Starting at the front of the car and moving to the back, here is an useful breakdown of your Prius exhaust system and the key parts: Manifold, Catalytic Converter, Resonator, Muffler, and Tailpipe make up the engine. A 2 around series of pipes links these parts together.
Your Prius’ catalytic converter is located below your car and runs along the middle of it, beginning around the front wheels and terminating roughly around the middle of the length of the car.
Actually, your Prius has two catalytic converters that are connected by a short pipe run. The term “the catalytic converter on a Prius” is typically used to describe the entire component.
The first cat can be seen from the engine area peeping out at an angle, and the second cat is right in your line of sight, roughly where the back of your front seats are.
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What are the catalytic converters for Prius worth?
Replacement catalytic converters for Toyota Prius models typically cost between $2,142 and $2,174. While parts are priced between $2,036 and $2,040, labor costs are predicted to range between $106 and $134. Taxes and other fees are not included in this range, nor are your particular model year or geographic area taken into account.
What motivates criminals to steal Prius catalytic converters?
According to a recent study by the Highway Loss Data Institute, theft claim frequency for Toyota Prius cars from 2004 to 2009 was astonishingly 40 times greater in 2020 than in 2016 because of the valuable metals included in its catalytic converter (HLDI).
Thefts of catalytic converters have been rising across the country, going from about 100 per month in 2018 to more than 1,200 per month in 2020. This is due to the fact that recyclers are now willing to pay thieves more for the platinum, rhodium, palladium, and other metals found in the components.
Due to decreased mining output in recent years, which was a trend that was worsened by the epidemic, metal prices have skyrocketed.
Prius is currently being targeted because hybrid vehicles’ catalytic converters require more precious metals to function correctly because they don’t heat up as much as those found on traditional automobiles because their combustion engines only operate occasionally. To put it another way, Prius models provide burglars with a larger haul of precious metals.
Prius fleet owners should be aware of some specific statistics from the HLDI report.
The increase in claim frequency is notable, to begin with. In 2020, there were 58.1 theft claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years for Toyota Prius cars from 2004 to 2009, up from 1.4 claims in 2016. A more than 45-fold rise from $3 in 2016 to approximately $137 per insured vehicle per year in total stolen losses for those Prius vehicles in 2020. In comparison, the frequency of theft claims for all other 20042009 automobiles barely changed between 2016 and 2020, and total losses stayed around $7.
The analysis looks into pricing as well. Older Prius catalytic converters fetch a pretty price, and thieves appear to be aware of this and taking advantage of the trend.
Now compare those figures to the converter employed from 1999 to 2006 in General Motors automobiles like the Chevrolet Impala and Pontiac Grand Am. The converter used in the 2007 Ford F-150 FX4 was only $143, but they were valued at $269.
The bottom line: Compared to newer Prius models and practically any other vehicles on the market, older Prius models command top pay when it comes to selling catalytic converters to recyclers who reprocess them.
Catalytic converter theft is a persistent problem. 1,298 thefts of catalytic converters were reported in 2018, while 3,389 thefts were reported in 2019. The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that reported catalytic converter thefts increased significantly to 14,433 in 2020.
Do catalytic converters for Prius cars get stolen?
Sandman advises contacting a reputable neighborhood muffler shop and finding out whose vehicles have been targeted in your neighborhood. I called a business, and sure enough, they listed other nearby impacted vehicles that had frequently been seen in the shop for a catalytic converter replacement, including Ford pickups, Honda Elements, and Jeep Cherokees.
According to Sandman, the Prius is the most frequently stolen cat in the Sacramento region. The Prius is an ultra low emission vehicle with a catalytic converter that has a higher concentration of the metals rhodium, palladium, and platinum that neutralize pollutants.
Thieves frequently target trucks and SUVs because it is simple to slide under the car rather than jack it up. The catalytic converter may occasionally be unbolted by thieves, but more frequently, they simply use a battery-powered saw to cut the connecting pipes.
What do thieves demand in exchange for a Prius catalytic converter?
