Canada’s rising car theft problem shows no signs of slowing down, according to the latest “Year in Rear View 2024” report, released by CARFAX Canada.

According to the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), 152,622 vehicles have been identified as actively stolen in Canada, half of which are SUVs, a 25 percent increase over the previous period.

VIN Cloning also emerged as a significant fraudulent issue this year.

“VIN Cloning is the act of stealing a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) from a legitimate vehicle and attaching this VIN onto another similar year, make, model, trim vehicle, typically stolen, essentially giving it a fake ID,” Shawn Vording, president of CARFAX Canada explained. “Our insights suggest that there are 141,260 potential VIN Clones in operation in Canada.”

“This is a major issue for dealers, consumers, banks and insurance companies as it allows scammers to sell a stolen vehicle to an unsuspecting party,” Vording added.

The total amount of accident claim damage this year added up to more than $7.6 billion.

Alberta leads the country in hail damage claims with $140 million, 300 percent more total damage claims than the next highest province, Ontario.

Ontario saw an increase in extreme weather this year with over $12 million in damages due to wind-related occurrences. Alberta and Nova Scotia rounded out the top three.

Liens (money owed on a vehicle) continue to be a concern for used car buyers, with 42 percent of lien checks conducted revealing outstanding debt on vehicles.

The highest odometer reading recorded on CARFAX Canada reports this year was an impressive 999,998 kilometres on a 2010 Lincoln MKS.