In actuality, thieves may swiftly and frequently without drawing much attention cut a converter from underneath a car and get easy money. According to the NICB, a recycler will pay $50 to $250 for a used catalytic converter and much more for those used in hybrid vehicles, largely for the precious metals required to make it function. These include rhodium (now close to $17,000/oz), palladium (currently around $2,000/oz), and platinum (currently around $1,000/oz). Meanwhile, replacing a stolen converter will run a car owner anywhere between $1,000 and $3,000.
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Which automobiles are most susceptible to having their catalytic converters stolen?
The sort of automobile you drive could put you at an increased risk of falling victim to thieves, according to a new list from CARFAX.
According to the business that analyzes car history, these are the ten models that catalytic converter thieves in the U.S. target the most.
- Ford F-Series pickup trucks from 1985 to 2021
- Honda Accord 19892020
- Jeep Patriot, 20072017
- Ford Econoline vans from 1990 to 22
- Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks from 1999 to 2021
- Chevrolet Equinox 2005present
- Honda CR-V, 1997-2020
- Toyota Camry, 19872019
- Chrysler 200, 201117
- 2001present Toyota Prius
Models who are simple to crawl beneath undoubtedly make up a large portion of the list. According to CARFAX, hybrid vehicles use more precious metals in their catalytic converters, which increases their value. Vehicles like the Prius are on the list because of this.
Catalytic converters made by Toyota are they stolen?
They’re incredibly expensive and I can’t afford to replace them,” Jones claimed. “They cost practically anywhere between $1,500 and $2,000 each.
In 2022, there were 28 catalytic converter thefts reported by the Bryan Police Department, 11 of which were Toyota vehicles. Toyotas have been involved in the majority of the 85 catalytic converter thefts reported to the College Station Police Department. The public information officer for the College Station Police Department, Tristen Lopez, claimed that thieves are targeting the rare metals in the converters. According to Lopez, pick-up trucks and SUVs appear to be the most frequently targeted Toyota models since they are simpler to get beneath.
According to Lopez, “the thieves aren’t making as much money selling them as it will cost the victims of this theft to replace them.
According to Lopez, the majority of the vehicles targeted in College Station are Toyotas, Mitsubishis, Hondas, and Fords. In the absence of a garage, he advises parking in a safe, well-lit, and busy area. According to Lopez, it’s crucial to report any questionable activity.
What are the prices of Toyota catalytic converters?
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.
Which cars are least likely to have their catalytic converters stolen?
Due to the lower value of their catalytic converters, American brands like Ford, Chevy, Jeep, Dodge, and Chrysler are less likely to be stolen. This group includes several Nissan, Hyundai, Mazda, and Subaru cars.
Many brands employed cat-inspired designs that constrained the amount of precious metals present. The majority of thieves conduct adequate research to know to avoid using these brands.
Why are catalytic converters for Toyotas stolen?
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.
How can I prevent the theft of my car’s catalytic converter?
Three measures to prevent the theft of catalytic converters
- 1) Write the number from your license plate onto the catalytic converter. Law enforcement can identify the part because of this.
- 2) Park in locations that are well-lit.
- 3) Set up a theft prevention system.
Are stolen catalytic converters covered by insurance?
Is insurance coverage available for a stolen catalytic converter? Theft of a catalytic converter is normally covered if you have comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy. Catalytic converter replacement and related damage repair are frequently covered under comprehensive insurance.
What types of cars are targeted by thieves for their catalytic converters?
We have updated readers and viewers on the issues surrounding catalytic converter theft in previous articles, covering not only how to protect yourself but also some of the unusual ways thieves are committing the crime and situations in which the catalytic converter thief is not someone you would normally expect.
Theft of catalytic converters is a real issue that is unlikely to be solved quickly.
The price of the precious metals platinum, palladium, and rhodium, which are essential parts of a catalytic converter, will continue to rise due to a scarcity of natural resources, which will further encourage increased theft.
According to the most recent figures, platinum will cost $1,128 per ounce, palladium $2,938 per ounce, and rhodium $20,000 per ounce by March 2022. As a result, recyclers will pay $50 to $250 per catalytic converter, which makes theft incredibly alluring to the criminal element. Depending on the make and model of the car, replacing a stolen catalytic converter might cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 or more (in general, replacement on Hybrid vehicles is the most costly).
In fact, a National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB) research states that “…the increase in catalytic converter thefts has been substantial. There were 1,298 thefts of catalytic converters in 2018 for which a claim was made. There were 3,389 thefts with claims in 2019. Catalytic converter theft allegations skyrocketed to 14,433 in 2020, a 325 percent rise in only one year. Even though not all catalytic converter thefts were reported, it did give a glimpse of the trends in catalytic converter thefts.
It goes without saying that the most popular automobile and truck types will be the main targets for catalytic converter theft. 10 common targets countrywide, according to a recent CarFax report, are:
It turns out, though, that where you live also affects your chances of being a victim of theft. The same is true for certain automobiles are targeted more frequently than others, just as the proverbial “location, location, location” is said to be the three most crucial factors in real estate.
That was the main takeaway from the CarFax post warning readers that where you drive your car can have an impact on the likelihood that your catalytic converter will be stolen in addition to what you drive.
CarFax researchers were able to construct lists that include the order of theft popularity for automobiles within the West, South, Northeast, and Midwest areas by examining service reports for catalytic converter replacements from more than 60,000 service shops nationally from 2019 to March of 2022.
Within each location, CarFax ranked cars according to model as follows:
How can I identify a stolen catalytic converter?
How to recognize a stolen catalytic converter
- 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.