shield; install a dash cam with motion detection; if your vehicle's security system can be adjusted, set it so that the vibration of cutting also sets off the alarm; install motion-sensor lights and security cameras at home so your vehicle stays in view; and if you see someone suspicious, report it to the police as soon as you can.

Related: for how to report to the police and then report again to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, see section 8 of Guide No. 31, Card fraud and scam transfers.

9. Buying a used vehicle: do not end up with a stolen one

The B.C. RCMP says one reason thieves steal vehicles is to sell them: vehicles are often moved to other provinces or countries, the identification numbers may be altered or removed, and the registration documents may be forged. Équité also says that more and more stolen vehicles are being given fake VINs and sold, or broken up for parts at illegal chop shops. So when you buy a used vehicle, always check it out first.

First, a free check: has this vehicle been reported stolen?

On the website of the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC, run by the RCMP), you can check for free, by VIN, whether a vehicle has been reported stolen. You can check cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, farm vehicles, heavy equipment, trailers and all-terrain vehicles.

• Enter only the letters and numbers of the VIN, without spaces or other symbols.
• Before searching, you must tick a box to agree to the terms of use. The terms say that a record of your search may be provided to law enforcement if they ask for it.
• A result does not necessarily mean the vehicle was stolen; the website asks you to contact your local police to confirm it and to ask for their help.

Then, for a small cost: buy a vehicle history report

ICBC's web page lists two reports:

• You can buy them online; you can also buy the ICBC report by phone: Lower Mainland 604-661-2233, elsewhere in B.C. (including Victoria) 1-800-464-5050, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• ICBC's web page also has a free vehicle status search ("Free status search"), where you can check a vehicle's status (normal, rebuilt, salvage and so on).

Tips from the B.C. RCMP

• A vehicle has two VINs: one at the bottom of the windshield and one on the door frame on the driver's side; the two must match.
• The number on the VIN plate on the dashboard must match the registration documents, and check it for signs of tampering: loose rivets, mismatched rivets, screws used instead of rivets, a scratched number, or tape, glue or paint on it.
• Ask to see the original registration documents, not a copy.
• Ask the seller to show photo ID, check whether the name matches the one on the registration documents, and write down the seller's address and phone number.
• The licence plate, make, model and colour must all match the registration documents. When you read a report, watch for anything that does not add up, such as the vehicle being registered in two provinces at the same time, or the wrong fuel type.
• Enter the VIN on the vehicle manufacturer's website to see whether the number exists and whether there are any recalls; you can also use CARFAX's free VIN decoder to check that the model is right.
• Have a pre-purchase inspection done before you buy.
• If the price seems too good to be true, there is probably something wrong.
• Meet the seller in person, in a safe place, bring family or friends, and take a test drive.

For more on buying privately, the RCMP points to the web pages of the Vehicle Sales Authority of British Columbia (VSA). The VSA also warns that buying privately does not give you the consumer protection you get when you buy from a licensed dealer, so you need to be more careful yourself; it too suggests using CPIC to check for free whether a vehicle has been stolen, and buying an ICBC or CARFAX history report. The VSA also states that if you have a problem after buying privately, you will have to go through the courts, and the VSA will not be able to help you.

The VSA further warns you not to end up buying from a curber (for what a curber is, see section 12 of Guide No. 56, Buying, financing, leasing or renting a car). Ask the seller for the repair and service records: a true private seller will have them, in their own name; a curber will not. Purchase and transfer documents should be filled in correctly and truthfully, and a curber may want you to lie; for the sale contract, you can use the sample Sale/Purchase Agreement on the VSA website.

If you buy from a dealer, first check on the VSA website whether the dealer and the salesperson are licensed. If you buy a used vehicle from a dealer, for what the VSA says the dealer must state in the written contract, and what else (such as whether the vehicle was stolen and recovered) the dealer must also tell you, see the "Option 1" part of section 5 of Guide No. 56, Buying, financing, leasing or renting a car.

