How much do thieves get for a catalytic converter? (2023)

How much do thieves get for a catalytic converter?

Police say thieves can get from $100 to $150 for each converter. The insurance group counted just 3,969 reports of stolen catalytic converters in 2019, more than 17,000 in 2020 and more than 52,000 last year.

According to data from 2020, the most expensive catalytic converter belonged to the Ferrari F430, with a mind-popping $3,770.00 price tag. Moreover, the F430 needed two of them, so a full replacement would run car owners $7,540 before labor costs.

Which cars are least likely to have catalytic converters stolen? Due to the fact that hybrid vehicles emit fewer toxins, catalytic converters are more attractive targets for thieves. Since converters were not standard equipment on vehicles prior to 1974, they are the least vulnerable to theft.

How Do Thieves Take Them? Unfortunately, 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 2 to 3 minutes and makes as much noise as any other power tool.

Park in well-lit areas close to public entrances, regularly move your car's spot or use a closed garage. Install an anti-theft device. Install motion-sensitive lights and cameras in your parking area. Paint your catalytic converter to deter buyers – some local police departments even offer free programs for painting.

Q: What is the average scrap value of a catalytic converter? The average scrap value of a catalytic converter is between $300 and $1,500. This component is one of the most expensive parts of a vehicle because of the precious metals used in manufacturing it.

As part of a car's exhaust system, the catalytic converter helps to reduce air pollution. You will not harm your engine or your car in any way by driving without a catalytic converter. It's not always a good idea to drive around without one, even if it works.

All vehicles manufactured after 1974 contain a catalytic converter. Hoping to obtain and sell its high-in-demand metals, criminals often use a jack and an angle grinder to steal catalytic converters in minutes. The brazen crime comes at a high cost for vehicle owners.

Cars manufactured before 1974 and electric cars have zero risk for catalytic converter theft since they do not have catalytic converters in them.

The good news is, your car will run just fine without a catalytic converter. Because it filters exhaust and emissions, it doesn't really impact your vehicle's actual driving capabilities. However, due to environmental protection laws, you could face some hefty fines if you're caught driving a vehicle without one.

Does insurance cover catalytic converters?

If you have comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy, then you're typically covered against catalytic converter theft. Comprehensive coverage will typically pay to replace the stolen catalytic converter and repair any related damage from its removal.

By adding bright paint, you can create a visible deterrent to alert thieves to move on. This paint also signals law enforcement and recyclers to look deeper for serial numbers or identification marks. By clearly marking your catalytic converter you will be deterring the theft from happening in the first place.

Such thefts jumped due to the increasing value of the precious metals in catalytic converters, with thieves making up to $300 for a standard catalytic converter. A catalytic converter stolen from a hybrid vehicle can sell up to $1,400 because they use more of those precious metals.

Catalytic converters are often stolen because they are valuable to scrap metal dealers. These converters contain precious metals like rhodium and platinum.

Catalytic converters contain Platinum, Rhodium and Palladium. However, there is no gold in catalytic converters.

Are your old catalytic converters worth money? Yes, they are! Indeed, they contain some precious metals that are rare and valuable. Thus, consider recycling them instead of throwing them away!

For a Ford catalytic converter scrap, you can get about from 50 USD.

Although it might not be immediately obvious, you may be able to tell that someone stole your catalytic converter if your vehicle sounds extremely loud after you start it. You may also notice that your Check Engine light is on, and you could get a headache from the increased emissions.

Those vehicles most often targeted for catalytic converter theft during the past three years in California are the Toyota Prius, Honda Element, Honda Accord, Ford Econoline, Honda CRV, Ford F-250, Toyota Tundra, Toyota Sequoia, Ford Excursion and the Toyota Tacoma.

The short answer is yes you can.

This is because a catalytic converter's primary job is to convert dangerous emissions (like carbon monoxide) from gasoline-fueled engines into more environmental-friendly gases, like carbon dioxide or water vapor.

What cars are hardest to steal?

Without this component, your vehicle will no longer be filtering and reducing harmful emissions, including hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide. Not only is this bad for the environment, but it can also lead to harmfully poor air quality.

Since people remove catalytic converters all the time, you can essentially drive indefinitely without one. However, if the converter was stolen, you should contact your insurance company immediately because your policy might cover the cost of a new one.

You'll notice a loud rumbling or roaring sound when you turn on the engine if your catalytic converter is missing. This sound gets louder when you hit the gas. The exhaust is not working correctly, so the vehicle also drives rougher than usual, often with a sense of sputtering as you change speed.

The Toyota Prius, particularly the second-gen model produced from 2004 to 2009, is especially attractive when it comes to catalytic converter theft.

Honda CR-V

This factor is why it has one of the most stolen catalytic converters. Hybrid options sell for a lot more. According to repairpal.com, it costs about $2,000 to replace a catalytic converter in a Honda CR-V. If yours is stolen, it will take a decent amount to fix the exhaust filter system.

What catalytic converters bring the highest scrap price? Exotic cars bring the highest cost because they generally contain the most precious metals, and are desirable even as second-hand parts. In terms of common passenger vehicles, Toyota Land Cruiser and Prius rank the highest.