On December 27, 2025, the Department of Transport announced important proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (MVSR). As part of an 80-day consultation, the proposed amendments will replace the current outdated vehicle immobilization system standards, with a modernized CAN/ULC 338-25 Standard aligned to international vehicle theft standards. Additionally, there is a new proposed category, “electronic attack tools”, that manufacturers can use to test immobilization systems against auto theft devices such as on-board diagnostics key programmers, emulators, and key signal relay equipment, which are commonly used to commit auto theft.

We are witnessing the rapid trend of criminals engaging in sophisticated, organized operations, with revenues from these crimes supporting further serious offenses like gun and drug trafficking. The proposed amendments will ensure that new vehicles manufactured or sold in Canada will be more secure and better protected against relay, reprogramming and CAN bus theft attacks.

“On behalf of our members, Équité Association is appreciative of the leadership and unwavering dedication from the federal government in their commitment to combat auto theft. The proposed MVSR updates are a critical step forward in bolstering public safety across Canada. It is vitally important that these standards keep pace with technology, criminal sophistication, and international best practices by addressing existing vulnerabilities,” said Bryan Gast, National VP, Investigative Services of Équité Association.

“I thank my fellow members on the ULC Standards Technical Committee on Vehicle Theft Deterrent Equipment and Systems who provided deep expertise that shaped the updated standard. The collective knowledge of this group has been critical to strengthening these regulations, a vital component of a comprehensive strategy to reduce vehicle theft. These proposed amendments not only protect Canadians but also serve to disrupt the organized crime groups that rely upon vehicle theft to fund illicit activities. Équité fully supports these amendments as an essential move towards a more secure and resilient Canada.”