Toyota Prius owners might want to leave their cars in the garage tonight since, according to a new list from Carfax, these hybrid cars are the #1 target for catalytic converter theft in the West.
This week, the vehicle history company published a list of the top cars in the nation that are prime candidates for their catalytic converters. Ford F-Series pickup trucks from 1985 to 2021 and Honda Accords from 1989 to 2020 are at the top of the list nationwide, but the Toyota Prius, which was ranked No. 10 nationally as a target, is No. 1 in the West.
In order to create its lists, Carfax examined service records for new catalytic converter installations from more than 60,000 repair facilities nationwide between 2019 and the first three months of 2022.
The top vehicles in the West that catalytic converter thieves target are:
- 2001present Toyota Prius
- Ford F-Series from 1985 to 2021
- Honda Accord 19892020
- Ford Econoline 19902022
- 1999-2021 a Chevy Silverado
- Subaru Outback, 200720
- Jeep Patriot, 20072017
- Element Honda 20032011
- Forester Subaru, 1998-2020
- Toyota Tacoma, 19952021
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, catalytic converter thefts increased significantly during the epidemic, rising by more than 325 percent in a single year. Due to the rising value of the precious metals used in catalytic converters, these thefts increased, with thieves earning up to $300 for a typical catalytic converter. Due to the higher amount of precious metals used in hybrid vehicles, a catalytic converter stolen from one can fetch up to $1,400.
While waiting for their vehicles to be repaired, owners may have to spend between $1,000 and $3,000 out of pocket.
Vehicle owners should aim to park in well-lit places and be mindful of their surroundings if parking in a garage is not an option. Owners of vehicles might also think about installing an anti-theft device or having their converters laser-etched with the VIN.
How much is a used catalytic converter for a Toyota Prius worth?
When sold as scrap, Toyota catalytic converters can fetch between $75 and $700. Depending on the brand and model of the car, a catalytic converter’s price can change. The Toyota Prius has some of the most expensive catalytic converters.
In what year Prius are the catalytic converters being stolen?
Older Prius catalytic converters fetch significant values on the scrap market.
According to a recent research from the Highway Loss Data Institute, a rise in the price of precious metals has rendered Toyota Prius vehicles that are more than ten years old a less likely target for thieves.
For Prius vehicles from 2004 to 2009, the incidence of theft claims increased by more than 40 times between 2016 and 2020, according to HLDI analysts. The Prius is being targeted since it is a hybrid vehicle and has valuable metals in its catalytic converter. Due to the fact that hybrids’ combustion engines only operate seldom, their catalytic converters require more precious metals to function properly because they don’t become as hot as those found on traditional automobiles.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, catalytic converter thefts increased from around 100 per month in 2018 to more than 1,200 per month in 2020 as a result of greater pricing for platinum, rhodium, palladium, and other metals present in the components. Even though thieves target different types of automobiles, the catalytic converters from some models fetch greater prices from the recyclers that process them because they include more of the expensive metals.
In 2020, there were 58.1 theft claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years for Toyota Prius cars from 2004 to 2009, up from 1.4 claims in 2016. Overall theft losses for those Prius cars rose from $3 in 2016 to around $137 per insured vehicle year in 2020, according to HLDI, a more than 45-fold increase. In comparison, the frequency of theft claims for all other 20042009 automobiles barely changed between 2016 and 2020, and total losses stayed at around $7. (An insured vehicle year is a common industry measurement; it equals one insured vehicle for a year, two insured cars for six months, and so on.)
“According to Matt Moore, senior vice president of HLDI, auto thieves are aware of their market. “They appear to be aware of which catalytic converters, such those on the older Priuses, command the greatest prices because there is a high demand for them.
The HLDI database does not contain data on the particular component that was reported stolen in insurance claims, although the average claim’s monetary amount offers some hints. There was an increase in claims in the $2,501 to $3,000 range during the high-theft years of 201920. (about the amount needed to replace the catalytic converter and exhaust system, minus the deductible). Most claims for the calendar years 201617 were for losses under $500 or between $1,501 and $2,500.
