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
The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that during the pandemic, catalytic converter thefts increased dramatically across the nation, rising by more than 325% in just one 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.
In This Article...
What is the scrap value of a Prius catalytic converter?
Depending on the car, you may require one or two brand-new Toyota catalytic converters, which cost roughly $2000.
At best, you can receive $1,000 for a Toyota cat converter, with Land Cruiser and Prius converters being the most desirable. Their scrap price is extremely high, but it’s still less than half of the original.
Which Prius model year has catalytic converter theft?
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.
Why is it so simple to steal a Prius’ catalytic converter?
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.
Why are catalytic converters for Toyota Prius so expensive?
Toyota Prius vehicles older than ten years are now less likely to be targeted by thieves due to a rise in demand for precious metals used to make catalytic converters, which are emission control systems. In comparison to 2016, the number of theft claims for Prius models from 2004 to 2009 increased by more than 40 times in 2020. In contrast, during the same time period, theft accusations for all other 2004-2009 automobiles scarcely altered.
These are the key points of a new analysis that was released on Thursday by the Highway Loss Data Institute, a subsidiary of the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
“Matt Moore, senior vice president of the Highway Loss Data Institute, said in a statement that car 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.
Due to decreased mining output in recent years, a trend that was worsened by the pandemic, prices have skyrocketed for metals including platinum, rhodium, palladium, and others. According to the paper, hybrids like the Prius need more of these metals for their catalytic converters to work correctly because they don’t become as hot as those in normal vehicles because their combustion engines aren’t always running.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, catalytic converter thefts increased overall from about 100 per month in 2018 to more than 1,200 per month in 2020. However, despite the fact that a variety of vehicles are stolen for their metal-rich devices, the catalytic converters from some models fetch higher prices on the scrap market than those from other models because they contain more precious metals, per the new analysis.
A Prius can be operated without a catalytic converter.
Oh, no! That breaks my heart, dear. The worst are thieves. Although it is possible to operate a Prius without a catalytic converter, this is not a recommended long-term option. You won’t get as much out of your Prius, and it won’t pass an emissions test.
What to do if a catalytic converter is stolen is as follows:
- Make a police report and contact the police.
- You can drive the automobile there if you bring it to a repair shop!
If your catalytic converter is not replaced, you can anticipate
- obnoxious engine noise
- driving recklessly and accelerating suddenly
- unsuccessful emissions tests
Hopefully, this was useful. I’m so sorry you fell victim to theft, but I hope you can obtain some assistance with the cost of your replacement catalytic converter!
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How can I prevent the theft of my catalytic converter?
Use a locked garage, regularly shift your car’s place, or park in well-lit areas close to exits for the general public. Install a theft prevention device. Install cameras and motion-activated lights in your parking area. Some local police departments even provide free painting programs to dissuade purchasers by painting your catalytic converter.
How much does a Prius catalytic converter replacement cost?
I’m sorry to learn that your car’s catalytic converter was taken! Your Toyota Prius’s catalytic converter can be changed by a professional for a total price of $2,145 to $3,000 in components and labor.
The estimated cost of the labor and the catalytic converter together amounts to roughly $2,055. Call ahead and request quotes from many repair companies because labor prices vary.
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Which vehicle has the most stolen catalytic converters?
These are the vehicles that need catalytic converters the most.
- Ford F-Series pickup trucks from 1985 to 2021 (F-150, F-250, etc.)
- Honda Accord: 19892020.
- Jeep Patriot, 20072017.
- Ford Econoline vans from 1990 to 222.
- Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks from 1999 to 2021.
- Chevy Equinox, model years 200521.
- Honda CR-V, which is available from 1997 until 2020.
- Toyota Camry, 19872019.