10. Moving to another province, or buying car insurance in another province: what the "high-theft surcharge" is about

In provinces such as Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, car insurance can be bought from private insurance companies (Sonnet, for one, sells car insurance in these provinces). In places with a lot of car theft, some companies charge an extra amount for vehicles they consider high-risk, and waive it or give a discount only if you install a tracking device they approve. The examples below are all things these companies or regulators say on their own web pages; they only show that "this practice exists in other provinces", and do not mean that you will definitely be charged this way if you move there.

Example one: Sonnet (Ontario, Quebec)

• Ontario: a vehicle identified as a high theft vehicle is charged an extra $500 a year.
• Quebec: each high theft vehicle is also charged an extra amount every year, but the web page does not say how much; if an approved tracking device is installed, the premium goes down.
• Which vehicles may be identified: Sonnet says that each year it compiles a list of the vehicles stolen most often in Ontario, based on data collected by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC); based on that data, pickup trucks, luxury vehicles and SUVs, vehicles with keyless remote fobs, and vehicles without an ignition immobilizer may all be counted as high theft vehicles.
• Which devices get it waived: you must have a professional install an aftermarket tracking and recovery device it approves, such as Tag, or a device it considers similar. This kind of device can locate the vehicle anywhere in Canada and the U.S. at any time.
• What does not count: steering wheel locks, car alarms, hood locks, electronic immobilizers, and factory-installed devices (such as OnStar) cannot be used to have the surcharge waived. Sonnet says these are still worth using; they just do not get the surcharge waived.
• How to report it: on the "Your Vehicles" page of your Sonnet online quote or policy, select "Yes", and enter the installation date and certificate number. If you install it partway through your policy, the refund is based on the days remaining.
• Renew after 5 years: once the tracker has been installed for 5 years, if the vehicle is still on the list, you must reactivate your Tag account to keep the surcharge waived.

Example two: Gore Mutual (Ontario)

Gore Mutual's notice of February 2025 says that for Ontario personal vehicles in areas where vehicle theft is concentrated, the high theft vehicle surcharge was raised from $500 to $1,500, starting January 15, 2025 for new policies and March 10, 2025 for renewals. Gore Mutual's broker notices page has published this kind of change more than once, so if you see an old list or old amounts online, do not take them at face value.

Example three: Aviva and two other companies (Nova Scotia)

In Nova Scotia, car insurance companies must apply to the provincial Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board for approval to change their rates and risk classification methods. The Board's decision of July 23, 2025 (2025 NSRAB 62) says that Aviva, Traders and Aviva General were approved in 2024 to charge an extra $1,000 for vehicles on their list, lowered this to $400 on April 1, 2025, and were now approved to lower it to $0; vehicles with a KYCS Locate or Tag tracking device were already exempt. We did not find whether these three companies have changed their pricing for high-risk vehicles again since then; the quote is what counts.

"Tag" is not Apple's AirTag

"Tag", as insurance companies use the word, is a vehicle anti-theft tracking system from Otodata Wireless Network that must be professionally installed; it is not the small round AirTag that goes with Apple phones. KYCS Locate is a product of KYCS Global (Honda and Acura dealers call it Honda Plus Locate and Acura Plus Locate). Aviva's web page also says that these devices are not available in every province. Its table lists only Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and the Atlantic provinces, with no column for B.C.; in the Alberta column, both Tag and KYCS Locate are marked as not currently available. Before you buy, always check with your insurance company which brands and models it accepts and where to have them installed.

What to do before and after you move

• Before and after you move to another province, ask your ICBC insurance broker and an insurance company in the new province how to switch your car insurance over and when you need to buy it in the new province (ICBC warns that if you move and your policy is not updated, you may not be covered). When you get a quote in the new province, tell them the VIN, where the vehicle is parked and what anti-theft devices it has, and ask whether there is a theft surcharge and how to have it waived.
• Keep the certificates and invoices for the anti-theft devices already on the vehicle. If a used vehicle already has a tracker installed, ask the device company and the insurance company whether it can be transferred to your name and kept in use.

