The methods used to steal vehicles have evolved in recent years, and the expectations of Canadian drivers appear to be changing as well.
According to a recent survey by Équité Association, nearly three out of four Canadians want anti‑theft technologies to be mandatory in new vehicles.
Beyond this statistic, a clear trend is emerging: Canadians no longer view theft prevention as solely the owner’s responsibility. They also expect greater involvement from manufacturers, governments, and the automotive industry.
Modern vehicles already incorporate several security mechanisms. Yet consumer confidence in their ability to counter today’s theft methods remains low.
According to data from Équité Association, reported by the Journal de Montréal on July 21, 2026, only 18% of Canadians surveyed believe that the vehicles sold today are adequately protected against modern, technology‑driven theft methods.
This helps explain why expectations surrounding anti‑theft technologies are increasing.
As the techniques used by thieves continue to evolve, drivers want protection measures to advance at the same pace. It is no longer just a matter of locking doors or choosing a parking spot carefully: anti‑theft technology now plays an important role in how vehicle theft prevention is approached.
In 2026, 66% of Canadians believe that a coordinated response between governments, automakers, law enforcement, and vehicle owners is necessary to make meaningful progress against vehicle theft. This proportion was 61% in 2023.
Vehicle theft prevention is therefore gradually becoming a shared responsibility among several stakeholders.
Consumer expectations are evolving, and discussions surrounding automotive safety standards are changing as well.
In Canada, work is underway to modernize the requirements related to vehicle theft protection and to better reflect new technological realities.
This raises an important question: could anti‑theft technologies eventually become standard safety equipment in new vehicles?
Survey results show that a large share of Canadians already support moving in that direction. While potential updates to regulations are still being considered, today’s automotive anti‑theft systems offer an additional layer of protection for vehicles already on the road.
Among these solutions is IKS (Intelligent Kill Switch), an intelligent anti‑theft system developed in Quebec by OLIJEL. Its approach aims to add an extra layer of security to the vehicle, thanks to numerous features such as an immobilization system, monitoring center, tracking system, alarms, and much more.
This type of anti‑theft technology fits into a broader approach that places greater emphasis on prevention, with the goal of acting before a vehicle can be stolen.
The objective is simple: act before the vehicle can be stolen.
The 2026 Équité Association survey shows that Canadians’ expectations regarding vehicle theft protection are beginning to shift.
The precautions taken by drivers remain essential, but a majority also want greater involvement from manufacturers, governments, and other stakeholders.
With nearly three out of four Canadians in favor of integrating anti‑theft technologies into vehicles, anti‑theft protection could become an increasingly important component of automotive safety in the coming years.