HEADLINE The Insurance Bureau of Canada has released its top five list for auto theft insurance claims in Alberta for 2023. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge among top hot spots for auto theft insurance claims in Alberta

Jun 24, 2024 | 9:41 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A new report shows that the dollar amounts from auto theft claims are on the rise in several Alberta cities.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) reports that vehicle theft claims costs in Alberta rose by 55 per cent between 2021 and 2023.

Aaron Sutherland, Vice-President of Western and Pacific with IBC says legal costs now account for a greater portion of the auto insurance premiums drivers pay in Alberta than anywhere else in Canada.

Alberta was also ranked second nationally for the amount spent per claim to repair vehicles, as well as the frequency at which vehicles are stolen.

“The auto theft crisis continues to persist across Alberta, and it’s adding pressure to the cost of auto insurance for all drivers,” says Sutherland. “Auto theft disrupts lives and creates fear in communities across the province. Urgent action must be taken to address this growing trend.”

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Medicine Hat had the largest increase in auto theft claims costs, rising by 72 per cent between 2021 and 2023. The city’s 2023 total was still the smallest out of the top five.

By dollar amount, Calgary topped the list at over $33 million, jumping up by 59 per cent over the prior two years.

In Lethbridge, auto theft claims totalled $955,716 in 2023, increasing by 30 per cent from 2021, but falling from 2022’s $1.16 million.

Top Five Alberta Cities by Increase in Auto Theft Claims Costs, 2021 to 2023. (Photo: Insurance Bureau of Canada)

Nationally auto theft insurance claims topped $1.5 billion in 2023, which was a new record for the country.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now

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