Related: if you are moving out of B.C. permanently, for how long your B.C. licence can still be used, what to do about your car insurance before you leave, and the fact that some places require you to register, licence and insure your vehicle as soon as it arrives, see section 15 of Guide No. 48, Changing your address after a move; if you are moving to B.C. from another province or country, for how soon you need to switch your licence and how to exchange an out-of-province or foreign licence for a B.C. licence, see section 8 of Guide No. 6, Driver licensing.

11. New vehicles in the future: the federal government is changing the anti-theft standard

The standard used today for the engine immobilizers that new vehicles must have when they leave the factory is out of date. Équité says thieves now often use OBD programmers that program new keys, key emulators and key signal relay devices; the new standard lists these "electronic attack tools", and vehicle manufacturers can use them to test their own anti-theft systems.

• On December 27, 2025, Transport Canada published draft regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part I, to update the theft protection provisions of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations and switch to the new anti-theft standard ANSI/CAN/UL/ULC 338:2025 (a standard for vehicle theft protection devices and systems, covering electronic immobilization systems and aftermarket installation requirements). The draft says that comments could be submitted within 75 days of publication; the final regulations would come into force on the day they are published in the Canada Gazette, Part II; and there would be a two-year transition period, during which new vehicles could still be built to the old requirements.
• In Public Safety Canada's update of September 21, 2026, this was still described as a proposed update. On Transport Canada's regulatory progress table, as of November 4, 2026, this item has only a date for the draft and no date for final publication.
• In other words, the new regulations are not in force yet. The draft states that vehicles built before the new regulations come into force are not affected; the vehicle you already have will not automatically become safer because of this, and you still need to rely on the measures in section 6 to prevent theft.

12. What to say

To your ICBC Autoplan broker:

To a private insurance company (if you buy optional coverage in B.C., or move to another province):

To the police, to report a stolen vehicle:

To ICBC, to make a claim:

13. Who to go to if something goes wrong

What the Insurance Council of British Columbia does and does not do. It licenses insurance agents (brokers), salespeople, independent adjusters and agencies, and it also investigates and disciplines them. It does not regulate insurance companies themselves; insurance companies in B.C. are regulated by the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA). It also cannot order anyone to pay you a claim or refund your premium.

How to complain to the Insurance Council of British Columbia. The Council says a complaint against an insurance agent, salesperson or adjuster must be made in writing, and the more specific the better: include your full name, the full name of the licensee you are complaining about, a timeline of what happened, and supporting documents. If you need help, call 604-688-0321 or 1-877-688-0321 (toll-free within Canada). Settling claims disputes is not something the Council handles. For where to send a written complaint, see the Council's "Making a complaint" web page listed at the end of this section.

Check the licence before you go to an insurance broker. The Insurance Council of British Columbia's online directory lets you look up all currently licensed insurance agents, agencies and adjusters in B.C., and see their licence status and class, and which agency or firm they are authorized to represent.

GIO's phone number is 1-877-225-0446, and you can also fill in a complaint form online.

14. Checklist before you act

• First find out whether you bought your optional coverage from ICBC or from a private company, and whether you have Comprehensive or Specified Perils coverage. If you have only Basic insurance, no one pays for the vehicle if it is stolen.
• When you renew, ask your insurance broker whether the anti-theft discount has been applied.
• Before buying a vehicle, get a quote using the VIN first, then decide whether to buy it.
• Every day, lock the vehicle, close the windows, and do not leave keys or valuables inside; for a vehicle with keyless entry, keep the key in a blocking pouch.
• If you want to add an anti-theft or tracking device, first ask your insurance company whether it accepts it, then ask your dealer whether it affects your warranty; for a leased vehicle, also ask the leasing company.
• If your vehicle is stolen: report it to the police first and write down the file number, then report it to ICBC; keep all the keys.
• When buying a used vehicle: first check the VIN for free with CPIC, then consider buying an ICBC or CARFAX history report, and check the two VINs and the original registration documents.
• When moving to another province: when you buy car insurance again, ask whether there is a theft surcharge and how to have it waived.

