IBC: Subaru Impreza Tops List of Most Stolen Vehicles

The Subaru Impreza WRX 4DR AWD holds two dubious distinctions this year: the top spot on Insurance Bureau of Canada’s (IBC) top 10 list of the country’s most frequently stolen vehicles, as well as topping the list of the 10 vehicles with the highest theft claim cost per vehicle. This year’s lists represent results for 2002 and 2003 models, in cases where at least 1,000 of each of the models were insured.

This is the second year in a row that the Subaru Impreza WRX 4DR AWD topped the list of the 10 vehicles with the highest theft claim cost per vehicle. Specifically, the cost to cover the Impreza WRX’s theft related losses were 16 times higher than the average theft loss cost.

In fact, the top three positions, on each list, were held by the same vehicles (the Subaru Impreza WRX 4DR AWD, the Ford F350 Super Duty 4WD, and the Cadillac Escalade 4DR 4WD), none of which came with an IBC-approved immobilizer as standard equipment.

Electronic immobilizers are systems that prevent a vehicle from starting unless a specific electronic code is used. 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.

Since the publication of the Canadian Theft Deterrent Standard in 1998, IBC has successfully spearheaded a program for auto makers to voluntarily introduce effective immobilizers. Currently, 11 vehicle manufacturers participate, resulting in approximately 60 per cent of new vehicles sold in 2004 having compliant systems. At least 15 per cent of vehicles on Canadian roads today have systems meeting the standard.

The latest issue of How Cars Measure Up (an annual publication) compares the insurance claim records of the most popular models of cars, passenger vans, SUVs and pickup trucks across the country. This information can reportedly be extremely useful to consumers before they actually buy a car. The brochure is designed to help consumers understand how theft, collision and other claim costs affect insurance premiums.

The statistics contained in the brochure are based wholly on actual insurance claims data collected from nearly all automobile insurance companies in Canada. These companies write almost 100% of all automobile insurance in Canada.

Theft of vehicles (and their components) reportedly costs Canadian policyholders more than $600 million annually in insurance premiums.

Top 10 – Most frequently stolen vehicles (2002 – 2003 models)

1 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX 4DR AWD
2 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY 4WD
3 CADILLAC ESCALADE 4DR 4WD
4 HONDA CIVIC Si 2DR HATCHBACK
5 BMW 325Ci/330Ci 2DR
6 HYUNDAI TIBURON 2DR
7 HYUNDAI ACCENT 2DR
8 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT 2DR
9 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY 4WD
10 DODGE DAKOTA 2WD

Top 10 – Highest theft claim cost per vehicle (2002 – 2003 models)

1 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX 4DR AWD
2 CADILLAC ESCALADE 4DR 4WD
3 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY 4WD
4 GMC YUKON XL 1500 4DR 4WD
5 TOYOTA SEQUOIA 4DR 4WD
6 ACURA RSX TYPE S 2DR
7 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY 4WD
8 INFINITI QX4 4DR 4WD
9 ACURA 3.2TL TYPE S 4DR
10 CHEV/GMC TAHOE/YUKON 4DR 4WD