Alberta, Ontario and Quebec lead the country in vehicles with reported accident histories, while weather damage adds to repair costs.
October 10, 2026 — CARFAX Canada reported that 393,200 vehicles had at least one past accident recorded on Canadian vehicle history reports during the first half of 2026, representing approximately $5.4 billion in damage costs to vehicle owners and insurance companies.
The figure represents nearly 58 per cent of the more than 500,000 vehicles with previous accidents reported on CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Reports in 2025. Those accidents represented approximately $9.2 billion in claims last year.
Alberta, Ontario and Quebec had the highest numbers of vehicles with reported accident histories in the first half of 2026.
CARFAX Canada also identified 23,700 vehicles with weather-related damage across the country. Alberta accounted for the largest share, with 17,600 vehicles, followed by Manitoba with 4,300 and Ontario with 3,200.
Weather-related damage in Alberta exceeded $150 million, with hail accounting for 97 per cent of the total. Ontario followed with nearly $23 million in weather-related claims, while Quebec recorded approximately $1 million.
The three provinces with the highest costs associated with hail damage were Alberta, at $145.1 million; Ontario, at $18.5 million; and Quebec, at $829,000.
For wind-related damage, Alberta led at $4.7 million, followed by Ontario at $4.5 million and Nova Scotia at $796,000.
“When a consumer is made aware of previous damage to a vehicle, they can take the steps to ask additional questions so they can feel more confident when buying a repaired vehicle,” said Shawn Vording, president of CARFAX Canada. “Knowing a vehicle’s damage history is critical on both the acquisition and selling sides to pay the right price and to disclose previous damage.”
Vording added that vehicle history information can also help identify potential fraud, including odometer rollbacks and liens.
CARFAX Canada recommends that consumers check vehicle history information before purchasing a used vehicle and arrange a test drive and inspection by a licensed mechanic.
The company’s analysis is based on CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Reports run between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2026. The figures therefore represent vehicles with accident or damage records appearing on reports during that period, rather than a count of every collision that occurred in Canada.
CARFAX Canada draws on billions of data records from thousands of sources to provide vehicle history, valuation and service information to dealerships, vehicle manufacturers, consumers, service shops, auctions, governments, insurers and police agencies.
For more information, visit CARFAX Canada.