Grande Prairie ranked third in top five Alberta cities with increased auto theft claims costs

Jul 4, 2025 | 12:35 PM

The Insurance Bureau of Canada says the cost of auto theft has gone up dramatically in Alberta.

Auto theft claims costs were $110.3 million in 2024; a 65 per cent increase from $67 million in 2021.

Grande Prairie is currently third in the top five Alberta cities to increase claims costs, going from $2,707,609 in 2021 to $4,308,288 in 2024.

(Photo credit: Insurance Bureau of Canada)

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. 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. –Aaron Sutherland, Vice-President, Pacific and Western, IBC

The province has begun taking steps to address the auto theft issue, including allowing only people with an Alberta Driver’s licence or ID to register a vehicle for someone else.

IBC says the province should take further actions, including prohibiting the vehicle information number override function at registries, update and standardize vehicle bills of sale, and implement an insurance validation program.

by Nathaniel Leigh