Only marginal increases in claim frequency and overall theft losses were observed in newer Prius vehicles from 2010 to 2015. Only 1.3 claims per 1,000 covered vehicle years were made for 20102015 models in calendar year 2020, up from 0.8 in 2016. Similarly, overall theft losses for 201015 models in 2020 were $5, up from $3 in 2016.
Catalytic converters must be processed using complex machinery, however with the rise in the price of some metals, bulk scrap purchasers have exploded. Most states forbid cash purchases over a particular amount, and all but a few require buyers to record the seller’s driver’s license number or other legal identification. However, once stolen parts have been sold as scrap, it might be difficult to identify them because catalytic converters are not stamped with vehicle identifying numbers.
Due to decreased mining output in recent years, which was a trend that was worsened by the epidemic, metal prices have skyrocketed. The most modern catalytic converters need more of the pricey metals due to the recently tightened pollution rules.
How can you park a Prius to prevent the theft of the catalytic converter?
By engraving the license plate number on your vehicle, parking in well-lit places, and installing an anti-theft device, you can assist prevent catalytic converter theft.
How can I tell whether the catalytic converter in my Prius was stolen?
Here are the main signs that your catalytic converter has been removed, to sum up:
- As you accelerate, the car makes a loud roar that gets louder.
- Increased exhaust emissions or strange exhaust odors
- missing components under the car leading to the exhaust.
- Lack of exhaust regulation causes uneven or sputtering acceleration.
The most popular vehicles for catalytic converter theft are what cars?
Despite the fact that thefts of catalytic converters are frequently crimes of opportunity, many criminals target particular vehicles because of the cost of the catalytic converter, the prevalence of the vehicles, and the ease with which the catalytic converter may be accessed.
CARFAX discovered that the following automobiles are the most frequently targeted for catalytic converter theft by consulting their partner repair facilities:
These are merely the models, though, whose catalytic converters are stolen most frequently. Depending on a few additional conditions, your car may also be vulnerable to catalytic converter theft. Here is an example of the car kinds that are even more vulnerable to catalytic converter theft:
Luxury vehicles
With a staggering price tag of $3,770 per unit, the Ferrari F430 wins the Most Valuable Catalytic Converter Award. Given that the F430 has two converters, they make for a sizable target for thieves.
Catalytic converters for Lamborghinis are likewise exceedingly expensive, costing on average $3,000 each.
Hybrid vehicles
The catalytic converter of a car tends to be more valued the more emission-friendly the vehicle is. The entire cost of these automobiles rises because they require more of the pricey metal palladium.
Older vehicles
Catalytic converters in larger, older automobiles are more valuable than those in newer, more efficient vehicles because to their concentration of valuable metals and general lack of environmental friendliness.
SUVs and trucks
Two factors influence the targeting of larger vehicles and SUVs. First off, a bigger engine translates into a more expensive catalytic converter. For instance, at a startling $2,000, the catalytic converters on the Dodge Ram 2500 are almost as valuable as those on Ferraris.
Second, their height from the ground makes it simpler for thieves to steal their converters.
Other models with valuable catalytic converters
Of course, there are vehicles that don’t fit into any one category but feature catalytic converters that are more useful for a variety of reasons.
What automobiles are vulnerable to catalytic converter theft?
A study on the growing nationwide catalytic converter theft trend was just published by NICB. According to the data, catalytic converter thieves favor some automobiles over others in California.
In California over the last three years, the Toyota Prius, Honda Element, Honda Accord, Ford Econoline, Honda CRV, Ford F-250, Toyota Tundra, Toyota Sequoia, Ford Excursion, and Toyota Tacoma have been the most often targeted vehicles for catalytic converter theft.
This article’s information is of a broad nature. Please get in touch with the qualified individual that the Region has identified if you are a member of the NICB or a member of law enforcement and are interested in more specific information. We won’t give the public any further information because of the private nature of our investigations.
Please remember that everyone who has been accused of a crime, detained, or indicted should be treated as innocent until and unless they are found guilty.