Updates to Vehicle Theft Protection Standards

Summary#

• This is a proposed change to the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations called the Regulations Amending the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Theft Protection).
• It would update the technical standards that define required vehicle immobilization (anti-theft) systems so they match newer international and Canadian standards, with a two-year transition before mandatory compliance.

What it does#

• Replaces the older Canadian standard CAN/ULC-S338-98 with ANSI/CAN/UL/ULC 338:2025 (published June 2025). That newer standard explicitly adds a category for “electronic attack tools” and includes imperial and metric units.
• Incorporates United Nations Regulation No. 162 (the 00 series of amendments) for immobilizers, adapted from a type-approval approach to Canada’s self-certification system.
• Removes the Transport Canada–specific option currently listed in subsections (8) to (21) of CMVSS 114, and repeals references to the older UN Regulations No. 97 and No. 116.
• Updates the import rule in subsection 12.1(2)(c) so imported vehicles can meet the new CAN/ULC 2025 standard.
• Sets a two-year transitional period after the regulations come into force.
• Proposes a mix of static and ambulatory incorporation by reference: a static reference for CAN/ULC 2025 and an ambulatory (00 series only) reference for UN Regulation No. 162.

Who's affected#

• Mainly motor vehicle manufacturers and importers who sell new passenger cars, three‑wheeled vehicles, and multi‑purpose passenger vehicles and trucks with a GVWR of 4 536 kg or less in Canada.
• The department estimates about 45 companies would need to update their compliance records.
• Vehicles manufactured before the regulations come into force would not need to be changed.
• Consumers are indirectly affected because the changes focus on vehicle design standards and testing; the government and industry say no manufacturing changes are expected.

Why it matters#

• The new standards explicitly cover modern theft methods, including electronic attack tools such as relay devices and key programmers. That makes the rule more up to date with how vehicles are stolen today.
• The amendment aims to align Canada with international practice (through UN Regulation No. 162), which can simplify compliance for manufacturers that sell in multiple markets.
• The government expects mostly paperwork costs, not engineering changes. The regulatory analysis estimates present value administrative costs of about $0.80 million over 2026 to 2035, largely for updating compliance documentation (about 322 hours per manufacturer in the central scenario).
• Stakeholders and Transport Canada say the update increases confidence in minimum industry standards, but they also noted these changes alone are not expected to substantially reduce auto theft linked to organized crime.
• This is a proposed regulatory change (not yet in force). Interested parties have 75 days from its publication to comment.