Toronto tops list of insurance claims in Ontario

More than 12,000 vehicles reported stolen last year

- PETER EDWARDS

Toronto is easily the costliest community in Ontario for auto theft claims, followed by Brampton, Mississauga, Vaughan and Markham, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Soaring auto theft rates are blamed for the cost of Toronto's auto theft claims rocketing up 561 per cent over the past five years.

That adds up to $371 million in claims for Toronto in 2023, where 12,170 vehicles were reported stolen last year. Carjackings in Toronto escalated 106 per cent in the first quarter of 2024, compared with the first three months of 2023.

Brampton, the second costliest city, recorded $93 million in auto theft claims last year.

Mississauga is next, with $90 million in claims, with Vaughan and Markham rounding out the top five with $62 million and $43 million respectively.

Markham saw the highest jump in auto theft claim costs between 2018 and 2023, with a 989 per cent increase.

Further down the current top 10 lists are Ottawa, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Hamilton and London.