The Catalytic Converter Crisis

Car theft is every driver’s worst nightmare. It’s why many of us triple-check that our doors are locked and park directly under streetlights at night. But what do we do when it’s not the vehicle at risk – just a small but crucial part? How do we protect the easily removable inner components of our cars?

Catalytic converter theft surged to staggering heights this past year, with robberies rising to 540 percent from 2020 to 2022. What’s almost equally surprising is how little people seem to be acknowledging the rapid rise of this extremely frustrating crime for car owners.

What Is a Catalytic Converter?

A catalytic converter helps clean your engine exhaust. It chemically converts its harmful pollutants into a more eco-friendly alternative for the environment, changing “bad” hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides into better versions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapor.

Because it needs heat to function, the catalytic converter is placed close to the engine. Unfortunately, this placement makes stealing it easy, especially if the vehicle has tall tire clearance like a truck or SUV. A thief can slide under the car, grab the converter with a battery-operated saw and leave in thirty seconds to a minute. 

Why Are Catalytic Converters Being Stolen from Cars?

Money is, of course, a major contributor to these recent robberies. Catalytic converters possess precious metals, including rhodium, platinum and palladium, that have increased in value in recent years. An ounce of palladium is sold for as high as $2,300, while rhodium has skyrocketed to an average price of $18,000.

Is It Bad for Your Car If the Catalytic Converter is Stolen?

If your car's gas pedal emits a loud roaring sound that gets louder the more you press down on it, it might mean that your catalytic converter has been stolen. Other signs might be that your car doesn’t drive as smoothly or sputters if you alter speeds. Of course, if you check underneath your vehicle and see a saw-indented hole on the underside, you’ll know you’ve been robbed.

While a car can technically still operate without a catalytic converter, it is not feasible in the long run. Your vehicle will also do significant harm to the environment without one. If your state requires an emission inspection (which many counties in Virginia and Maryland do), you’ll fail the test without a catalytic converter and be barred from driving until you repair your car.

One of the more unfortunate parts of catalytic converter theft is the cost of replacing it. In most cases, you’ll have to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 to fix your car since repairs have become more expensive after the shortages caused by the pandemic.

How to Prevent Your Catalytic Converter from Being Stolen

To prevent significant car repair expenses in the future, here are some tips to ward off potential catalytic converter thieves:

Parking in Private Places

This is a general rule when it comes to protecting your car. Keeping your vehicle away from public access, like in a garage or at least a well-lit area, will help lower your chances of catalytic convert theft.

Garages aren’t a failsafe against robbery. Public parking spots have become notorious for daytime burglary, especially at hospitals and churches. Thieves know people spend long periods of the day at these places, which makes their cars sitting ducks.

Still, there are precautions you can adopt to protect your car even in these scenarios:

Park Close to a Wall or In Between Other Cars

By doing this, you can limit any potential robber’s access to the underside of your vehicle.

Inscribe Your VIN or License Number Into Your Catalytic Converter

Etching these identification numbers into your car part will let any potential buyers of your stolen car part know it’s stolen.

Spray Paint Your Catalytic Converter a Bright Color

Since your thief will have to clean the color off before they can sell it, this may deter them from stealing if they don’t want the hassle.

Purchase a Converter Lock or An Alarm System

If you’re willing to spend more money, an anti-theft system can stop a thief in their tracks.

Drivers in Maryland, Virginia and the Greater Baltimore and Washington D.C. Areas Can Receive a High-Quality Used Car with the Help of a Personal Concierge

With these countermeasures, you can worry less about theft and focus more on the fun aspects of driving, like a great purchase or lease agreement on a reliable pre-owned vehicle. Choose from our vast collection of pre-owned cars, trucks and SUVs, or even customize your own with the support of 30 years of reputable customer service. Whatever you need, the team at Direct Car Buying will help you find your perfect match.