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What Really Happens to your Car After Its Stolen?

Feb 7, 2013 11:07:00 AM

What happens to my car after its stolenFor those of you who have ever had your car stolen, you know that the likelihood of ever seeing it again can be quite low. Unfortunately, if the thief is experienced and intends to keep your vehicle, it can be very difficult for law enforcement to recover it. That's why we have car insurance ;)

Why did they take my car in the first place? 

In Canada, cars are stolen for one of 5 reasons (for the most part). Depending on the reason, you could be more or less likely to ever see it again. Here are the top 5 reasons that over 100,000 cars are stolen in Canada every year:

  • To strip for parts
  • To export overseas and resell
  • For use in a crime
  • To resell to consumers locally in Canada
  • To take on a joyride 

So What are the Final Destinations for your Stolen Automobile?

Chop Shop

The majority of cars stolen in Canada today are destined for chop shops. Here, skilled workers will dismantle each car, clean up and organize the parts. These parts will be stored in a warehouse and sold locally or eventually shipped for sales in other parts of the country or overseas. 

Just like Nicholas Cage's mediocre "Gone in 60 seconds" time is of the essence when processing stolen cars this way. As with any business time is money!

Shipping Containers

It might seem like putting cars in shipping containers and transporting them overseas is too logistically too complicated and likely too expensive for theives to handle, but this is the second most likely destination for stolen cars in Canada. In fact, even parts from chop shops will end up being exported this way.

At a the Scene of a Crime

If you're about to pull off a big bank heist, you probably don't want to use your Mom's station wagon. For hardened criminals, a stolen car makes the perfect getaway vehicle. It's not traceable back to the criminal and you can ditch it, without any suspicious questions from Mom.

In the Driveway of Your Unsuspecting Neighbour

Hundreds of stolen cars are flipped or sold back to people in the same local areas where it was stolen. These cars can be seized by police with no recourse for the buyer. If you're buying a used car be sure that the owner is who he says he is and that all of the papers are in order before you hand over the cash.

On The Side of the Road

Some cars are stolen by bored teenagers and young adults just to take for a spin. These thieves will take your car and drive recklessly around the city for a night or they may keep it for up to a week. Eventually tough, they will abandon your car in a parking lot or on the side of a road somewhere. It can then be recovered, but rest assured it will be a little worse for ware. 

Be Prepared

Hopefully, despite the high number of auto thefts in Canada, we won't all have to experience the sinking feeling of walking out to the parking lot one day and noticing our car is not where we left it. A lot of us will experience this at least once though. So until the Trunk Monkey is approved for sale in Canada, make sure that your insurance covers theft. And remember, just because you're fully covered doesn't mean that you have to pay an arm and a leg. Find out what the beast rates for auto insurance are with our instant quote form.

Topics: car thieves theft
Rob Stevenson

Written by Rob Stevenson

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