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.
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A Toyota Prius has a catalytic converter, right?
Your Prius does indeed have a catalytic converter.
Or, prior to being stolen, had a catalytic converter.
In the exhaust system of your Prius, a catalytic converter is included. Its job is to transform the unclean exhaust from your engine into cleaner emissions that leave your tailpipe and enter the atmosphere.
By heating metal catalysts to between 500 and 1200 degrees Fahrenheit and igniting a chemical process, your catalytic converter transforms the toxic engine exhaust into harmless tailpipe emissions.
What causes the theft of Prius catalytic converters?
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.
From which model year Prius are they stealing the catalytic converters?
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 much are catalytic converters for Toyota Prius vehicles 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.
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?
According to a new list from CARFAX, the type of vehicle you drive may raise your risk of becoming a victim of theft.
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
- 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
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.
What is the scrap value of a Toyota Prius catalytic converter?
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.
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.
Why are catalytic converters for Toyota Prius so expensive?
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.