Are catalytic converter thefts increasing?

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports in 2020 that theft claims saw a 325% increase from 2019. Using NICB's report, the data analysis website Been Verified estimates catalytic converter thefts more than quadrupled in 2021, seeing a 353% increase.

What catalytic converters are being stolen the most?

Why are people stealing catalytic converters right now?

Why are people stealing them? Thieves target catalytic converters because of the value of the metals found inside the devices. Catalytic converters are typically made up of three precious metals: platinum, palladium and rhodium. The value of all three metals have risen sharply in price in the last decade.

How often are catalytic converters stolen?

In 2020, an average of 1,203 thefts were reported per month, which is a large increase from 2019 with its 282 monthly average, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. California was also among the top five states for stolen catalytic converters in 2020.

How do I protect my car from catalytic converter theft?

Washington sees largest catalytic converter theft increase in country

Does insurance cover a stolen catalytic converter?

Is a stolen catalytic converter covered by insurance? 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.

Which cars are at risk of catalytic converter theft?

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.

Where are all the stolen catalytic converters going?

Thieves target vehicles like Toyotas, Fords and Hyundais getting under the car to cut the catalytic converters, sometimes in less than a minute. The converters are then sold to junkyards and scrap yards for a couple of hundred dollars. For you to replace it though can cost over $2,000.

How much do stolen catalytic converters sell for?

A catalytic converter stolen from some hybrid models can sell online for as much as $1,500 because it contains a larger amount of rhodium, which is resistant to corrosion and currently sells for more than $15,000 an ounce.

What vehicles have the most valuable catalytic converters?

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.

Why are Toyota catalytic converters stolen?

Currently, Prius is being targeted because catalytic converters of hybrids need more of the precious metals to work properly because they don't get as hot as those installed on conventional vehicles, since the combustion engines of hybrids only run part of the time.

Why are Honda catalytic converters stolen?

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

How much do criminals get for a catalytic converter?

Thanks to the increasing prices of the precious metals used in the production — i.e, platinum, rhodium and palladium — an ill-gotten catalytic converter can “typically” fetch between $50 and $250 when sold to an unscrupulous recycling facility, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

Who would buy a stolen catalytic converter?

In the current market, catalytic converters can be resold to recyclers for as little as $50 or to precious metal dealers for as much as thousands of dollars per ounce, reported the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

How much does it cost to replace a catalytic converter?

Catalytic converter replacement isn't cheap. For most vehicles, the average cost of a catalytic converter repair is between $945 and $2475 including parts and labor. The catalytic converter cost itself can be up to $2250 of that. That might be close to your car's value or more!

What is the street value of a catalytic converter?

While the “street value” of a catalytic converter can range between a mere $100 to $700 depending on the type of vehicle it's stolen from, replacing a stolen one will cost you a lot more. With labor, a catalytic converter replacement is estimated at between $1,000 and $3,000.

How do I protect my catalytic converter Honda Accord?

Rebar your converter: You can weld a rebar cage around your converter with the help of a muffler shop. Thieves will be unable to cut off your converter due to the metal cage. The rebar work may set you back several hundred dollars. Lock your converter: We recommend adding locks to your converter for added security.

Do people steal civic catalytic converters?

converter stolen is pretty low, unless you park you car on a city street far away from your home or in a parking lot. The converters on our cars are high up in the engine bay as noted in the above reply, so they are harder to get at.

What are thieves doing with catalytic converters?

Catalytic converter theft is on the rise nationwide. Thieves can steal this antipollution device in a matter of minutes and sell it to scrap metal dealers for several hundred dollars for the precious metals it contains.

How much is a Toyota catalytic converter worth scrap?

Toyota catalytic converters' worth can range from $75 and $700 when sold as scrap.

How much is a stolen Prius catalytic converter worth?

Hybrids require catalytic converters with a higher concentration of precious metals than those found on gasoline-only cars. The HLDI notes that the converter from a 2007 Prius is selling for about $1,022 today, compared to just $143 for the converter used a Ford F-150 from the same year.

How much is a Prius catalytic converter worth scrap?

Best Covid-19 Travel Insurance Plans. For example, the recent scrap price for a catalytic converter used in the 2004-09 second-generation Prius 1.5 was $1,022, according to AutoCatalystMarket.com.

How much is a catalytic converter worth on the black market?

According to The Pew Charitable Trusts, a global non-profit organization with a focus in public policy, criminals typically sell stolen catalytic converters for $50-$500 to internet buyers or scrapyards.

How much is a Dodge catalytic converter worth?

This guide was updated: 2022-06-13. Used catalytic converter dodge ram 1500 sold eBay prices are $591. New current listings averaged $-443 lower vs used current listings for a difference of -57.68%. On Amazon, the average price is: $324 for the first 10 product results.