Catalytic Converter Theft: Tips To Keeping Your Car Safe

By Sean Tucker 08/14/2023 1:46pm

Quick Facts About Catalytic Converter Theft 

• The number of insurance claims for catalytic converter theft surged nearly 350% from 2020 to 2022.
• Thieves find catalytic converters desirable because they’re easy to steal and have a high value on the black market.
• Park inside or in well-lit areas to deter criminals, and consider engraving your catalytic converter to make it less valuable to thieves.

Every day, thieves steal catalytic converters from cars from Atlanta to Eugene, Oregon. Few communities in larger metropolitan areas seem immune from this type of vehicle theft.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), 1,298 Americans told their insurance company that their car’s catalytic converter had been stolen in 2018. By 2020, catalytic converter theft was up to 14,433. The number of catalytic converter thefts in the United States surged to 64,701 in 2022. Almost half of those cases came from two states: California and Texas had the highest number of catalytic converter theft claims, with about 24,000 and 8,000 thefts reported to insurers, respectively.

The NICB is tracking legislative efforts to help curb the theft of these devices. In 2022 there were 163 bills across 37 states, with 31 laws enacted. So far this year, the group is tracking 96 bills from 39 states that introduce new legislation or strengthen existing laws.

Catalytic converters are an expensive, easily removed part in almost every car with a gas-powered engine, and suddenly you need to know how to protect yours. Thankfully, if you take these easy steps, it’s unlikely that the catalytic converter in your vehicle will get stolen.

What Is a Catalytic Converter?

A catalytic converter is part of your car’s exhaust system and functions as a chemical filter made of rare metals. It keeps harmful pollutants from entering the atmosphere by passing hot exhaust gases through a honeycomb of metals like palladium and rhodium. Chemical reactions convert some of the toxic gases into harmless gases.

A catalytic converter lasts about 10 years, depending on how much you drive your car. A small one is about the size of a loaf of bread, while a large one can be three times that. They’re mounted on the bottom of cars, easily found on the exhaust system, which is part of the problem.

Many drivers of gas-powered cars in the U.S. must go through emissions inspections, and without a catalytic converter, it will not pass.

Why Do People Steal Catalytic Converters?

There’s a significant black market trade in catalytic converters because the rare metals that make them work started soaring in value. So, why is this car part a target for thieves?

• Catalytic converters are desirable to thieves because they include high-value metals that can be recycled and resold.
• Thieves can easily and quickly remove catalytic converters.

How Much Is a Catalytic Converter Worth?

Thieves might be able to get up to $1,000 for a stolen catalytic converter, depending on what vehicle it came from, its age, and its condition. What makes them valuable is the recyclable precious metals inside.

• Palladium sold for about $500 an ounce five years ago. These days, it’s trading at around $1,300 per ounce.
• Rhodium sold for $640 an ounce five years ago. As of this writing, it goes for a little more than $4,200 per ounce.

At the end of 2022, these metals were about $1,800 per ounce and $12,200, respectively.

How Do Thieves Steal Catalytic Converters?

Unfortunately for vehicle owners, stealing a catalytic converter is very easy to do. Thieves usually slide underneath a car with a battery-powered reciprocating saw and cut it right out of the exhaust line. It takes about three minutes or less and makes as much noise as any other power tool.

What Cars Are Targeted for Catalytic Converter Theft?

There is no reliable count of which cars catalytic converter thieves target most often. But law enforcement and insurance experts say a few patterns have emerged.

One is that hybrid cars seem to be at particular risk. The valuable metals in a catalytic converter degrade as they pull pollutants out of exhaust gas. Hybrids have lower emissions than purely gasoline-powered cars. So the metals in their catalytic converters tend to last longer.

For the same reason, newer cars are at greater risk than older cars.

Thieves also target cars they can easily get under quickly. So, police reports show that trucks and SUVs are at particular risk. Why? They’re higher off the ground and easy to slide under. Thieves can get in and out quickly.

It’s harder for thieves to take the components from some European models easily. Automakers, including Audi, BMW, and Volkswagen, place the catalytic converter closer to the engine instead of the end of the exhaust system.

The most expensive catalytic converter on the market is found in the Ferrari F430, and every F430 has two. But good luck fitting under a Ferrari quickly. They’re less than five inches off the ground.

A full-size truck, however? Most thieves can get under one of those easily in any parking lot. Some car dealers have had to install security cameras because thieves have targeted lots full of brand-new pickup trucks and made off with a fortune in rhodium in a few hours.

But no vehicle is safe if its catalytic converter has expensive metals inside. In February, thieves stole the catalytic converter from the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile during a stopover in Las Vegas. Last summer, one enterprising thief in Connecticut cut catalytic converters out of 18 school buses in one night.

What Cars Do Catalytic Converter Thieves Avoid

• Gasoline-powered engines made before 1974 don’t have catalytic converters. That was the year when stricter emissions regulations mandated the component.
• Diesel engine converters don’t contain the precious metals that thieves want.
• Electric cars do not have catalytic converters.

How To Prevent Catalytic Converter Theft

According to data from Kelley Blue Book parent company Cox Automotive, the average cost for catalytic converter replacement at a dealership is nearly $2,300. In 2020, J.D. Power estimated the cost to replace the Ferrari F430’s two catalytic converters would run at least $7,540 plus labor.

Thankfully, these simple tips can help protect your car’s catalytic converter from thieves and avoid a trip to the repair shop. As with most crimes, the key to staying safe is to make the crime a bit harder so thieves move on to an easier target. That means you don’t need to take elaborate steps to protect yourself.

Law enforcement experts recommend the following tactics to protect your car from catalytic converter theft:

• Get your catalytic converter etched. Many police departments and some muffler shops will happily etch your license plate number onto your car’s catalytic converter for free. Thieves have a much harder time selling a converter if it can be tied to a particular theft, making it almost worthless to them.
• Park indoors if possible. What thief would break into a garage when there are easier targets outside?
• Look for cameras. Choose parking garages and parking lots covered by cameras when you need to park the vehicle.
• Park in a well-lighted area. Thieves are less likely to steal where they’re more likely to be seen.
• Consider installing a dash camera. Some dash cams use motion sensors and will record anyone close enough to your car to get to the catalytic converter. The presence of a camera can be enough to scare thieves off to find easier prey.
• Install an anti-theft device. Some car shops offer shields designed to make a catalytic converter harder to remove. We’re aware of no studies on how well these devices work, but it seems logical that thieves might move on to cars without them.

We should note that painting your catalytic converter with identifying information doesn’t often work. Catalytic converters get hot enough in daily operations to burn off anything other than high-heat paint.

What To Do When Your Catalytic Converter Is Stolen

A loud rumbling sound and unmistakable exhaust smell may indicate that someone has stolen your catalytic converter, which might cost $3,000 to replace. Now what?

• Turn off the vehicle and don’t drive. Thieves might have damaged other critical parts when stealing a catalytic converter.
• Report the incident to the local police department.
• Contact your insurance carrier if you have comprehensive coverage and intend to file a claim.
• Consult with your auto shop or dealership and arrange to replace the catalytic converter and thoroughly inspect the exhaust system.