Related guides

• → No. 1 · Insurance
  Who provides car insurance in each province, how to carry your car insurance over when you move between provinces, and how to check whether an insurance broker is licensed (section 5); how to ask for a written explanation when a claim is refused, checking with the GIO whether it handles a car insurance dispute with a private insurer and which companies take part, and the separate steps for disputing an ICBC claim decision (section 9).
• → No. 38 · ICBC no-fault crash claims
  How to report a crash to ICBC in B.C. and how to ask for an interpreter in Chinese on the phone (section 3); how your vehicle gets repaired, what to do if you have no vehicle while it is being repaired, and the deductible and depreciation (section 8); and how to challenge an ICBC decision step by step (section 10).
• → No. 31 · Card fraud and scam transfers
  What to do in the first hour after you spot a suspicious transaction: lock your card if you can, call the number on the back of the card, and write down the case number (section 7); report it to your local police, and again to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (section 8).
• → No. 20 · Staying safe and getting help
  Local police non-emergency numbers in B.C., chosen by where it happened (section 10); if someone is in danger, call 911 first, and when it answers, first say clearly where the person is (section 2).
• → No. 48 · Changing your address after a move
  Moving out of B.C., or moving to B.C. from another province: ICBC states that after you are no longer a B.C. resident, your B.C. licence can still be used for 90 days; that you should update your insurance with an Autoplan broker before you leave B.C.; and that some places require you to register, licence and insure your vehicle as soon as it arrives (section 15).
• → No. 6 · Driver licensing
  People who move to B.C. to live generally have 90 days to switch their licence, and how to exchange an out-of-province or foreign licence for a B.C. licence (section 8); getting a regular car licence from scratch (section 3).
• → No. 56 · Buying, financing, leasing or renting a car
  Paying in full, financing, leasing or renting a car in B.C.: how a lease works (section 3); used vehicles can be leased too, and what a dealer must state in the written contract when you buy a used vehicle from it (section 5); the taxes and pitfalls of trading in your old vehicle and making a down payment (section 7); and ICBC insurance for leased and rented vehicles (section 8).

Main official links in this guide

All the web addresses used in this guide are listed here, grouped by organization; the end of each section also lists the ones for that section. The pages of ICBC, the Victoria Police Department, the Canadian Police Information Centre, the B.C. RCMP, the Vehicle Sales Authority of British Columbia, Public Safety Canada, the Canada Gazette, Transport Canada, the Insurance Council of British Columbia, the GIO, the Insurance Bureau of Canada, Équité Association and the Insurance Institute of Canada, and those of the companies BCAA, Sonnet, Gore Mutual and Aviva, were all opened and read on November 4, 2026; for the BCFSA home page and ICBC's page for finding an insurance broker, we only confirmed that they open; the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board decision is a PDF, and we read only its first 3 pages (paragraphs 1 to 7). There are a few things we could not check: the original image of Équité's list could not be opened, so the figures in the table in section 4 come from the industry news report republished by the Insurance Institute of Canada; ICBC's "Filing a dispute" page is a step-by-step question page, and we did not read what comes after you choose an option; and we did not go through the GIO member list company by company. ICBC's Chinese-language web addresses still show the content in English when opened, so this guide gives only the English addresses.

ICBC

Police

Vehicle Sales Authority of BC (VSA)

Federal government

Insurance regulators and complaints

Insurance industry organizations

Insurance companies' own pages (the quote and policy they actually give you are what count)